 Tiffin kicking an extra point for Alabama | |
| No. 10 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Placekicker |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1988-08-03)August 3, 1988 (age 37) Muscle Shoals, Alabama, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 212 lb (96 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Alabama |
| NFL draft | 2010: undrafted |
| Career history | |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
Van Leigh Tiffin Jr. (born August 3, 1988) is an American formercollege football player who was akicker for theAlabama Crimson Tide. He was signed by theCleveland Browns of theNational Football League (NFL) as anundrafted free agent in 2010. Named for his father, Tiffin is called Leigh to distinguish him fromVan Tiffin.
Tiffin, who wore number 99 for theAlabama Crimson Tide, got his chance to kick as a freshman following agroin injury to starting kicker Jamie Christensen. Tiffin was a hero, kicking the game-winning 47-yard field goal, in Alabama's 13–10 win overVanderbilt on September 9, 2006.[3] However, two weeks later against a very strongArkansas team, he would miss three field goals in a 24–23 overtime loss, including the game-tying extra point.[4] Christensen returned to the role the following week againstFlorida and except for two extra points againstFlorida International. Tiffin would be benched for the remainder of the season.[5][6]
In2007, he won the starting placekicking role over Christensen. The highlight of his sophomore year was when he went 4–4 infield goal attempts (39, 51, 29, 50) in a losing effort againstMississippi State. He was only the second kicker in Alabama football history to make two 50+ yard field goals in a game, the other being his father.[citation needed] His four kicks wereAlabama's only points of the game.[7] He finished the 2007 season converting all 36 extra point attempts and 25 of 34 field goal attempts.[8]
In the 2008Chick-fil-A College Kickoff, Tiffin kicked a 54-yard field goal, his career long, in a 34–10 victory over #9-rankedClemson.[9] He finished the season with 20 of 29 field goals and a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.[10]
For the 2009 season, he was 30 for 35 on field goal attempts for 87.9 percent.[11] After kicking a field goal againstLSU, he became Alabama's all-time leading scorer with 350 points. That year, he was namedLou Groza Award "Star of the Week" three times and was a finalist for the Groza. In mid-December, Tiffin was named to theAssociated Press All-American Team along with five other Crimson Tide players.
Tiffin was given a tryout with theCleveland Browns as anundrafted free agent[12] and agreed to a rookie free agent deal on May 3, 2010.[13] He was waived/injured on May 18 and reverted toinjured reserve. He was released from injured reserve with an injury settlement on May 26.
Tiffin, born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, is the son of Mia Michelle (née Self) andVan Leigh Tiffin. His father, known as Van, was a former Crimson Tide kicker who was the hero of the 1985Iron Bowl against rivalAuburn.[14] Leigh Tiffin graduated fromMuscle Shoals High School.[15]
Tiffin married Baylee Ann Ellson. They have a daughter, Ava Bayleigh; their son Van Leigh III was born January 5, 2013.