Deon Cain
refer to caption
Cain with the Clemson Tigers
No. 85 – Birmingham Stallions
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1996-08-09) August 9, 1996 (age 27)
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:202 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:Tampa Bay Technical
(Tampa, Florida)
College:Clemson (2015–2017)
NFL draft:2018 / Round: 6 / Pick: 185
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:9
Receiving yards:124
Receiving touchdowns:0
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Deon Cain (born August 9, 1996) is an American football wide receiver for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Clemson.

Early years

Cain attended Tampa Bay Technical High School in Tampa, Florida.[1] He played quarterback for the high school football team. He was rated as a five-star recruit and committed to Clemson University to play college football under head coach Dabo Swinney.[2][3]

College career

Cain moved to wide receiver at Clemson. As a true freshman in 2015, he played in 13 games, recording 34 receptions for 582 yards and five touchdowns.[4][5] He did not play in the 2015 Orange Bowl or 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship due to suspension for failing a drug test.[6] Cain returned from the suspension in 2016, and played in all 15 games, including Clemson's 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Alabama.[7][8] For the season, he had 38 receptions for 724 yards and nine touchdowns.[9] After his junior season, Cain decided to forgo his senior year and declare for the 2018 NFL Draft.[10]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+7⁄8 in
(1.88 m) 		202 lb
(92 kg) 		33 in
(0.84 m) 		8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		 4.43 s 1.57 s 2.63 s 4.37 s 6.71 s 33.5 in
(0.85 m)		 9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)		 11 reps
All values from NFL Combine[11][12]

Indianapolis Colts

Cain was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round (185th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.[13] In the first preseason game, Cain suffered a torn ACL after a promising training camp, prematurely ending his rookie season.[14] Cain was placed on injured reserve on August 12, 2018.[15] He made his NFL debut in the Colts' 2019 season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. In the 30–24 loss, he had two receptions for 35 yards.[16] He was waived on November 9.[17]

Pittsburgh Steelers

On November 16, 2019, Cain was signed off the Colts practice squad by the Pittsburgh Steelers.[18] In 6 games with the Steelers, Cain caught 5 passes for 72 yards.

He was waived on September 5, 2020, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[19][20] He was elevated to the active roster on October 17 and January 2, 2021, for the team's weeks 6 and 17 games, each against the Cleveland Browns, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[21][22] His practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on January 18, 2021.[23]

Baltimore Ravens

On January 22, 2021, Cain signed a reserve/futures contract with the Baltimore Ravens.[24] On August 31, 2021, he was placed on injured reserve, and released three days later.[25]

Philadelphia Eagles (first stint)

On October 18, 2021, Cain was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad.[26] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on January 18, 2022.[27]

On August 30, 2022, Cain was waived by the Eagles and signed to the practice squad the next day.[28][29] He was released on October 31, 2022.[30]

On November 11, 2022, the Tennessee Titans hosted Cain for a workout.[31]

Birmingham Stallions (first stint)

On March 8, 2023, Cain signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL).[32] He caught 16 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns. He was named 2023 USFL Championship Game MVP after he caught three touchdown passes when his team won the championship game at the end of the season.[33] His contract was terminated after the season on July 10, 2023, to sign with an NFL team.[34]

Philadelphia Eagles (second stint)

On July 25, 2023, Cain signed with the Eagles.[35] He was released on August 27, 2023 as part of final roster cuts before the start of the 2023 season.[36]

Birmingham Stallions (second stint)

On November 30, 2023, Cain re-signed with the Stallions.[37]

NFL career statistics

Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Tgt Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2018 IND 0 0 Did not play due to injury
2019 IND 7 0 14 4 52 13.0 25 0 0 0
PIT 6 1 6 5 72 14.4 35 0 0 0
2020 PIT 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Career 14 1 20 9 124 13.8 35 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ Wright, Brandon (November 26, 2014). "Can anyone contain Tampa Bay Tech's Deon Cain?". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  2. ^ "National top-five wide receiver Deon Cain commits to Clemson". Independent Mail. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. ^ Parsons, Kelly (May 30, 2014). "Tampa Bay Tech's Deon Cain chooses Clemson". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on June 5, 2015.
  4. ^ Lentz, Zach. "'Time off' done, Deon Cain ready to be Tiger weapon again". The Times and Democrat. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  5. ^ "Deon Cain back with Clemson as a better person". The State. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018.
  6. ^ Kussoy, Howie (January 8, 2017). "Deon Cain's Clemson nightmare has become a second chance". New York Post. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  7. ^ Brenner, Aaron. "Clemson WR Deon Cain's road to redemption ends back home in Tampa". Post and Courier. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  8. ^ "Deon Cain's hard lesson can pay off in his hometown". ESPN.com. January 7, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  9. ^ Hope, Dan. "Deon Cain working to be a leader for Clemson football". Independent Mail. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  10. ^ "Clemson wide receiver Deon Cain declaring for NFL draft". USA Today. January 10, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  11. ^ "Deon Cain Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  12. ^ "Deon Cain, Clemson, WR, 2018 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  13. ^ "Indianapolis Colts Steal WR Deon Cain with Pick 185 in NFL Draft". StampedeBlue.com. April 28, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  14. ^ Wesseling, Chris (August 10, 2018). "Colts lose promising rookie WR Deon Cain to torn ACL". NFL.com.
  15. ^ "Roster Moves: Colts Sign WR Matt Hazel, RB Branden Oliver; Place WR Deon Cain On IR". Colts.com. August 12, 2018. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  16. ^ "Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers - September 8th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  17. ^ Walker, Andrew (November 9, 2019). "Colts Bring Up WR Marcus Johnson, QB Chad Kelly To Active Roster". Colts.com.
  18. ^ Varley, Teresa (November 16, 2019). "Steelers sign Cain, Whyte". Pittsburgh Steelers. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  19. ^ Varley, Teresa (September 6, 2020). "Steelers make moves to get to 53-man roster". Steelers.com.
  20. ^ Varley, Teresa (September 6, 2020). "Steelers add 14 to practice squad". Steelers.com.
  21. ^ Varley, Teresa (October 17, 2020). "Cain elevated from practice squad". Steelers.com.
  22. ^ Varley, Teresa (January 2, 2021). "Steelers make multiple roster moves". Steelers.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  23. ^ Bryan, Dave (January 18, 2021). "Steelers Let Contracts Of Five Practice Squad Players, Including QB Devlin Hodges, Expire". SteelersDepot.com. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  24. ^ Mink, Ryan (January 22, 2021). "Ravens Sign Former Steelers Wide Receiver to Futures Contract". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  25. ^ Mink, Ryan (August 31, 2021). "Ravens Make Cuts to 53. Here's the Full List". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  26. ^ McPherson, Chris (October 18, 2021). "Eagles sign WR Deon Cain to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  27. ^ McPherson, Chris (January 18, 2022). "Eagles sign 11 players to Reserve/Futures contracts". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  28. ^ McPherson, Chris (August 30, 2022). "Eagles announce initial 53-man roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ McPherson, Chris (August 31, 2022). "Eagles sign 15 players to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  30. ^ McPherson, Chris (October 31, 2022). "Eagles sign CB Javelin Guidry to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  31. ^ "Titans Tried Out Five Players Including TE JJ Arcega-Whiteside". November 11, 2022.
  32. ^ @USFLStallions (March 8, 2023). "Free Agent Signing" (Tweet). Retrieved March 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ "Deon Cain gets another NFL shot" Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  34. ^ @USFLStallions (July 10, 2023). "Contract Terminated / Signing with NFL Team" (Tweet). Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Twitter.
  35. ^ "Eagles sign USFL Championship game MVP Deon Cain to contract prior to start of training camp, per report". CBSSports.com. July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  36. ^ McPherson, Chris (August 27, 2023). "Eagles announce first wave of roster moves". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  37. ^ @USFLStallions (November 30, 2023). "Free Agent Signings" (Tweet). Retrieved December 1, 2023 – via Twitter.

External links

2016 Clemson Tigers football—consensus national champions
Indianapolis Colts 2018 NFL Draft selections
Birmingham Stallions 2023 USFL champions
Categories