Ricky Sapp
Encyclopedia
Ricky Sapp is an American football
linebacker
for the New York Jets
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Clemson
.
s. In his senior season, he had 82 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks, earning him All-American honors by USA Today
.
Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com
, Sapp was listed as the No. 1 weakside defensive end prospect in the nation. He chose Clemson over Florida State
, Georgia
, N.C. State
, Oklahoma
, South Carolina
, and Virginia Tech. Sapp was Clemson's first All-American defensive lineman commit since 1989.
, Sapp had 20 tackles and six tackles for loss on the year and ranked second on the team in sacks (4). He earned a freshman All-American honorable mention by Scout.com
.
As a sophomore, Sapp played all 13 games and had 52 tackles, second-most among defensive linemen. He also had 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, and 22 quarterback pressures. In his junior year, Sapp had 10 tackles for loss in just 347 snaps. He entered his senior year fourth among active ACC players in career tackles for loss (26) and fourth among active players in career sacks (11).
in the fifth round (134th overall) in the 2010 NFL Draft
. He was signed to a four-year contract on June 8, 2010. He was placed on injured reserve
on August 31 after suffering a knee injury. Sapp underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in September.
Sapp was placed on the exempt/left squad list on August 4, 2011, after leaving the team for undisclosed reasons. He was waived on August 5.
' practice squad on October 31, 2011. He was released on November 21. Sapp was re-signed to the practice squad on November 28.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
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 Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fifth round of 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...
. 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 Clemson
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
Early years
Sapp attended Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School in Bamberg, South Carolina, where he was all-region as a sophomore and all-state as a junior after recording 70 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback sackQuarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s. In his senior season, he had 82 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks, earning him All-American honors by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
.
Considered a five-star recruit by 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...
, Sapp was listed as the No. 1 weakside defensive end prospect in the nation. He chose Clemson over Florida State
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, N.C. State
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, and Virginia Tech. Sapp was Clemson's first All-American defensive lineman commit since 1989.
College career
In his initial year at Clemson, Sapp appeared on defense in all 13 games as a true freshman. Despite playing behind All-American Gaines AdamsGaines Adams
Gaines Adams was an American football defensive end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round in the 2007 NFL Draft and in 2009 was traded to the Chicago Bears...
, Sapp had 20 tackles and six tackles for loss on the year and ranked second on the team in sacks (4). He earned a freshman All-American honorable mention by Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
.
As a sophomore, Sapp played all 13 games and had 52 tackles, second-most among defensive linemen. He also had 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, and 22 quarterback pressures. In his junior year, Sapp had 10 tackles for loss in just 347 snaps. He entered his senior year fourth among active ACC players in career tackles for loss (26) and fourth among active players in career sacks (11).
Philadelphia Eagles
Sapp was drafted by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fifth round (134th 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...
. He was signed to a four-year contract on June 8, 2010. He 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...
on August 31 after suffering a knee injury. Sapp underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in September.
Sapp was placed on the exempt/left squad list on August 4, 2011, after leaving the team for undisclosed reasons. He was waived on August 5.
New York Jets
Sapp was signed to the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
' practice squad on October 31, 2011. He was released on November 21. Sapp was re-signed to the practice squad on November 28.