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 Gomes with the Washington Redskins in 2011 | |||||||||||
| No. 24 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Safety | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | (1989-11-17)November 17, 1989 (age 36) Hayward, California, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 201 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Union City (CA) Logan | ||||||||||
| College | Nebraska | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2011: 5th round, 146th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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DeJon "D.J."Gomes (born November 17, 1989) is an American former professionalfootballsafety. He was selected in the fifth round of the2011 NFL draft by theWashington Redskins. Gomes playedcollege football for theUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln.
He was also a member of theDetroit Lions.
Dejon Gomes attended high school atJames Logan High School inUnion City, California[1] where he started for one year on the varsity football team, after sitting out the previous year with an injury. After graduating in 2007, he did not receive any top scholarship offers, so he decided to attendCity College of San Francisco.
While at the City College of San Francisco, Gomes lead the state in interceptions, tackles, and fumble returns. Later on, Gomes transferred to Nebraska. Once Gomes started his career at Nebraska, he quickly became a starter for two years and lead the team in interceptions and tackles. He was billed as one of the topdefensive back prospects for the2011 NFL draft by many NFL Draft experts and analysts.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | 31+3⁄8 in (0.80 m) | 9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.53 s | 1.58 s | 2.58 s | 31 in (0.79 m) | 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) | 13 reps | |||
| All values fromNFL Combine[2][3] | ||||||||||||
Gomes was selected by theWashington Redskins 146th overall in the2011 NFL draft, joining college teammates,Roy Helu, who was drafted earlier in the fourth round, andNiles Paul, who was drafted after him.[4] Throughout the season, he played as the backup to bothfree safety,Oshiomogho Atogwe, andstrong safety,LaRon Landry, splitting the responsibility withReed Doughty.[5]Gomes made his NFL debut in Week 1 against theNew York Giants. He then had his first career start as a free safety in Week 11 against theDallas Cowboys, where he made 14 tackles.After Landry was put on injured reserve, Gomes became the starting strong safety for the rest of the season.[6]On December 24, 2011, while playing against theMinnesota Vikings, Gomes tackledAdrian Peterson which resulted in Peterson tearing hisACL andMCL.[7]Gomes finished the2011 season playing 15 games, starting five of them, and recording 35 tackles and two pass breakups.[8]
By the start of the2012 season, Gomes was made the starting strong safety in place of an injuredBrandon Meriweather.[9] In the season opener win against theNew Orleans Saints, he recorded his first pass deflection and first interception onDrew Brees.[10][11] By Week 4 of the2012 season, he lost the starting strong safety position toReed Doughty. After Meriweather was placed on injured reserve, Gomes was made the starting strong safety again in the Week 12 win against theDallas Cowboys,[12] where he recovered a fumble afterJosh Wilson stripped the ball and recorded six tackles.[13]
Gomes was waived during the final roster cuts before the start of the2013 season on August 31, 2013.[14]
Gomes was claimed off waivers by theDetroit Lions on September 1, 2013.[15][16]
On August 26, 2014, the Lions placed Gomes oninjured reserve due to a neck and shoulder injury he suffered in the second preseason game against theOakland Raiders when he took on a helmet-to-helmet collision with Raiders tight endScott Simonson.[17] Three days later, the Lions released him off injured reserve with an injury settlement.[18]