Willie Offord

Last updated
Willie Offord
No. 24
Position: Safety
Personal information
Born: (1978-12-22) December 22, 1978 (age 45)
Palatka, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school: Palatka (FL)
College: South Carolina
NFL draft: 2002  / Round: 3 / Pick: 70
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:76
Interceptions:2
Passes defended:6
Player stats at PFR

Willie C. Offord (born December 22, 1978) is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL). Offord retired in 2007 due to injury. [1]

Contents

Playing career

Offord played collegiately at the University of South Carolina finishing his career with the Gamecocks with 185 total tackles, 110 of them being solo tackles.

He was drafted in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft with the 70th pick overall by the Minnesota Vikings. [2] He recorded 27 total tackles and one interception in his rookie year, his best year statistically. He has played mostly special teams during his 5-year tenure with the Vikings, serving as the special teams Captain in 2003–2006. Offord was placed on injured reserve just three games into the 2005 season with a devastating knee injury. He was released by the Vikings in 2006 due to a severely broken wrist. [3]

Coaching career

He served as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Linebackers Coach and Special Teams Coordinator for football at Orangeburg Preparatory Schools in Orangeburg, South Carolina. He spent the 2008 football season as the Head Football Coach at Paxon School for Advanced Studies in Jacksonville, Florida. On December 18, 2009, Offord was named the Head Football Coach at Interlachen High School in Interlachen, Florida. Offord is currently the Head Football Coach at North Marion High School (Florida), in Sparr, FL, after working one year as an assistant coach at Newberry College and the year before that as head coach at Columbia (SC) HS. Offord coached his alma mater, Palatka High School in Palatka, FL in the 2012 and 2013 seasons, taking the team to the FHSAA playoffs in 2013. Offord is the Head Football Coach at North Marion High School the 2018 FHSAA class 5A State Runner-up [4] [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerard Warren</span> American football player (born 1978)

Gerard Thurston Warren is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons. He played college football for the University of Florida. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns third overall in the 2001 NFL draft, and also played professionally for the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots of the NFL.

John L. Williams is an American former professional football player who was a running back for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s and 1990s. Williams played college football for the Florida Gators. A first-round pick in the 1986 NFL Draft, he played professionally for the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lito Sheppard</span> American football player and coach (born 1981)

Lito Decorian Sheppard is an American football coach and former player. During his playing career as cornerback, he played in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft after playing college football for the Florida Gators. He played for the Eagles for seven seasons, and was selected to the Pro Bowl twice. He also played for the NFL's New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, and Oakland Raiders. As a coach, he was the safeties coach for the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019.

Jean Ribault High School is a public high school located in North Jacksonville, Florida. It is part of Duval County Public Schools.

Samuel Cowart III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earning consensus All-American honors. A second-round pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, he played professionally for the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. Cowart was a Pro Bowl selection in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brock Marion</span> American football player (born 1970)

Brock Elliot Marion is an American former professional football player who is currently the defensive backs coach for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He was a free safety for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack, he was chosen in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and the Detroit Lions, and was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Dolphins. He is the son of NFL player Jerry Marion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Grantham</span> American football coach (born 1966)

Jeffrey Todd Grantham is an American football coach who is the defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as defensive coordinator at the University of Florida.

Cris Edward Dishman is an American football coach and former cornerback. He is the 18th head football coach for Texas Southern University, a position he has held since 2024. He played for the Houston Oilers, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Washington Redskins during his thirteen-year career from 1988 to 2000 in the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omare Lowe</span> American football player (born 1978)

Omare Gerald Lowe is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington.

Dallas Leon Baker is a former American football wide receiver. Baker played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter played professionally for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL), the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and the Jacksonville Sharks and San Antonio Talons of the Arena Football League (AFL). As a member of the Steelers, he won Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals. He is currently the wide receivers coach at Baylor University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Nelson</span> American football player (born 1983)

Reggie Lee Nelson is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, winning a national championship and earning consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft and also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Polk</span> American football player and coach (born 1977)

Carlos Devonn Polk is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the assistant special teams coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego Chargers and Grossmont College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interlachen High School</span> Public high school in Interlachen, Florida, United States

Interlachen Jr-Sr High School is a public high school located in Interlachen, Florida, United States, operated by the Putnam County School Board. The principal is Amber Symonds

Jarvis Eric Williams, Sr. was an American professional football player who was a defensive back for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s and 1990s. Williams played college football for the Florida Gators, earning recognition as a first-team All-American in 1987. Thereafter, he played professionally for the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants of the NFL. Williams died unexpectedly at the age of 45.

Bob Ligashesky is an American football coach. He is the special teams coordinator at the University of Minnesota. Ligashesky has been as assistant coach with several teams in the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeMarcus Van Dyke</span> American football player (born 1989)

DeMarcus Van Dyke is a former American football cornerback who played six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Van Dyke is currently the cornerbacks coach for the South Florida Bull football team. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 3rd round, 81st overall of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes. He has also been a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Palatka High School is a public high school located in Palatka, Florida, operated by the Putnam County School Board. The school was established 1977 after merging two existing schools - Palatka Central and Palatka South. The campus has completed several renovation projects with science labs, new classrooms, a performing arts area, and office areas. Palatka High School serves the Palatka and East Palatka areas. Current student enrollment is about 1,400, drawing students from Jenkins Middle School. Students attend 7 classes per day, taking a wide variety of courses, including dual enrollment courses at St. Johns River State College. PHS offers Honors and AP courses and a variety of elective classes including Art and Journalism. Florida Virtual School is also an option for students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharrif Floyd</span> American football player (born 1991)

Sharrif Kalil Floyd is an American football coach and former defensive tackle who is the assistant defensive line coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Florida, where he was recognized as an All-American in 2012. Floyd was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, playing his entire career there before retiring in 2017 following a number of injuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ereck Flowers</span> American football player (born 1994)

Ereck Flowers is an American former professional football player who was a offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was selected ninth overall by the New York Giants in the 2015 NFL draft. He has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins / Football Team, and Miami Dolphins. Flowers played offensive tackle at the University of Miami and in the early part of his NFL career prior to switching to guard in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A.C. Leonard</span> American gridiron football player (born 1992)

AC Leonard is an American professional gridiron football defensive lineman who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played tight end for the BC Lions in 2015 before converting to a defensive lineman in 2016. He attended Tennessee State University, where he played college football for the Tigers and studied criminal justice. Leonard has been member of NFL, AFL, FXFL and CFL.

References

  1. "Athletes go back to school on First Coast Six former athletes explain why they chose to go back to school as coaches". jacksonville.com. August 24, 2009. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  2. "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  3. "Complete list of NFL cuts and other transactions". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . Associated Press. September 4, 2006. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  4. "High School Scoop". footballscoop.com. January 20, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  5. "High School Scoop - Friday January 14, 2022 - Footballscoop".