Dylan Gandy
Encyclopedia
Dylan Colter Gandy is an American football
center
for the Detroit Lions
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Texas Tech
.
Gandy earned a Super Bowl ring
with the Colts in Super Bowl XLI
. He has also played for the Denver Broncos
and Oakland Raiders
.
in Pflugerville, Texas
, where he lettered
in football
and track & field
. In football, he was a two-way lineman, a first-team All-District pick, a first team All-Central Texas pick, and also the team's long snapper
.
. After redshirting
as a true freshman, he started three games the following season. He finished his sophomore year as an All-Big 12 Academic first-teamer, and made the second team the following year as a junior. Although he played mostly guard
and tackle his first three seasons, he switched to center
his senior year, where he started 12 games. He was selected to the All-Big 12 honorable mention team by the coaches in the conference.
in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He was released by the Colts on May 2, 2008.
. He was released on September 9, 2008. The Broncos re-signed Gandy on September 25 after center
Tom Nalen
was placed on injured reserve
. He was released again on October 7 when the team re-signed tight end
Chad Mustard
.
on November 26, 2008 when wide receiver
Javon Walker
was placed on injured reserve
. He was waived on December 4 to make room for practice squad wide receiver Johnathan Holland
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
.
Gandy earned a Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
with the Colts in Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
. He has also played for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Dylan Gandy attended Pflugerville High SchoolPflugerville Independent School District
Pflugerville Independent School District is a public school district based in Pflugerville, Texas .In addition to Pflugerville, the district also serves the community of Windemere, parts of Wells Branch and Austin as well as rural areas in northeastern Travis County.In 2009, the school district...
in Pflugerville, Texas
Pflugerville, Texas
Pflugerville is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 16,335 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 39,653...
, where he lettered
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and track & field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. In football, he was a two-way lineman, a first-team All-District pick, a first team All-Central Texas pick, and also the team's long snapper
Long snapper
In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible....
.
College career
Gandy attended Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
. After redshirting
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
as a true freshman, he started three games the following season. He finished his sophomore year as an All-Big 12 Academic first-teamer, and made the second team the following year as a junior. Although he played mostly guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
and tackle his first three seasons, he switched to center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
his senior year, where he started 12 games. He was selected to the All-Big 12 honorable mention team by the coaches in the conference.
Indianapolis Colts
Gandy was drafted by the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He was released by the Colts on May 2, 2008.
Denver Broncos
On May 16, 2008, Gandy signed with the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was released on September 9, 2008. The Broncos re-signed Gandy on September 25 after center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
Tom Nalen
Tom Nalen
Thomas Andrew Nalen is a former American football center who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League...
was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. He was released again on October 7 when the team re-signed tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Chad Mustard
Chad Mustard
Chad Mustard is a former American football tight end and offensive tackle of the National Football League. He was signed by the Omaha Beef as a street free agent in 2003...
.
Oakland Raiders
Gandy was signed by the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 26, 2008 when wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Javon Walker
Javon Walker
Javon Lataff Walker is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 20th overall of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. He was waived on December 4 to make room for practice squad wide receiver Johnathan Holland
Johnathan Holland
Jonathan Holland is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was recently signed by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, but was released prior to the regular season. He was drafted by the Raiders in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
.