Feb. 4, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - With 15 players suiting up for various teams in the National Football League, UCF led all other Conference USA schools in 2008. Today, we look at former defensive end Rashad Jeanty.
After the 2001-02 season, Jeanty left UCF after two years and joined the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Jeanty spent four seasons playing defensive end with the Eskimos and won two Grey Cups in both 2003 and 2005.
In 2006, Jeanty was signed a two year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Because of an injury to then-starter David Pollack, Jeanty made his NFL debut on Sept. 10, 2006 in the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs starting at linebacker. Jeanty went on to appear in 12 games and recorded nine starts. He finished the season with 59 total tackles and two passes defended.
Jeanty enjoyed his best statistical season in 2008 when he started 15-of-16 games and recorded 96 total tackles with two passes defended. In week 13 that year, Jeanty collected a career-high 13 total tackles against the Baltimore Ravens.
The former Miami Carrol City High School standout played two seasons at UCF. In his second year as a Knight, Jeanty started all 12 games at defensive end and recorded 79 total tackles and recorded 5.5 sacks. He also collected 10.5 tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble. During his tenure at UCF, Jeanty earned second team all-freshman honors from The Football News and was named to The Sporting News Freshman All-America Team third team.