Jahvid Best
Encyclopedia
Jahvid Andre Best is a running back
for the Detroit Lions
of the National Football League
. He was selected by the Lions with the 30th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
. In college, he played for the California Golden Bears
, setting several records, including most all-purpose yards in a single season and most rushing yards in a single game for Cal. Best also led the Pac-10 in total rushing yards in 2008.
in Richmond, California
. In his junior year he had 1,495 rushing yards on 138 attempts with 20 touchdowns. Salesian also won the North Coast Section
championship in 2005 to conclude a 12–1 season. In his senior year, Best ran for 3,325 yards and 48 touchdowns, both Bay Area single-season records. Salesian once again made it to the NCS finals, but lost in the final game to St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School
of Vallejo
.
Best ran track as well, participating in the Arcadia Invitational
in his junior and senior years. As a junior, he won the 100 meter dash
with a time of 10.39 seconds with an injured foot. As a senior he won the 200 meter dash
with a time of 21.40 seconds. Also during his senior year, Best won the California Interscholastic Federation
state championship in the 100 meters with a discounted wind assisted
time of 10.31. Best finished his senior season with personal bests of 10.36 and 20.65, the 5th and 2nd fastest times in the nation respectively. His 100 meter time equals the personal best of Justin Gatlin
as a high school senior; both times eclipse Tyson Gay
's personal bests as a high school senior.
Best received scholarship offers from Arizona
, Arizona State
, California, Michigan
, Notre Dame
, Oregon
, USC, and Washington
among others, before ultimately committing to California in 2006.
. On only 29 carries, Best had 221 rushing yards, and 2 touchdowns. Best also caught 13 passes for 174 yards and a receiving touchdown. Best was selected as the team's Most Valuable Freshman as well as the team's J. Scott Duncan Award (Most Valuable Special Teams Player).
on August 30. Best had 111 yards on 24 carries including a touchdown. His breakout game came on September 6 in a 66-3 Cal win against Washington State
, having two touchdown runs of 80 and 86 yards, respectively. Best finished the game with exactly 200 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns.
Best struggled the following week against Maryland. This was mostly due to California falling behind early, therefore limiting Best's touches, due to a change in game plan by the Bears. Although he returned to form against Colorado State, he dislocated his elbow and would miss the next game against Arizona State. He returned for the Arizona game, and dashed for a 67 yard score that put the Bears ahead in the second quarter. He would rack up 140 all purpose yards against the Wildcats.
After two more impressive outings against UCLA and Oregon, where he averaged over six yards per carry, Best was held to only 30 yards against the USC Trojans
. Following a 201 yard rushing game against the Stanford Cardinal
in the 2008 Big Game
on 19 carries, Best became the seventh consecutive 1,000 rusher for Cal since Jeff Tedford
became head coach in 2002. During the last game of the regular season versus Washington on December 6, Best became the first Cal player to rush for over 300 yards in a game and ended the regular season as the Pac-10's leading rusher, beating out Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers
.
A 186-yard, two touchdown performance in the 2008 Emerald Bowl
earned him Offensive MVP honors for the game. Best finished the 2008 season with 1,580 rushing yards, an 8.1-yard per carry average, and 15 touchdowns.
in February 2009. In early June Best was able to participate in team summer workouts without pain. Entering his junior year, Best's breakout sophomore year caused early speculation of him being a future Heisman
candidate and top running back prospect.
In Cal's season opener against Maryland
, Best rushed for 137 yards and had two rushing touchdowns in the Bears' 52-13 victory. On September 12 against Eastern Washington, he rushed for 144 yards and one touchdown, and had one 22 yard receiving touchdown. On September 19 against Minnesota
he ran for 131 yards and all of Cal's five touchdowns in the victory, a personal best and a modern school record. He was named Pac-10 Player of the Week and Rivals.com
National Player of the Week. However, the next week Best was held to 55 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 16 carries against the Oregon Ducks
. The following week he was held to 48 yards on 15 carries against the #7 Trojans
, also unable to find the end zone. On October 17, Best recorded both his longest run and longest reception against UCLA in California's 45-26 victory over the Bruins.
Best was injured during the second quarter of Cal's November 7 matchup against Oregon State
. In the process of scoring a rushing touchdown, he hurdled a defender into the end zone and was accidentally pushed by a second Oregon State defender in mid-air, causing him to land on the back of his head with his helmet coming off. The play resulted in a concussion for Best. After a 13-minute game delay, Best was taken off the field on a stretcher to the Highland General Hospital in Oakland
. This was his second concussion in two weeks, following a mild concussion received the previous week against Arizona State
. He was released the next day. and did not play the following week's game against Arizona
, although he appeared as an honorary team captain. Best would miss the rest of the regular season. On December 16, head coach Jeff Tedford
announced that Best would not play in the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl
, stating that "'to get him back in game-ready form I don't feel like that's something that we can get done to have him ready to play.'" Best announced on January 2, 2010 that he would forego his senior year and enter the NFL draft.
by the Detroit Lions
30th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft
. Regarding the pick, Lions
head coach
Jim Schwartz
said, "Some people watch adult videos on their computer... I go to YouTube
and watch Jahvid Best highlight clips. That’s what gets me going."
. His best game of the season came the following week in a 35-32 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles
, where he had 78 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and 154 receiving yards, including a 75 yard touchdown reception. He had more limited production for the rest of the season mainly due to a turf toe injury, with a career-low 2 rushing yards in Week 11 against the Dallas Cowboys
, and did not score any further rushing touchdowns, although he had a 53-yard receiving touchdown against the Miami Dolphins
in Week 16 during the Lions' four game winning streak.
on October 10 against the Chicago Bears
, Best had his first 100-yard game, rushing for 163 yards and a career long 88-yard touchdown run.
and the last syllable of his father's name, David
. His father is originally from St. Lucia and he has one sister named Laurie who is currently attending California State University, Sacramento
.
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
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 selected by the Lions with the 30th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. In college, he played for the California Golden Bears
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
, setting several records, including most all-purpose yards in a single season and most rushing yards in a single game for Cal. Best also led the Pac-10 in total rushing yards in 2008.
Early years
Jahvid Best attended Salesian High SchoolSalesian High School (Richmond, California)
Salesian High School is a coeducational Roman Catholic preparatory high school in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland. The school's patron saint is Saint John Bosco, the Italian founder of the Salesian order. The school's motto is "Loyalty - Excellence"...
in Richmond, California
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
. In his junior year he had 1,495 rushing yards on 138 attempts with 20 touchdowns. Salesian also won the North Coast Section
North Coast Section
The North Coast Section is a part of the California Interscholastic Federation, governing the eastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, up along the northern coast of the state of California, from Fremont in the south to Crescent City in the north. It also governs the private schools in the...
championship in 2005 to conclude a 12–1 season. In his senior year, Best ran for 3,325 yards and 48 touchdowns, both Bay Area single-season records. Salesian once again made it to the NCS finals, but lost in the final game to St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School
St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School
St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Vallejo, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento.-Background:...
of Vallejo
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
.
Best ran track as well, participating in the Arcadia Invitational
Arcadia Invitational
Arcadia Invitational is among the most competitive high school track and field competitions in the United States. It has been billed as "Home of National Records." The meet is held at Arcadia High School in Arcadia, California, on the second weekend in April...
in his junior and senior years. As a junior, he won the 100 meter dash
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
with a time of 10.39 seconds with an injured foot. As a senior he won the 200 meter dash
200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
with a time of 21.40 seconds. Also during his senior year, Best won the California Interscholastic Federation
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
state championship in the 100 meters with a discounted wind assisted
Wind assistance
Wind assistance is a term in track and field, which refers to the wind level during a race or event as registered by a wind gauge. Wind is one of many forms of weather which can affect sport....
time of 10.31. Best finished his senior season with personal bests of 10.36 and 20.65, the 5th and 2nd fastest times in the nation respectively. His 100 meter time equals the personal best of Justin Gatlin
Justin Gatlin
Justin Gatlin is an American sprinter. He is an Olympic gold medalist, with a 100 m personal best of 9.85 seconds. He served a four-year ban from track and field for testing positive for a banned substance; Gatlin had appealed the ban in 2009, but it was later denied.- Biography :Gatlin attended...
as a high school senior; both times eclipse Tyson Gay
Tyson Gay
Tyson Gay is an American track and field sprinter. His primary events are the 100 meters and 200 meters. His personal bests establish him as the second fastest athlete in the 100 meters and the fifth fastest athlete in the history of the 200 meters, with times of 9.69 and...
's personal bests as a high school senior.
Best received scholarship offers from Arizona
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
, Arizona State
Arizona State Sun Devils football
The Arizona State Sun Devils' football program represents Arizona State University in college football, and competes in NCAA Division I FBS as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference....
, California, Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
, Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
, USC, and Washington
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
among others, before ultimately committing to California in 2006.
2007
As a true freshman in 2007, Best was the primary backup to Justin ForsettJustin Forsett
Justin Forsett is an American football running back and punt returner for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.-Early years:Forsett was born in Lakeland, Florida...
. On only 29 carries, Best had 221 rushing yards, and 2 touchdowns. Best also caught 13 passes for 174 yards and a receiving touchdown. Best was selected as the team's Most Valuable Freshman as well as the team's J. Scott Duncan Award (Most Valuable Special Teams Player).
2008
Best quickly got the nation's attention in the season opener against Michigan State2008 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 2008 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2008–2009 college football season. The team's head coach was Mark Dantonio. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan...
on August 30. Best had 111 yards on 24 carries including a touchdown. His breakout game came on September 6 in a 66-3 Cal win against Washington State
2008 Washington State Cougars football team
The 2008 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State University in the college football season of 2008-2009. The team's head coach was Paul Wulff. It played its home games at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington...
, having two touchdown runs of 80 and 86 yards, respectively. Best finished the game with exactly 200 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns.
Best struggled the following week against Maryland. This was mostly due to California falling behind early, therefore limiting Best's touches, due to a change in game plan by the Bears. Although he returned to form against Colorado State, he dislocated his elbow and would miss the next game against Arizona State. He returned for the Arizona game, and dashed for a 67 yard score that put the Bears ahead in the second quarter. He would rack up 140 all purpose yards against the Wildcats.
2008 USC Trojans football team
The 2008 University of Southern California Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 2008–2009...
. Following a 201 yard rushing game against the Stanford Cardinal
2008 Stanford Cardinal football team
The 2008 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team's head coach was Jim Harbaugh, who entered his second year at Stanford. The team played their home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California and competed in the...
in the 2008 Big Game
Big Game (football)
The Big Game is an American college football rivalry game played by the California Golden Bears football team of the University of California, Berkeley and the Stanford Cardinal football team of Stanford University. It is typically played in late November or early December...
on 19 carries, Best became the seventh consecutive 1,000 rusher for Cal since Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford is an American football coach and the current head coach of the California Golden Bears football team, a position he has held since 2002. As a first-time head coach, Tedford has won wide acclaim for revitalizing the Cal football program...
became head coach in 2002. During the last game of the regular season versus Washington on December 6, Best became the first Cal player to rush for over 300 yards in a game and ended the regular season as the Pac-10's leading rusher, beating out Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers
Jacquizz Rodgers
Jacquizz "Quizz" Rodgers is an American football running back for the Atlanta Falcons. Rodgers played for the Oregon State Beavers. During his freshman year, Rodgers was named the 2008 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year...
.
A 186-yard, two touchdown performance in the 2008 Emerald Bowl
2008 Emerald Bowl
The 2008 Emerald Bowl, part of the 2008-09 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 27, 2008 at AT&T Park, the home field of the Giants in San Francisco, California...
earned him Offensive MVP honors for the game. Best finished the 2008 season with 1,580 rushing yards, an 8.1-yard per carry average, and 15 touchdowns.
2009
On January 15, 2009 Best underwent surgery to tighten a ligament that had been injured when he dislocated his left elbow against Colorado State on September 27, 2008. This was followed up by foot surgery on January 23 to relieve irritation that was caused when Best bruised his foot halfway through the 2008 season. He missed spring football practice as a result. Best was named as the most explosive player in college football by Rivals.comRivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
in February 2009. In early June Best was able to participate in team summer workouts without pain. Entering his junior year, Best's breakout sophomore year caused early speculation of him being a future Heisman
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
candidate and top running back prospect.
In Cal's season opener against Maryland
2009 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2009 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland during its 57th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Terrapins played in the Atlantic Division of the conference, and competed against all five divisional opponents, two Coastal Division opponents on a...
, Best rushed for 137 yards and had two rushing touchdowns in the Bears' 52-13 victory. On September 12 against Eastern Washington, he rushed for 144 yards and one touchdown, and had one 22 yard receiving touchdown. On September 19 against Minnesota
2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was the third under head coach Tim Brewster. They began play on September 5, 2009, at Syracuse, a member of the Big East Conference. On September 12, the Minnesota opened the new TCF Bank Stadium with a 20–13 win against Air Force, moving from the...
he ran for 131 yards and all of Cal's five touchdowns in the victory, a personal best and a modern school record. He was named Pac-10 Player of the Week and Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
National Player of the Week. However, the next week Best was held to 55 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 16 carries against the Oregon Ducks
2009 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2009 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the college football season of 2009. The team was led by head coach Chip Kelly in his first season as a head coach at the Division I FBS level. Kelly was only the third Ducks head coach since 1977 and led the Ducks to a...
. The following week he was held to 48 yards on 15 carries against the #7 Trojans
2009 USC Trojans football team
The 2009 University of Southern California Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 2009–2010. The team played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and was coached by Pete Carroll, who was in his ninth and final...
, also unable to find the end zone. On October 17, Best recorded both his longest run and longest reception against UCLA in California's 45-26 victory over the Bruins.
Best was injured during the second quarter of Cal's November 7 matchup against Oregon State
2009 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2009 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the college football 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach, in his second stint with the Beavers, was Mike Riley who was in his seventh straight season and ninth overall with the football...
. In the process of scoring a rushing touchdown, he hurdled a defender into the end zone and was accidentally pushed by a second Oregon State defender in mid-air, causing him to land on the back of his head with his helmet coming off. The play resulted in a concussion for Best. After a 13-minute game delay, Best was taken off the field on a stretcher to the Highland General Hospital in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. This was his second concussion in two weeks, following a mild concussion received the previous week against Arizona State
2009 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 2009 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Sun Devils were coached by third-year coach Dennis Erickson and played their home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona...
. He was released the next day. and did not play the following week's game against Arizona
2009 Arizona Wildcats football team
The 2009 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Wildcats, led by sixth-year head coach Mike Stoops, played their home games at Arizona Stadium....
, although he appeared as an honorary team captain. Best would miss the rest of the regular season. On December 16, head coach Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford is an American football coach and the current head coach of the California Golden Bears football team, a position he has held since 2002. As a first-time head coach, Tedford has won wide acclaim for revitalizing the Cal football program...
announced that Best would not play in the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl
2009 Poinsettia Bowl
The 2009 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl was the fifth edition of the college football bowl game and was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game started at 5 PM US PST on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 on ESPN. The Utah Utes defeated the California Golden Bears...
, stating that "'to get him back in game-ready form I don't feel like that's something that we can get done to have him ready to play.'" Best announced on January 2, 2010 that he would forego his senior year and enter the NFL draft.
Rushing
| Year | Team | Games-Games Started | Carries | Yards | Average | Long | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Cal 2007 California Golden Bears football team The 2007 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2007-2008 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and were coached by Jeff Tedford.... |
10-0 | 29 | 221 | 7.6 | 64 | 2 |
| 2008 | Cal 2008 California Golden Bears football team The 2008 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2008-2009 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and are coached by Jeff Tedford... |
12-12 | 194 | 1,580 | 8.1 | 86 | 15 |
| 2009 | Cal 2009 California Golden Bears football team The 2009 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition during the 2009 season... |
8-8 | 141 | 867 | 6.1 | 93 | 12 |
| Totals | 30-20 | 364 | 2,668 | 7.3 | 93 | 29 | |
Receiving
| Year | Team | Games-Games Started | Receptions | Yards | Average | Long | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Cal 2007 California Golden Bears football team The 2007 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2007-2008 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and were coached by Jeff Tedford.... |
10-0 | 13 | 74 | 5.7 | 16 | 1 |
| 2008 | Cal 2008 California Golden Bears football team The 2008 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2008-2009 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and are coached by Jeff Tedford... |
12-12 | 27 | 246 | 9.1 | 42 | 1 |
| 2009 | Cal 2009 California Golden Bears football team The 2009 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition during the 2009 season... |
8-8 | 22 | 213 | 9.7 | 22 | 4 |
| Totals | 30-20 | 62 | 533 | 8.6 | 42 | 6 | |
Records
- Cal record for most rushing yards in a single game at 311, achieved on December 6, 2008 against the Washington Huskies2008 Washington Huskies football teamThe 2008 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the college football season of 2008-2009. The team's head coach was Tyrone Willingham. The Huskies played their home games at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington...
- Second highest Cal single season rushing record with 1,580 yards in 2008, second to J. J. Arrington's record of 2,018 yards in 2004
- Most all purpose yards in a single season (2008) with 2,247 total yards
- 2008 Emerald Bowl2008 Emerald BowlThe 2008 Emerald Bowl, part of the 2008-09 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 27, 2008 at AT&T Park, the home field of the Giants in San Francisco, California...
rushing record with 186 yards - Set a modern era Cal record for most rushing touchdowns in a single game with five scored against Minnesota2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football teamThe 2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was the third under head coach Tim Brewster. They began play on September 5, 2009, at Syracuse, a member of the Big East Conference. On September 12, the Minnesota opened the new TCF Bank Stadium with a 20–13 win against Air Force, moving from the...
on September 19, 2009. Dick Dunn rushed for six in 1922.
2010 NFL Draft
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Best had the third fastest overall 40 yard dash time and was the fastest among running backs. He was selected in a pick trade from the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
by 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...
30th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. Regarding the pick, 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...
head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Jim Schwartz
Jim Schwartz
Jim Schwartz is an American football head coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League.-Early life:Born just outside Baltimore, Maryland, Schwartz attended Mount Saint Joseph High School, an all male Catholic school, where he played football.Schwartz was a four-year letterman at...
said, "Some people watch adult videos on their computer... I go to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and watch Jahvid Best highlight clips. That’s what gets me going."
2010 season
Best started 15 games, scoring his first career NFL rushing touchdowns in the regular season opener on September 12 against the Chicago Bears2010 Chicago Bears season
The 2010 Chicago Bears season was the franchise's 91st season overall in the National Football League. Coming off a disappointing 7–9 record in the 2009 season and failing to qualify for the NFL playoffs for a third consecutive season, the Bears sought to develop their roster and improve on...
. His best game of the season came the following week in a 35-32 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles
2010 Philadelphia Eagles season
The 2010 Philadelphia Eagles season was the 78th season for the team in the National Football League , who looked to improve on their 11–5 record from 2009. They finished with a 10–6 record, but lost to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card playoffs. For head coach Andy Reid, this was his 12th...
, where he had 78 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and 154 receiving yards, including a 75 yard touchdown reception. He had more limited production for the rest of the season mainly due to a turf toe injury, with a career-low 2 rushing yards in Week 11 against the Dallas Cowboys
2010 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2010 Dallas Cowboys season is the 51st season for the team in the National Football League, and the second season playing their home games at Cowboys Stadium...
, and did not score any further rushing touchdowns, although he had a 53-yard receiving touchdown against the Miami Dolphins
2010 Miami Dolphins season
The 2010 Miami Dolphins season was the organization's 41st season in the National Football League and 45th overall. The Dolphins are entering the 2010 season coming off a third place finish in the AFC East 7–9-Staff Changes:...
in Week 16 during the Lions' four game winning streak.
2011 season
On Monday Night FootballMonday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
on October 10 against the Chicago Bears
2011 Chicago Bears season
The 2011 Chicago Bears season is the franchise's 92nd overall season in the National Football League, and the 8th under head coach Lovie Smith. The Bears, defending NFC North Division champions, will seek a return to the playoffs after falling in the NFC Championship Game to their arch-rivals the...
, Best had his first 100-yard game, rushing for 163 yards and a career long 88-yard touchdown run.
Personal
Best's name is a combination of JahJah
Jah is the shortened form of the divine name YHWH , an anglicized version of the Tetragrammaton . The name is most commonly associated with the Rastafari movement or within the word hallelujah, although Christian groups may use the name to varying degrees. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses use a...
and the last syllable of his father's name, David
David (name)
David is a common male given name and surname. The name "David" is derived from the ancient times of Mesopotamia and used as the Biblical Hebrew name דָּוִד , meaning "Beloved". "Dudi" is a common nickname for David in Hebrew, in the same way Dave and Davy are in English.The Arabic and Assyrian...
. His father is originally from St. Lucia and he has one sister named Laurie who is currently attending California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
.
External links
- NFL Draft 2010 profile
- Detroit Lions bio
- California Golden Bears bio
- ESPN bio
- In Focus: Jahvid Best vs Washington Rivals.com video highlights of Best's record-setting game, December 6, 2008