T. J. Duckett

Infobox NFLactive
name=T. J. Duckett


width=
currentteam=Seattle Seahawks
currentnumber=42 [ [http://sports.aol.com/nfl-players/t.j.-duckett/5904] ]
currentposition=Running back
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|2|17
birthplace=Kalamazoo, Michigan
heightft=6
heightin=0
weight=254
debutyear=2002
highlights=
*2nd Team All Big Ten (2000)
*5th All Time Leading Rusher at Michigan State
debutteam=Atlanta Falcons
college=Michigan State
draftyear=2002
draftround=1
draftpick=18
pastteams=
* Atlanta Falcons (2002-2006)
* Washington Redskins (2006)
* Detroit Lions (2007)
* Seattle Seahawks (2008-present)
status=Active
statweek=5
statseason=2008
statlabel1=Rushing yards
statvalue1=2,738
statlabel2=Rushing average
statvalue2=4.0
statlabel3=Rushing TDs
statvalue3=39
nfl=DUC245183

Todd Jeffery "T. J." Duckett (born February 17, 1981 in Kalamazoo, Michigan) is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons 19th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State.

Duckett has also played for the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions in his career.

Personal

His mother died from cancer when he was growing up and he has a tattoo of her on his upper right forearm. His brother Tico Duckett was a running back at Michigan State also. Every year, Duckett participates in the annual St. “Bald-ricks” Children’s Cancer Fundraiser. For this, he grows his beard out the whole season and has it shaved off for the event in order to raise money for childhood cancer research.

High School

Duckett was a consensus prep All-America at Loy Norrix High School, where, as a senior, he was named Parade Magazine and Rivalnet National Player of the Year. In addition to Running Back, he played Linebacker and Quarterback. As a junior, he had 140 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions and accounted for 2,080 total yards and 20 touchdowns on offense. He was named Defensive Player of the Year by Prepstar, SuperPrep and Rivalnet. In high school, he recorded 102 tackles, 9 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles, As a senior, also, he rushed for 1,623 yards (11.2 avg.) and had 21 touchdowns. As a quarterback, he threw for 808 yards and 9 Touchdowns.Duckett also participated in Track and Feild, where he was a Two-time state Class A shot put champion. He holds the state record in the shot put at 64-7 in track and field. He was also a member of the 400m relay team with a personal-best time of 10.9 in the 100m.

College career

In College, Duckett wore number 8. He was the lead running back for the Michigan State University Spartans in 1999-2001. In Michigan State's victory over Michigan in 2001 (also known as Clockgate) he caught a touchdown pass from Jeff Smoker as time expired to upset the Michigan Wolverines 26-24.

As a Junior, he earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors with 1,353 yards rushing on 240 carries (5.6 avg.) and seven touchdowns. He ran for more than 100 yards six times, including a career-high of 248 yards in a game against Iowa.

Duckett's totals at MSU were 621 carries for 3,379 yards (5.4 avg.) and 29 touchdowns, 22 receptions for 151 yards with one score. His 621 rushing attempts rank sixth on the Spartans' career-record chart. Duckett became Fifth all-time leading rusher for MSU, falling short of his brother Tico's 4,212 yards (#2 all time at MSU). His 29 touchdowns is 3rd best in MSU History.As a Senior, he started every game,leading the team with 263 carries for 1,420 yards (5.4 avg.) and 12 scores. His 263 attempts rank eighth on the school's season-record list, while his 1,420 yards rank fourth.

Professional career

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons drafted Duckett in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft with the 18th pick overall. He played as part of the Atlanta Falcons "DVD" (Dunn, Vick, Duckett) rushing offense in 2003-2005. Weighing more than 250 pounds, he was a "muscle" alternative to the 180-pound Dunn.In 2002, he played in 12 games (starting in three)and rushed 130 times for 507 yards with four touchdowns.

In 2003, He Started 10 of 16 games and led the team with career-highs of 779 yards on 197 attempts and 11 touchdowns, in addition to 11 catches for 94 yards. He became the fourth Falcon ever with at least 10 rushing scores in a single-season. His 11 rushing touchdowns that year rank as the third-highest single-season total in team history.In 2004, Duckett played in 13 games and totaled 509 yards on 104 carries (4.9 avg.) with 8 rushing touchdowns.In 2005, He played in 14 games and had 380 rushing yards on 121 carries with 8 touchdowns. He also had six receptions for 63 yards and two kickoff returns for 36 yards.

Washington Redskins

Duckett was traded from the Falcons to the Redskins as part of a three-team deal on August 23, 2006, involving the Denver Broncos. The Redskins traded a draft pick to the Broncos, the Broncos traded Wide Receiver Ashley Lelie to the Falcons, and the Redskins received Duckett from the Falcons. He signed a two-year, $1.363 million contract with the last year voidable.

In 2006, he played in 10 games, finishing with a career-low 38 rushes for 132 yards, two touchdowns and two receptions for 16 yards.

Detroit Lions

On March 9, 2007 he signed with the Lions. In Detroit, Duckett teamed up with Tatum Bell and Kevin Jones in a multiple back rotation.In 2007, Duckett had 65 attempts for 335 yards (5.2 avg.) with 3 rushing touchdowns.

On December 23, 2007 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Duckett carried the ball 15 times for a career-high 102 yards (6.8 avg.) and a touchdown.

eattle Seahawks

On March 4, 2008, the Seattle Seahawks signed Duckett to a five-year contract worth $14 million.He serves as a short-yardage back for the Seahawks. Duckett scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run on September 14th, 2008. Before the game, his number was changed from 45 to 42. [ [http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/playerFantasyNews?statsId=5904] ] On September 20th, Duckett scored twice on 19 carries for 79 yards.

References

External links

* [http://www.detroitlions.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=433&season=9 Detroit Lions bio]