Darius Jennings

Darius Jennings
refer to caption
Jennings with the Tennessee Titans in 2018
No. 10, 15
Position:Wide receiver, return specialist
Personal information
Born: (1992-06-28) June 28, 1992 (age 32)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school:Gilman School
(Baltimore, Maryland)
College:Virginia
Undrafted:2015
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:27
Receiving yards:235
Return yards:1,052
Total touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Darius Lamar Jennings[1] (born June 28, 1992) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist. He played college football at Virginia and was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent. Jennings was also a member of the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, and Detroit Lions.

Early life

Darius Lamar Jennings was born to Lawrence and Dana Jennings on June 28, 1992, in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended and played high school football at The Gilman School while also lettering in basketball and track.[2]

College career

Jennings finished his collegiate career with 133 receptions for 1,667 yards and 11 touchdowns in 49 games and 28 starts.[3] He ranked #1 all-time in kick return yards with 1,839.[4]

Jennings majored in sociology.[4]

College statistics

Year School Conf Class Pos G Rec Yds Avg TD
2011 Virginia ACC FR WR 13 20 238 11.9 1
2012 Virginia ACC SO WR 12 48 568 11.8 5
2013 Virginia ACC JR WR 12 38 340 8.9 3
2014 Virginia ACC SR WR 12 27 521 19.3 2
Career 133 1,667 12.5 11

Professional career

Cleveland Browns

2015 season

Jennings in 2015

Jennings signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in May 2015.[5] He started the season on the practice squad and was promoted to the active roster in early December.[6] Jennings was waived by the Browns on December 16, 2015,[7] but was re-signed on December 22.[8]

Jennings finished his rookie season with 14 receptions for 117 yards to go along with seven returns for 158 yards in four games and one start.[9][10]

2016 season

On April 4, 2016, the Browns re-signed Jennings.[11] On September 3, 2016, he was released.[12] The next day, Jennings was signed to the Browns' practice squad.[13] He was released again on October 6, 2016.[14]

Chicago Bears

On October 10, 2016, Jennings was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad.[15] He was released by the Bears on November 22, 2016.[16]

New York Jets

On December 6, 2016, Jennings was signed to the New York Jets' practice squad.[17] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets on January 2, 2017.[18] On April 26, 2017, Jennings was waived by the Jets.[19]

Tennessee Titans

2017 season

On May 19, 2017, Jennings signed with the Tennessee Titans.[20] He was waived on September 2, 2017, and was signed to the Titans' practice squad the next day.[21][22] He was promoted to the active roster on September 23, 2017.[23] He was waived on November 25, 2017, and was re-signed back to the practice squad.[24]

2018 season

Jennings signed a reserve/future contract with the Titans on January 15, 2018.[25]

During the season-opening 27-20 road loss to the Miami Dolphins, Jennings scored his first NFL touchdown after returning a 94-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter.[26] During a Week 9 28-14 road victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Jennings had a 36-yard reception despite three defenders around him in the second quarter to go along with 23 return yards.[27] In the next game against the New England Patriots, Jennings returned the opening kickoff for 58 yards and recorded a 21-yard pass completion to quarterback Marcus Mariota, the first of his career as the Titans won 34–10.[28][29]

Jennings finished the 2018 season with 22 returns for 698 yards and a touchdown to go along with 11 receptions for 101 yards and a two-yard rush in 16 games and no starts.[30] His 31.7 yards set a franchise record for average kickoff returns that also led the NFL.[31]

2019 season

Jennings was released by the Titans on October 31, 2019.[32] Prior to his release, Jennings caught two passes for 17 yards and returned seven kicks for 147 yards.[33] He was re-signed on December 23, 2019.[34] In the regular-season finale against the Houston Texans, Jennings returned two kicks for 49 yards.[35]

In the postseason, Jennings returned three kicks for 60 yards before the Titans lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game by a score of 35-24.

Los Angeles Chargers

On March 30, 2020, Jennings was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers.[36] He was released on September 5, 2020.[37]

Detroit Lions

On August 9, 2021, Jennings signed with the Detroit Lions.[38] He was released on August 23, 2021.

NFL statistics

Legend
Led the league
Bold Career-high

Regular season

Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Returning Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2015 CLE 4 1 14 117 8.4 16 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 7 158 22.6 28 0 1 0
2018 TEN 16 0 11 101 9.2 36 0 1 2 2.0 2 0 22 698 31.7 94T 1 0 0
2019 TEN 8 0 2 17 8.5 11 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 9 196 21.8 26 0 0 0
Career 27 1 27 235 8.7 36 0 1 2 2.0 2 0 38 1,052 27.7 94T 1 1 0

Postseason

Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Returning Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2019 TEN 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 60 20.0 22 0 0 0
Career 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 60 20.0 22 0 0 0

Personal life

During the 2018 offseason, Jennings took part in the NFLPA’s Externship Program with Events DC and Under Armour. He helps out with "Next One Up," an organization helping inner-city high school athletes in Baltimore. Jennings also worked as a camp counselor at his alma mater, The Gilman (Md.) School, helping middle schoolers with classwork and activities. He has two brothers, Dimitrius Jones Jr. and Deon Jennings.[39]

References

  1. ^ "Darius Jennings Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Bracken, Matt (March 25, 2010). "Gilman's Darius Jennings keeping busy". baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  3. ^ "Darius Jennings College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Tennessee Titans Media Guide" (PDF). 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Browns sign former Virginia wide receiver Darius Jennings (Gilman) following minicamp tryout
  6. ^ Browns promote WR Darius Jennings
  7. ^ Mary Kay Cabot (December 16, 2015). "Mike Pettine says Browns fought vs. 49ers 'and I don't know if I sensed that same attitude from the other side'". www.cleveland.com. Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  8. ^ "Browns re-sign WR Darius Jennings, place OL John Greco on injured reserve". ClevelandBrowns.com. Cleveland Browns. December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  9. ^ "Browns' Darius Jennings: Provides depth in late-season games". CBS Sports. January 5, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  10. ^ "Darius Jennings 2015 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  11. ^ "Browns sign restricted free agents and exclusive rights players". ClevelandBrowns.com. April 4, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  12. ^ Gribble, Andrew (September 3, 2016). "Cleveland Browns reduce roster to 53". ClevelandBrowns.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017.
  13. ^ "Browns claim 5 players, sign 4 to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 4, 2016. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017.
  14. ^ "Browns sign DL Gabe Wright to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 5, 2016. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017.
  15. ^ Mayer, Larry (October 10, 2016). "Bears elevate Bausby, waive Hurst". ChicagoBears.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017.
  16. ^ Emma, Chris (November 22, 2016). "Bears Sign De'Vante Bausby To Active Roster, Dres Anderson To Practice Squad". Chicago.CBSlocal.com.
  17. ^ Allen, Eric (December 6, 2016). "Jets Waive C.J. Spiller and Jeremy Ross". NewYorkJets.com.
  18. ^ "Jets Sign 5 Players to Reserve/Future Deals". NewYorkJets.com. January 2, 2017. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017.
  19. ^ Allen, Eric (April 26, 2017). "Jets Waive Six Players". NewYorkJets.com.
  20. ^ Wyatt, Jim (May 19, 2017). "Titans Add Receiver, Fullback to Roster". TitansOnline.com.
  21. ^ Wyatt, Jim (September 2, 2017). "Titans Down to 53 Players: A Position-by-Position Look". TitansOnline.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018.
  22. ^ Wyatt, Jim (September 3, 2017). "Titans Add Eight Players to Practice Squad". TitansOnline.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018.
  23. ^ Wyatt, Jim (September 23, 2017). "Titans Promote WR Darius Jennings, Release WR Zach Pascal". TitansOnline.com.
  24. ^ Wyatt, Jim (November 25, 2017). "Titans Activate WR Harry Douglas to 53-Man Roster". TitansOnline.com.
  25. ^ Wyatt, Jim (January 15, 2018). "Titans Sign 10 Players to Futures Contracts". TitansOnline.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018.
  26. ^ "Titans' Darius Jennings: Returns kickoff for touchdown". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  27. ^ RotoWire Staff (November 6, 2018). "Titans' Daruis Jennings: Hauls in 36-yard reception". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  28. ^ "Darius Jennings returns opening kickoff for 58 yards". NFL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  29. ^ "New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans – November 11th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  30. ^ "Darius Jennings 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  31. ^ "Titans-Colts Postgame Notes". TitansOnline.com. December 30, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  32. ^ Wyatt, Jim (October 31, 2019). "Roster Move: Titans Re-Sign OL Hroniss Grasu, Release WR Darius Jennings". TitansOnline.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  33. ^ "Darius Jennings 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  34. ^ Wyatt, Jim (December 23, 2019). "Titans Bring Back Receiver/Returner Darius Jennings, and Promote WR Rashard Davis to 53-Man Roster". TitansOnline.com.
  35. ^ "Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans – December 29th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  36. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign Wide Receiver Darius Jennings". Chargers.com. March 30, 2020.
  37. ^ "We've Trimmed Our Roster to 53". Chargers.com. September 5, 2020.
  38. ^ Schlitt, Erik (August 9, 2021). "Lions activate Jalen Reeves-Maybin from reserve/COVID-19 list, sign & cut 1 player". Pride Of Detroit. SB Nation. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  39. ^ Wyatt, Jim (April 16, 2019). "Darius Jennings". TitansOnline.com.