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DeJon Gomes
refer to caption
Gomes at the Redskins 2011 training camp.
No. 24
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1989-11-17) November 17, 1989 (age 34)
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 / Round: 5 / Pick: 146
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:84
Pass deflections:6
Interceptions:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

DeJon "D.J." Gomes (born November 17, 1989) is a former American football safety. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. Gomes played college football for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

He was also a member of the Detroit Lions.

High school career

Dejon Gomes attended high school at James Logan High School in Union 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 attend City College of San Francisco.

College career

Gomes making an interception against the Colorado Buffaloes in 2010.

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 top defensive back prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft by many NFL Draft experts and analysts.

Professional career

2011 NFL Combine

Pre-draft measurables
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 from NFL Combine[2][3]

Washington Redskins

2011 season

Gomes was drafted by the Washington Redskins 146th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, joining college teammates, Roy Helu, who was drafted earlier in the fourth round, and Niles Paul, who was drafted after him.[4] Throughout the season, he played as the backup to both free safety, Oshiomogho Atogwe, and strong safety, LaRon Landry, splitting the responsibility with Reed Doughty.[5] Gomes made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the New York Giants. He then had his first career start as a free safety in Week 11 against the Dallas 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 the Minnesota Vikings, Gomes tackled Adrian Peterson which resulted in Peterson tearing his ACL and MCL.[7] Gomes finished the 2011 season playing 15 games, starting five of them, and recording 35 tackles and two pass breakups.[8]

2012 season

By the start of the 2012 season, Gomes was made the starting strong safety in place of an injured Brandon Meriweather.[9] In the season opener win against the New Orleans Saints, he recorded his first pass deflection and first interception on Drew Brees.[10][11] By Week 4 of the 2012 season, he lost the starting strong safety position to Reed Doughty. After Meriweather was placed on injured reserve, Gomes was made the starting strong safety again in the Week 12 win against the Dallas Cowboys,[12] where he recovered a fumble after Josh Wilson stripped the ball and recorded six tackles.[13]

2013 season

Gomes was waived during the final roster cuts before the start of the 2013 season on August 31, 2013.[14]

Detroit Lions

2013 season

Gomes was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on September 1, 2013.[15][16]

2014 season

On August 26, 2014, the Lions placed Gomes on injured reserve due to a neck and shoulder injury he suffered in the second preseason game against the Oakland Raiders when he took on a helmet-to-helmet collision with Raiders tight end Scott Simonson.[17] Three days later, the Lions released him off injured reserve with an injury settlement.[18]

References

  1. ^ Yanda, Steve (12 September 2012). "DeJon Gomes savors first career interception, gets grief for not scoring TD". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  2. ^ NFL Combine Profile
  3. ^ NFL Draft Scout
  4. ^ "2011 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  5. ^ Tinsman, Brian (March 7, 2012). "Roster Review: Safeties". Redskins.com. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  6. ^ Svrluga, Barry (December 15, 2011). "Haslett: DeJon Gomes will start at strong safety for rest of season". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  7. ^ "Vikings term Adrian Peterson's surgery 'successful'". NationalFootballPost.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  8. ^ Fitzgerald, Gary (March 28, 2012). "In Second Year, Gomes Faces Key Offseason". Redskins.com. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  9. ^ Jones, Mike (September 6, 2012). "DeJon Gomes gets first-team work as Redskins scramble for backup plan at strong safety". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
  10. ^ Jones, Mike (September 9, 2012). "Jim Haslett praises Redskins' pass coverage vs. Saints". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
  11. ^ Tinsman, Brian (September 10, 2012). "Redskins-Saints Post-Game Notes". Redskins.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
  12. ^ Whyno, Stephen (November 21, 2012). "DeJon Gomes could get 2nd chance with Brandon Meriweather down". WashingtonTimes.com. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
  13. ^ Tinsman, Brian (November 23, 2012). "Friday Morning Stats Pack: Redskins-Cowboys". Redskins.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-28. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
  14. ^ Jones, Mike (August 31, 2013). "Redskins cuts: Tony Pashos, DeJon Gomes, Chase Minnifield among them". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
  15. ^ Rogers, Justin (September 1, 2013). "Detroit Lions claim safety DeJon Gomes off waivers". mlive.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  16. ^ Alper, Josh (September 1, 2013). "Lions claim DeJon Gomes, cut Rocky McIntosh". NBCSports.com. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  17. ^ Katzenstein, Josh (August 26, 2014). "Loss of DeJon Gomes a blow to Lions' secondary depth". DetroitNews.com. Archived from the original on 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
  18. ^ Katzenstein, Josh (August 29, 2014). "Lions waive safety DeJon Gomes in injury-related agreement". DetroitNews.com. Archived from the original on 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2014-08-31.

External links

Washington Redskins 2011 NFL Draft selections
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