Bobby Engram

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Seattle Seahawks
currentnumber=84
currentposition=Wide receiver
birthdate=birth date and age|1973|1|7
birthplace=Camden, South Carolina
heightft=5
heightin=10
weight=192
debutyear=1996
debutteam=Chicago Bears
highlights=
* Biletnikoff Award (1994)
college=Penn State
draftyear=1996
draftround=2
draftpick=52
pastteams=
* Chicago Bears (1996-2000)
* Seattle Seahawks (2001-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Receptions
statvalue1=598
statlabel2=Receiving yards
statvalue2=7,201
statlabel3=Receiving average
statvalue3=12.0
statlabel4=Receiving TDs
statvalue4=35
nfl=ENG735656

Simon J. "Bobby" Engram IIIcite web|title=Engram on Pro-Football-Reference |work=pro-football-reference.com |url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EngrBo00.htm |accessdate=2008-01-31] (born January 7, 1973 in Camden, South Carolina) is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. He previously played for the Chicago Bears. He went to college at Penn State. Engram has developed into a dependable possession receiver in the NFL, with a high percentage of his catches resulting in firstdowns and touchdowns. Engram set the Seahawks' single-season record for pass receptions in 2007, and set career highs with 94 receptions and 1,147 receiving yards.

High School career

Engram attended Camden High School in Camden, South Carolina, where he was a three-time All-State selection at wide receiver.

College career

As a college junior, Engram was the go-to receiver on Penn State's undefeated 1994 team. Wearing #10, he was quarterback Kerry Collins' favorite target. He garnered All-American honors and won the first-ever Biletnikoff Award, recognizing the nation's best wide receiver. Engram is still Penn State's all time leading receiver in catches, yards and touchdowns, with 167 catches for 3,026 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also racked up 786 career punt return yards for the Nittany Lions, ranking him second in school history.

Engram missed the 1992 season as punishment from head-coach Joe Paterno, when he was charged with being involved in a college apartment burglary with teammate Ricky Sayles. Sayles and Engram went into an apartment and removed a stereo. However, the police investigation revealed that Sayles was the mastermind behind the burglary and Engram may have been led to believe that he and Sayles were authorized to take the stereo. Consequently, Engram was allowed to complete a pre-trial diversionary program and the charges were later dropped. Sayles, on the other hand, was permanently dismissed from the team. He earned a Bachelor of Science in exercise science from Penn State in 1995.

Personal

Engram and his wife Deanna have three children: daughter Bobbi, sons Dean and Trey. Bobbi was born with the hereditary sickle-cell disease. [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003234927_kell30.html The Seattle Times: Sports: Now, it's dad Engram's chance to change a life ] ] Engram hosted the "Walk for Sickle Cell Disease" in Seattle in September of 2006. [ [http://www.nwsicklecell.org/events NW Sickle Cell Collaborative, Events ] ]

In October 2006, Engram was diagnosed with Graves' disease. His subsequent accelerated heart rate, debilitating fatigue, and weight loss caused him to miss a significant amount of playing time during the 2006 season. [http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/SEA/9855457]

When playing games in the Pennsylvania cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Engram laces his shoes with white shoelaces as opposed to the regular black as a tribute the old-school beliefs of his college coach, Joe Paterno. [http://www.pennlive.com/sports/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1191990451315720.xml&coll=1 "Healthy Engram plans to keep playing"] , The Patriot-News, October 10, 2007]

References

External links

* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/EngrBo00.htm Current Stats]
* [http://www.seahawks.com/Ardisplay.aspx?ID=7126&SecID=317 "Spotlight on Bobby Engram"] seahawks.com, August 18, 2006.
* [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003234927_kell30.html "Now, it's dad Engram's chance to change a life"] , "The Seattle Times", August 30, 2006
* [http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/SEA/9855457 "Seahawks WR Engram almost ready to play"] , NFL.com wire report, December 6, 2006
* [http://www.pennlive.com/sports/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1191990451315720.xml&coll=1 "Healthy Engram plans to keep playing"] , "The Patriot-News", October 10, 2007
* [http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/story/199393.html "Engram completes comeback route"] , "The News Tribune", November 9th, 2007
* [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2004089702_hawkside24.html "Record recovery for WR Engram"] , "The Seattle Times", December 24, 2007