Breeland Speaks

Breeland Speaks
refer to caption
Speaks with the Michigan Panthers in 2024
Personal information
Born: (1995-12-18) December 18, 1995 (age 29)
Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:285 lb (129 kg)
Career information
High school:Callaway (Jackson, Mississippi)
College:Ole Miss
Position:Defensive end
NFL draft:2018 / round: 2 / pick: 46
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:24
Sacks:1.5
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Breeland Clyde Speaks (born December 18, 1995) is an American professional football defensive end who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft. He played college football at Ole Miss.

Early life

Speaks attended Callaway High School in Jackson, Mississippi. During his senior season in 2013, Speaks had 118 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, three blocked kicks, five pass breakups and an interception returned for a touchdown.[1] A consensus 4-star recruit, Speaks committed to play college football for the Ole Miss Rebels in October 2013, choosing them over Mississippi State, Arkansas and Florida State among others.[2]

College career

Speaks redshirted in the 2014 season.[3] As a redshirt freshman in 2015, Speaks played in every game of the season, starting two. He totaled 32 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.[4]

In 2016, as a redshirt sophomore, Speaks had 28 tackles (11 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack.[5]

As a redshirt junior in 2017, Speaks totaled 67 tackles, eight tackles for loss and seven sacks. He was named to the Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference Second-team.[6] After the season, he declared for the 2018 NFL draft.[7]

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
6 ft 2+7⁄8 in
(1.90 m) 		283 lb
(128 kg) 		33+3⁄4 in
(0.86 m) 		9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m)		 4.87 s 1.64 s 2.79 s 4.65 s 7.63 s 32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		 9 ft 2 in
(2.79 m)
All values from NFL Combine[8][9]

Kansas City Chiefs

Speaks was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round (46th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.[10] He played in all 16 games as a rookie with four starts, recording 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks.[11]

On August 31, 2019, Speaks was placed on injured reserve.[12] On December 6, 2019, while on injured reserve, he was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.[13] He was reinstated from suspension on December 30, and placed back on the injured reserve list. Without Speaks, the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers.[14]

Speaks was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020.[15]

Las Vegas Raiders

On October 2, 2020, Speaks was signed to the practice squad of the Las Vegas Raiders.[16] He was released on November 3.[17]

Dallas Cowboys (first stint)

On November 17, 2020, Speaks was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.[18] His practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on January 11, 2021.[19]

New York Giants

On January 21, 2021, Speaks signed a reserve/futures contract with the New York Giants.[20] He was waived on May 13, 2021.[21]

Dallas Cowboys (second stint)

On September 1, 2021, Speaks was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.[22] He was released on December 6, 2021.[23]

Buffalo Bills

On December 22, 2021, Speaks was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad, but was released five days later.[24][25]

Michigan Panthers (first stint)

On December 22, 2022, Speaks signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL).[26] In his Panthers debut, Speaks produced three sacks, seven combined tackles, and one forced fumble.[27] He was released from his contract on August 10, 2023, to sign with an NFL team.[28]

San Francisco 49ers

Speaks signed with the 49ers on a one-year contract on August 11, 2023.[29] He was waived on August 27, 2023.[30]

Michigan Panthers (second stint)

On December 19, 2023, Speaks re-signed with the Panthers.[31] He was named the UFL Defensive Player of the Year on June 7, 2024.[32] His contract was terminated on August 8.[33]

Jacksonville Jaguars

On August 8, 2024, Speaks signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[34] He was waived on August 25.[35]

References

  1. ^ "Breeland Speaks - Football". Ole Miss Athletics. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Breeland Speaks Commits to Ole Miss". Red Cup Rebellion. October 21, 2013. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Berry, Zach (December 26, 2017). "Breeland Speaks will skip his final year, enter the 2018 NFL Draft". Red Cup Rebellion. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  4. ^ "Breeland Speaks 2015 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  5. ^ "Breeland Speaks 2016 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  6. ^ Potter, Davis (December 4, 2017). "A.J. Brown leads four Ole Miss players on AP All-SEC team". The Oxford Eagle. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  7. ^ Barnett, Zach (December 26, 2017). "Ole Miss DL Breeland Speaks declares for NFL Draft". NBC Sports College Football. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  8. ^ "NFL Draft Prospect Profile - Breeland Speaks". nfl.com. March 1, 2018. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  9. ^ "Mississippi DE Breeland Speaks : 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". NFLDraftScout.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  10. ^ Swanson, Kent (April 27, 2018). "Chiefs trade up, select Breeland Speaks at pick 46". ArrowheadPride.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  11. ^ "Breeland Speaks 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  12. ^ "Chiefs Roster Down to NFL-Mandated 53". Chiefs.com. August 31, 2019. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  13. ^ Teope, Herbie (December 6, 2019). "Chiefs' Breelands Speaks suspended 4 games for violating NFL's substance-abuse policy". Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  14. ^ "Super Bowl LIV - San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 2nd, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  15. ^ "Chiefs Roster Down to NFL-Mandated 53". Chiefs.com. September 5, 2020. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  16. ^ "Raiders place CB Damon Arnette and DT Daniel Ross on IR". Raiders.com. October 2, 2020. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  17. ^ @Raiders (November 3, 2020). "We have signed DE Gerri Green to the practice squad. In a corresponding move, we have released DE Breeland Speaks from the practice squad" (Tweet). Retrieved December 2, 2020 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Fisher, Mike (November 17, 2020). "Cowboys Sign Ex Chiefs Second-Round D-Lineman". SI.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  19. ^ "Two players set free". EliteFantasy.com. January 11, 2021. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  20. ^ Salomone, Dan (January 21, 2021). "Giants sign former 2nd-round pick Breeland Speaks to reserve/future contract". Giants.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  21. ^ Simmons, Myles (May 13, 2021). "Giants waive Breeland Speaks". NBCSports.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  22. ^ Bouda, Nate (September 1, 2021). "Cowboys Sign DE Breeland Speaks To Practice Squad". NFLTradeRumors.co. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  23. ^ Kelberman, Zack (December 7, 2021). "Cowboys Cut Veteran Defender Before Washington Game". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  24. ^ "Bills sign defensive end Breeland Speaks to practice squad". Buffalo News. December 22, 2021. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  25. ^ Taylor, Nate (May 26, 2023). "After hiatus, once-promising former Chiefs DE Breeland Speaks has found success in the USFL". The Athletic. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  26. ^ @USFLPanthers (December 22, 2022). "Free Agent Signing" (Tweet). Retrieved December 22, 2022 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "JOSH LOVE'S SIZZLING OUTING HELPS PANTHERS OVERCOME MISCUES IN OPENING WIN". theusfl.com. April 16, 2023. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  28. ^ @USFLPanthers (August 10, 2023). "Contract Terminated / Signing with NFL Team" (Tweet). Retrieved August 11, 2023 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "49ers Sign DL Speaks; Place CB Averett on Injured Reserve". 49ers.com. August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  30. ^ "49ers Waive Five Players Ahead of NFL Roster Reductions". 49ers.com. August 27, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  31. ^ @USFLPanthers (December 19, 2023). "Free Agent Signings" (Tweet). Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ "2024 UFL Awards: Panthers' Breeland Speaks is Defensive Player of the Year". www.theufl.com. June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  33. ^ @UFL_PR (August 8, 2024). "The #UFL has announced the following transactions:" (Tweet). Retrieved August 12, 2024 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ "ROSTER MOVES: Jaguars Sign DE Breeland Speaks". Jaguars.com. August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  35. ^ "Roster Moves: Jaguars Waive 6 Players, Release 4". Jaguars.com. August 25, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2024.