| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | April 21, 1966 New York, New York, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight: | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Seminole (FL) |
| College: | Florida |
| Position: | Defensive tackle |
| NFL Draft: | 1989 / Round: 5 / Pick: 125 |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Player stats at ArenaFan.com | |
Jeffery Neil Roth (born April 21, 1966) is a former American football defensive tackle in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the Orlando Predators. He also was a member of the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL. He played college football at the University of Florida.
Roth attended Seminole High School, where he was a starter at outside linebacker. As a senior, he collected 15 sacks and was named Clearwater Sun defensive player of the year.
He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Florida, where he was converted into a defensive lineman. As a redshirt freshman in 1985, he started 5 games at nose tackle in one of the nation's best defenses. He had 2 sacks against Mississippi State University, earning his first start in the fourth game against Louisiana State University.[1] He made 10 tackles against Auburn University. He finished the season with 44 tackles, 6 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 2 passes defensed and received second-team freshman All-American honors.[2]
As a sophomore, he was named a full-time starter at nose tackle. He posted 76 tackles (seventh on the team), 3 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 2 passes defensed. He had 10 tackles in the eighth game against Auburn University. He made 11 tackles in the tenth game against the University of Kentucky.
As a junior, he was limited with back and ankle injuries, tallying 48 tackles, 6 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. In the 1987 Aloha Bowl, he had 4 tackles, one sack, 2 tackles for loss and one quarterback pressure.
As a senior, he registered 50 tackles, 2 sacks, 15 tackles for loss (led the team), 2 passes defensed and one forced fumble. He had 7 tackles, a shared sack, 2 tackles for loss and one quarterback pressure against the University of Memphis.
He finished his college career with school marks for defensive lineman, first all-time in tackles for loss (44) and third all-time in sacks (17). He also posted 218 tackles, 6 passes defensed. one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Roth was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (125th overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft.[3] He was waived before the start of the season on September 4.[4] In December, he was signed to the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad. On January 22, 1990, he was released to make room to activate linebacker Jim Fahnhorst.[5]
On March 30, 1990, he signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins, where he was tried at nose tackle and defensive end.[6] He was released on September 3.[7]
In 1991, he signed with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. He announced his retirement from football after the 1992 season.[8]