Johnny Dingle

Infobox NFLactive


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currentteam =Free Agent
currentnumber =--
currentposition =Defensive End
birthdate =birth date and age|1986|11|9
birthplace =Miami, Florida
heightft =6
heightin =1
weight =265
debutyear =
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college =West Virginia
undraftedyear =2008
pastteams =
* Kansas City Chiefs (2008)*:*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
status =Active
highlights =
* 2007 Second-team All-Big East
* 2007 Gridiron Gladiator Award
* 1x Fiesta Bowl champion (2008)
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nfl =00-0025875
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Johnny Dingle (born November 9, 1986 in Miami, Florida) is an American football defensive lineman currently a free agent in the National Football League. He played collegiately at West Virginia. He was undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Dingle was one of the leagues most sought after undrafted rookie free agents, [cite web |url=http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/05/12/the_questions_on_defense/ |title=The Questions on Defense (Question #3: how will the rotation go on the defensive line?) |laster=Gretz |first=Bob |work=KCChiefs.com |publisher=Kansas City Chiefs |date=2008-05-12 |accessdate=2008-09-27] and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. [cite web |url=http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/05/02/chiefs_agree_to_terms_with_17_rookie_free_agents/ |title=Chiefs Agree to Terms with 17 Rookie Free Agents |work=KCChiefs.com |publisher=Kansas City Chiefs |date=2008-05-02 |accessdate=2008-09-27]

High school career

Dingle was a four-year starter at defensive end at Booker T. Washington High School, where he recorded 89 tackles and 22 sacks as a senior. He also had a blocked punt and a game-saving field goal block as well. He was named All-State, named Dade County Player of the Year, and was the captain of the basketball team. He originally signed with Florida, but then changed his decision to West Virginia.

College career

Dingle enrolled at West Virginia University in 2004, but sat out the season due to grades. In 2005 as a sophomore, he recorded 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks on the season. As a junior in 2006, he started early at defensive end. Against Mississippi State, he had a two sacks for a total of 16 yards while he forced a fumble against Wofford. He missed the Syracuse and Connecticut with an ankle injury, but bounced back with two tackles against Louisville. In 2007, he was on the defensive line with Keilen Dykes. Dingle was named Second-team All-Big East and earned the team's Gridiron Gladiator Award at the conclusion of the regular season. In his final collegiate game, the 48-28 victory over Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. He finished his senior season with 47 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He, along with Pat White, and Marc Magro, was named an Honorable Mention All-American by "Sports Illustrated.com." [cite web |url=http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?story=11879 |title=Football: White, Dingle, Magro Honored |work=MSNSportsNet.com |publisher=Mountaineer Sports Network |date=2007-12-02 |accessdate=2008-09-27]

Professional career

Pre-draft

On December 20, 2007, Dingle announced his intentions to leave West Virginia University to enter the NFL Draft. He still had a year of eligibility left, due to being a junior. [cite web |url=http://westvirginia.scout.com/2/713270.html |title=Scout.com: Devine Decision |last=Keller |first=Matt |work=Scout.com |date=2007-12-20 |accessdate=2008-09-27]

("* represents NFL Combine")

NFL Draft

Scott Wright, owner of NFL Draft Countdown, projected Dingle at #29 in the defensive end class. [cite web |url=http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/rankings/de.html |title=NFL Draft Countdown - Defensive End Rankings |last=Wright |first=Scott |work=NFLDraftCountdown.com |publisher=NFL Draft Countdown |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-09-27] He was also invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. [cite web |url=http://www.nflcombine.net/files/invlist/2008/player_sort.html |title=NIC: 2008 Official Invite List |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-09-27] At the Combine, he was reported to have met with the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos. In April 2008, "USA Today" ranked Dingle as the #12 defensive end and as a fourth round selection in the Draft. [cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/graphics/nfl_draft_08/flash.htm |title=USATODAY.com - 2008 NFL Draft Database |work=USAToday.com |publisher=USA Today |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-09-27] He was, however, not selected in the NFL Draft and thus became an undrafted free agent at the draft's conclusion.

Kansas City Chiefs

After going undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft, Dingle was one of the leagues most sought after undrafted players. [cite web |url=http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/05/12/the_questions_on_defense/ |title=The Questions on Defense (Question #3: how will the rotation go on the defensive line?) |laster=Gretz |first=Bob |work=KCChiefs.com |publisher=Kansas City Chiefs |date=2008-05-12 |accessdate=2008-09-27] He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. [cite web |url=http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/05/02/chiefs_agree_to_terms_with_17_rookie_free_agents/ |title=Chiefs Agree to Terms with 17 Rookie Free Agents |work=KCChiefs.com |publisher=Kansas City Chiefs |date=2008-05-02 |accessdate=2008-09-27] In the second week of the preseason, he recorded a tackle and a sack in his preseason debut against the Arizona Cardinals. [cite web |url=http://www.kcchiefs.com/gameday/20080816 |title=Cardinals vs. Chiefs |last=Gretz |first=Bob |work=KCChiefs.com |publisher=Kansas City Chiefs |date=2008-08-16 |accessdate=2008-09-27] However, after the preseason Dingle was waived from the Chiefs squad. [cite web |url=http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/08/30/chiefs_place_merritt_on_nfi_release_21_others/ |title=Chiefs Place Merritt on NFI; Release 21 Others |accessdate=2008-09-26 |work=KCChiefs.com |publisher=Kansas City Chiefs |date=August 30, 2008]

Personal life

Dingle's favorite NFL player growing up was Lawrence Taylor, while the hardest he's ever been hit was from teammate Owen Schmitt. [cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/johnny-dingle?id=1678 |title=NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Johnny Dingle |work=NFL.com |publisher=National Football League |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-09-27]

References

* [http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=20228 ESPN: Chat with former W. Virginia DE Johnny Dingle - SportsNation (2008)]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.kcchiefs.com/player/johnny_dingle/ Kansas City Chiefs bio]
* [http://www.msnsportsnet.com/profile.cfm?id=100998 West Virginia Mountaineers bio]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11750 Kansas City Chiefs profile] at ESPN.com
* [http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/players/playerpage/566434 Profile] at CBSSports.com