Travis Claridge

NFL player


DateOfBirth=March 23, 1978
Birthplace= Detroit, Michigan
DateOfDeath=February 28 2006 (age age|1978|3|23|2006|2|28)
Deathplace=Las Vegas, Nevada
Position=Offensive Guard
number=71
College=Southern California
DraftedYear=2000
DraftedRound=2 / Pick 37
DatabaseFootball=CLARITRA01
NFL=187515
CBS=187515
ESPN=5066
SportsIllustrated=5066
Awards=1999 Morris Trophy
Records=
years=2000-2003
2004
2005
teams=Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Travis Claridge (March 23 1978 – February 28 2006) was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he played for the Atlanta Falcons between 2000 and 2003 and for the Carolina Panthers in 2004.

Early life

Travis Claridge grew up in Almont, Michigan. His dad coached football at Almont H.S. When he was in the 4th grade he moved with his dad to California. Then as a 7th grader Travis and his dad moved to Vancouver, Washington. Travis went to Fort Vancouver High School. In 1995 he became the number one offensive lineman in the country and the number two high school football player in the nation. He choose the Trojans of the University of Southern California over 60-plus schools.

College career

Claridge started 48 games for USC and the first to do so as a true freshman in college football and was voted the Pac-10 top offensive linesman in 1999. Started in both the Senior Bowl and East/West Shrine game. He won the Morris Trophy.

Professional career

After being selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2000 draft, he started for 62 games in his first four seasons. However, a knee injury limited him to 6 games in the 2003 and the Falcons didn't extend his contract.

Although he signed with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 2004, he was cut during training camp. In 2005, Claridge played two games at the Right Tackle position with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League. He played brilliantly in his debut,was CBC ,vote MVP of the game,first time any player did so in the CFL but was injured in his second game.

Death

After being found unconscious at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, he was transported to Saint Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson where he later died at age 27. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported on 10 May, 2006 that the cause of death was acute pneumonia, exacerbated by respiratory depression brought on by intoxication with the painkiller oxycodone [http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2006/05/09/claridge-death.html] .

References

* [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/football/3692598.html "Houston Chronicle", "CFL and former NFL lineman Claridge dies" published 28 February 2006, retrieved 1 March 2006]
* [http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/187515 NFL Player Profile]
* [http://usctrojans.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/claridge_travis00.html USC Trojans Travis Claridge place]
* [http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=4882159&nav=15MV KVBC Report on Cause of Death]