Will Witherspoon life and biography

PRO: Will Witherspoon is a former linebacker that has played both middle and outside linebacker during his NFL career. The nine-year veteran is a sideline-to-sideline player who can provide both support in pass coverage and leadership in the huddle.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• Has produced 25 career double-digit tackle games, including playoffs.
• Collected a career-best 16 tackles against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
• In 2007, was named the Rams’ MVP after leading the team with 136 tackles and tallying a career-high seven sacks.

TITANS TIDBITS:
• Witherspoon is the proud owner of Shiregate Farms, a 450-acre farm located in Owensville, Mo. Originally started as a hobby farm, he and his farm manager are currently working to establish a co-operative business for grass-fed beef, and are hoping to expand into local markets.
• The son of a retired military officer, Witherspoon was born in San Antonio, Texas, and has lived in Germany, England, Arizona and Florida. With his father stationed abroad growing up, the family chose to live in the community instead of military bases so the children could broaden their education and experience different cultures.
• Witherspoon and former Panthers teammate, Dan Morgan, own and operate two dog day-care centers, Club K-9, in Charlotte, N.C. A true dog lover, he once had two Weimaraners, an English Mastiff, a Great Dane and a Great Swiss Mountain Dog at the same time when he lived in North Carolina. He currently has a German Shepherd back in Missouri.
• Played in 17 regular season games in 2009, becoming one of just five players to do so in the bye era (since 1990).

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Panama City, Fla., native was originally selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.
• Signed as an unrestricted free agent with the St. Louis Rams on March 12, 2006.
• Traded by the Rams to the Philadelphia Eagles for wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a 2010 fifth-round pick on Oct. 20, 2009.
• Signed by the Titans as a free agent on March 10, 2010.

COLLEGE:
• Witherspoon was a three-year starter at Georgia and finished his Bulldogs career with 211 tackles, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, 3.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, and 15 quarterback pressures.
• Showed versatility throughout his collegiate career, starting at middle linebacker as a sophomore, strongside linebacker as a junior, and weakside linebacker as a senior.
• As a senior, started nine games and posted 43 tackles, a sack, one forced fumble, one pass defensed, and six quarterback pressures.
• Started 10 games at strongside linebacker as a junior in 2000, finishing third on the team with career-high 85 tackles while adding two sacks, one fumble recovery, four passes defensed, three quarterback pressures, and a team-high 10 special teams stops.
• Saw action in eight games, starting five at middle linebacker as a sophomore.
• Played in all 11 games as a true freshman, finishing with 50 tackles.
• Majored in agricultural engineering at Georgia.

CAREER HISTORY:

• Carolina Panthers (2002–2005)
• St. Louis Rams (2006–2009)
• Philadelphia Eagles (2009)
• Tennessee Titans (2010–2012)
• St. Louis Rams (2013)


PERSONAL:

• Married to Rebecca and has three daughters Layne, Maya and Shaye. Splits time between Nashville and Wildwood, Mo.
• Moved from defensive end to linebacker prior to the senior year at Rutherford High in Panama City, Fla., and earned USA Today Player of the Year for Florida after leading team to 13-1 record and second-place finish in state playoffs.
• Also lettered in track, competing in 100- and 200-meters as well as the long jump. Became the state long-jump champion as a senior with jump of 26 feet, 10.5 inches.
• A son of a retired military officer, Witherspoon has lived in Germany, England, and Arizona. With his father stationed abroad, his family lived
in the community instead of military bases so the children could broaden their education and better experience that country’s culture.
• Enjoys speaking at schools and visiting children’s hospitals.
• Born William Cordell Witherspoon on Aug. 19, 1980 in San Antonio, Texas.

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