Dede Westbrook

Decrick De'Shawn "Dede" Westbrook (/ˈdiːd/; born November 21, 1993) is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He played college football at Oklahoma.

Dede Westbrook
Personal information
Born: (1993-11-21) November 21, 1993
Cameron, Texas
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:178 lb (81 kg)
Career information
High school:C. H. Yoe
(Cameron, TX)
College:Oklahoma
Position:Wide receiver,
Return specialist
NFL Draft:2017 / Round: 4 / Pick: 110
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2021
Receptions:169
Receiving yards:1,784
Return yards:770
Rushing yards:125
Total touchdowns:10
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Westbrook attended C. H. Yoe High School in Cameron, Texas, where he played high school football for the Yoemen.[1] As a three-year letterer and starter, Westbrook caught a career total of 116 passes for 1,670 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also started at defensive back, racking 77 career tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 interceptions throughout his career.[2] Although he was originally a highly touted recruit, Dede received a season-ending injury early into his senior year when a bad tackle ruptured his lower intestine. He spent over a month recovering in a hospital bed and several more months recovering through therapy, which took a toll on his physical and mental health; many recruiters withdrew their interest when his weight and grades both started to plummet. Many believed Dede's football career was permanently over.[3]

Dede was regarded as a three-star recruit and was ranked the No. 97 wide receiver prospect in the Class of 2012 by ESPN.[4] After getting scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, UTEP, Utah State, and Wyoming, Dede committed to Texas State University to play for the Texas State Bobcats. However, Dede's grades were still not good enough to allow him to be admitted into the school, so he ultimately went the junior college route and played at Blinn College.

While in high school, Dede also excelled in basketball and track.

College career

After fully recovering from his injury, Westbrook had a breakout season at Blinn College where he caught 1,471 yards and 13 touchdowns.[5] Dede was named one of the top junior college recruits and received over 30 scholarship offers, including from some who rescinded their offers when he was injured in high school. He ultimately transferred to the University of Oklahoma to play under head coach Bob Stoops.[6][7] In his first year at Oklahoma in 2015, he started all 13 games and had 46 receptions for 743 yards and four touchdowns.[8] Westbrook became Oklahoma's number one wide receiver during his senior year in 2016. Against Texas, he set a school record with 232 receiving yards, breaking the previous record of 217 held by Ryan Broyles.[9][10][11] He led the Big 12 Conference with 1,524 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns in 2016.[12]

On December 5, 2016, Westbrook was announced as one of the finalists for the 2016 Heisman Trophy, along with quarterbacks Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, and defensive back Jabrill Peppers, from Clemson, Louisville, Oklahoma, and Michigan, respectively.[13] He ended up finishing in fourth place in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Mayfield (3rd), Watson (2nd), and Jackson (1st).[14]

College statistics
Dede Westbrook Receiving
YearTeamGPRecYardsTDs
2015Oklahoma13467434
2016Oklahoma13801,52417
College Totals261262,20821

Source:[15]

Professional career

Westbrook declined an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl. He received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, but decided to not perform any drills. At Oklahoma's Pro Day, he elected to run all the required combine drills. After finally performing for scouts and team representatives, Westbrook draft projections varied from the second round to the fourth round from draft experts and analysts. He was ranked the third best wide receiver by Pro Football Focus, the 14th best by Sports Illustrated, and was ranked the 15th best by NFLDraftScout.com.[16][17]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 11+7⁄8 in
(1.83 m)		 178 lb
(81 kg)		 30+5⁄8 in
(0.78 m)		 9 in
(0.23 m)		4.39 s1.54 s2.54 s4.34 s7.24 s34.5 in
(0.88 m)		10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)		8 reps
All values from Oklahoma's Pro Day[18][19]

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Westbrook in the fourth round (110th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the 15th wide receiver selected in 2017.[20]

2017 season

On May 16, 2017, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Westbrook to a four-year, $3.07 million contract with a signing bonus of $676,156.[21] He was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return on September 8, 2017, after dealing with a core muscle injury.[22] On November 18, he was activated off injured reserve.[23] Overall, in his rookie season, he totaled 27 receptions for 339 yards and one touchdown.[24]

The Jaguars made the 2017 NFL playoffs as the #3-seed in the AFC.[25] In the Wild Card Round, they defeated the Buffalo Bills, 10–3. In his first career postseason game, Westbrook caught five passes for 48 yards on eight targets, which included a 20-yard reception in the beginning of the third quarter. He was the game's leading receiver.[26] In the Divisional Round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had an eight-yard reception in the 45–42 victory.[27] In the AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots, he had a 24-yard reception.[28]

2018 season

In Week 2 against the New England Patriots, Westbrook recorded a 61-yard touchdown reception in the 31–20 victory.[29] In Week 4, in a victory over the New York Jets, he had a career-high nine receptions for 130 receiving yards in the 31–12 victory.[30] In Week 15, against the Washington Redskins, he recorded a 74-yard punt return touchdown in the 16–13 loss.[31][32] Overall, he finished the 2018 season with 66 receptions for 717 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.[33] He led the Jaguars in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in 2018.[34]

2019 season

Over the first six games of the 2019 season, Westbrook totaled 26 receptions for 280 receiving yards and one touchdown. In Week 7, a 27–17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, he had six receptions for 103 receiving yards.[35] Overall, he finished the season with 66 receptions for 660 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.[36]

2020 season

Westbrook entered 2020 fourth on the Jaguars wide receiver depth chart. In Week 7, he suffered a torn ACL and was placed on injured reserve on October 26.[37]

Minnesota Vikings

On July 26, 2021, Westbrook signed with the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year contract.[38]

NFL career statistics
Year Team Games Receiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
2017JAX 752733912.1291
2018JAX 1586370711.261T5
2019JAX 15116666010.0393
2020JAX 20144.040
Career40241601,72010.861T9

References
  1. "Cameron Yoe product Dede Westbrook picked by Jacksonville". KBTX. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  2. "Maxpreps".
  3. "Dede Westbrook's road to the Heisman ceremony".
  4. "Recruiting Profile". ESPN.
  5. "Blinn Football Roster".
  6. Marshall, Kendrick. "OU football: Dede Westbrook talks NFL life, Bob Stoops during autograph signing". Tulsa World. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  7. Tramel, Berry (April 14, 2015). "Oklahoma football: Dede Westbrook can have an impact". NewsOK.com. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  8. Bailey, Eric (August 24, 2016). "Oklahoma football: Dede Westbrook will be No. 1 target of Mayfield, opposing defenses". Tulsa World. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  9. Vardeman, Brady (October 8, 2016). "Dede Westbrook sets Oklahoma record for receiving yards in a game". SportsDay. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  10. Pryor, Brooke (October 9, 2016). "OU football: Dede Westbrook emerges as go-to receiver". NewsOK.com. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  11. Olson, Max (October 8, 2016). "Inside the play: Dede Westbrook's TD reception sets tone for Oklahoma". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  12. "2016 Big 12 Conference Leaders". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  13. Adelson, Andrea (December 6, 2016). "L'ville's Jackson leads group of Heisman finalists". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  14. "2016 Heisman Trophy Voting". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  15. "Dede Westbrook College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  16. Burke, Chris (April 24, 2017). "2017 NFL draft rankings: Top prospects by position". si.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  17. "Top 32 Prospects for the 2017 NFL Draft". Profootballfocus.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  18. "NFL Draft Profile: Dede Westbrook". NFL.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  19. "Dede Westbrook, DS #15 WR, Oklahoma". nfldraftscout.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  20. Sessler, Marc (April 29, 2017). "Jaguars draft WR Dede Westbrook in fourth round". NFL.com.
  21. "Spotrac.com: Dede Westbrook contract". spotrac.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  22. "Jaguars Sign Offensive Lineman Josh Walker; Claim Safety Calvin Pryor Off Waivers". Jaguars.com. September 8, 2017. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017.
  23. "Jaguars make roster moves". Jaguars.com. November 18, 2017.
  24. "Dede Westbrook 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  25. "2017 Jacksonville Jaguars Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  26. "Wild Card - Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars - January 7th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  27. "Divisional Round - Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 14th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  28. "AFC Championship - Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots - January 21st, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  29. "Jaguars' Dede Westbrook: Burns Patriots with 61-yard score". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  30. "Jaguars' Dede Westbrook: Racks up 141 scrimmage yards". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  31. "Watch: Dede Westbrook returns punt for TD vs. Redskins". SI.com. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  32. Long, Mark (December 16, 2018). "Johnson leads Redskins to late scores, 16-13 win at Jaguars". The Edwardsville Intelligencer. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  33. "Dede Westbrook 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  34. "2018 Jacksonville Jaguars Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  35. "Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals - October 20th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  36. "Dede Westbrook 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  37. Alper, Josh (October 26, 2020). "Report: Jaguars fear torn ACL for Dede Westbrook". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  38. Smith, Eric (July 26, 2021). "Vikings Boost Receiving & Returner Options by Signing Dede Westbrook". Vikings.com.
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