 Upshaw with the Baltimore Ravens in 2012 | |||||||||||
| No. 91 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positions | Outside Linebacker Defensive end | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | (1989-12-13)December 13, 1989 (age 35) Eufaula, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 272 lb (123 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Eufaula | ||||||||||
| College | Alabama (2008–2011) | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2012: 2nd round, 35th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Courtney Tremaine Upshaw (born December 13, 1989) is an American former professionalfootball player who was anoutside linebacker in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theAlabama Crimson Tide, earning first-teamAll-American honors in 2011. He was selected by theBaltimore Ravens in the second round of the2012 NFL draft.
Upshaw attendedEufaula High School, where he played for the Eufaula Tigershigh school football team under head coach Dan Klages.[1][2] In his junior season, Upshaw posted 96 tackles and three interceptions as he helped lead Eufaula to a 14–1 season record, including the Tigers first state championship finale appearances since 1981.[3] They lost 10–7 toAthens.[4] As a senior, Upshaw had 95 solo tackles, 65 assists, including 22 for loss and seven sacks to go with three fumble recoveries. He also had 20 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns as atight end. He was the Alabama Class 5A Lineman of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and ASWA Class 5A All-State selection in 2007. Upshaw was ranked as a four-star prospect and ninth in the state of Alabama by Rivals.com.[5]
After playing in all 13 games of his freshman season, Upshaw saw his playing time increase in his second season at Alabama. He made one start and appeared in all 14 games for the Crimson Tide in 2009.[6] Upshaw made the most of his first career start againstKentucky, as he tallied four solo tackles, one sack and returned a fumble 45 yards for a key against the Wildcats.[6][7] In the2010 BCS National Championship Game against theTexas Longhorns, Upshaw recovered aGarrett Gilbertfumble on an Eryk Andersquarterback sack with just 3:08 remaining in the game, that sealed the title for the Crimson Tide.[6][8]
In his junior season, Upshaw started 11 games for the Crimson Tide. He accounted for 52 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles.[9] In the2011 Capital One Bowl againstMichigan State, Upshaw led the defense for the Crimson Tide, who won 49–7, with a pair of sacks, five tackles, including three for a loss as well as forcing a fumble, and was voted the game's MVP for his effort.[10]
In his senior season, Upshaw started all 13 games for the Crimson Tide. He accounted for 51 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.[11] For his on-field performance, Upshaw was named first-team All-America by theFootball Writers Association of America andTheSporting News.[12][13] He was also recognized as second-team All-America by theWalter Camp Football Foundation and the Associated Press.[14][15] In the2012 BCS National Championship Game, Upshaw was named the defensive MVP with his seven tackle performance, which included one sack and one tackle for a loss.[16]
| Year | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | Blk | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Solo | Ast | Cmb | TfL | Yds | Sck | Yds | Int | Yds | BU | PD | QBH | FR | Yds | FF | ||
| 2008[17] | 13 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009[18] | 14 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010[9] | 13 | 13 | 32 | 20 | 52 | 14.5 | 69 | 7 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2011[11] | 13 | 13 | 37 | 15 | 52 | 18 | 90 | 9.5 | 62 | 1 | 45 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 53 | 27 | 87 | 53 | 140 | 35.5 | 157 | 17.5 | 103 | 1 | 45 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 3 | 45 | 6 | 0 |
| Height | Weight | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft1+5⁄8 in (1.87 m) | 272 lb (123 kg) | 4.74 s | 1.67 s | 2.72 s | 4.60 s | 7.32 s | 27 in (0.69 m) | 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m) | ||||
| All values from AlabamaPro Day[19] | ||||||||||||
Upshaw was taken by theBaltimore Ravens with the third pick of the second round (35th overall) in the2012 NFL draft.[20][21]
On May 10, 2012, he signed a four-year, $5,296,698 contract (with $3,587,000 guaranteed) with the Ravens.[22] During his rookie year in 2012, Upshaw played 16 games with 55 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two passes defended, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.[23] InSuper Bowl XLVII, Upshaw recorded his first forced fumble againstSan Francisco 49ers running backLaMichael James, which the Ravens recovered and scored on the ensuing possession. The Ravens won theSuper Bowl by a score of 34–31, giving Upshaw his first championship title.[24]
In 2013, Upshaw played 16 games with 31 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two passes defended.[25] In 2014, he played 16 games with 46 tackles and one pass defended.[26] In 2015, he played 16 games with 51 tackles, two sacks, two passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.[27][28] After the 2015 season, he became a free agent.
On March 25, 2016, Upshaw signed a one-year contract withAtlanta Falcons worth $1.25 million.[29] In 13 games of 2016, Upshaw finished the year with 24 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.[30] The Falcons finished the season with an 11–5 record, and eventually made it toSuper Bowl LI, where they would lose in overtime to theNew England Patriots by a score of 34–28. In the game, Upshaw had one sack and one total tackle.[31]
On March 9, 2017, the Falcons re-signed Upshaw.[32] In the 2017 season, he appeared in 13 games and finished one sack and one forced fumble.[33]
On June 14, 2018, Upshaw signed with theNew York Jets.[34] On July 28, Upshaw was released by the Jets.[35]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2012 | BAL | 16 | 9 | 60 | 38 | 22 | 1.5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 2013 | BAL | 16 | 13 | 30 | 19 | 11 | 1.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | BAL | 16 | 14 | 42 | 25 | 17 | 0.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | BAL | 16 | 15 | 51 | 29 | 22 | 2.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | ATL | 13 | 5 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | ATL | 13 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 90 | 56 | 216 | 131 | 85 | 7.0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2012 | BAL | 4 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | BAL | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | ATL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | ATL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 4 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 2.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
In 2023, Upshaw was hired as defensive line coach underRush Propst atPell City High School (AL).[36]
