Jeff Badet

Jeff Badet
refer to caption
Badet with the Vegas Vipers in 2023
No. 84, 13
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1994-08-02) August 2, 1994 (age 30)
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:183 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:Freedom High School (Orlando)
College:
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career XFL statistics
Receptions:50
Receiving yards:557
Yards per reception:11.1
Receiving touchdowns:5
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Jeff Badet (born August 2, 1994) is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football at Kentucky before transferring to Oklahoma to finish his collegiate career, and signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He was also a member of the Dallas Renegades, Washington Football Team, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, Michigan Panthers, Vegas Vipers, and Toronto Argonauts. In the 2020 XFL Draft, he was selected fourth overall by the Renegades.

Early life

Badet attended Freedom High School in Orlando, Florida, playing for the school's football team as a wide receiver.[1] He was ranked as a three-star recruit and as the nation's 127th receiver prospect by 247sports, committing to the University of Kentucky, rejecting other offers from colleges closer to his home, such as South Florida and FIU.[2]

College career

In 2013, his freshman year, he saw limited action, appearing in eight games, totalling 22 receptions for 285 yards and one touchdown. Following a serious injury, Badet was medically redshirted for his second year, the 2014 collegiate season. In his sophomore season the year after, Badet played in eleven of the team's twelve games and compiled 29 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns, as the team's third leading receiver. His junior season was his most productive of his college career, appearing in all 13 games, with 31 catches for 670 yards and 4 touchdowns, leading the team in receiving yards. In the seventh game of the season, Badet had best statistical game of his career, with 7 receptions for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 40–38 victory over Mississippi State, his sole multi-touchdown collegiate game. In the offseason, Badet declined to declare for the NFL draft and instead transferred to Oklahoma, crossing conferences into the Big 12.[3] Badet was less statistically productive, totalling 26 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns, but the Sooners enjoyed team success, finishing with a 12–2 record behind Heisman Trophy-winning and eventual first overall pick Baker Mayfield, culminating with a 54–48 defeat in the Rose Bowl against Georgia.[4] He served as an influencing presence on the field and locker room, and ran a 4.27 40-yard dash at Oklahoma's Pro Day.[5]

College statistics

Season Games Receiving
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Ypg Lg TD
Kentucky Wildcats
2013 10 5 22 285 13.0 28.5 56 1
2014 1 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0
2015 12 10 29 430 14.8 35.8 45 2
2016 13 13 31 670 21.6 51.5 72 4
Oklahoma Sooners
2017 13 2 26 400 15.4 30.8 54 3
Career 49 30 108 1,785 16.5 36.4 72 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
5 ft 11+1⁄8 in
(1.81 m) 		182 lb
(83 kg) 		31 in
(0.79 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.34 s 1.57 s 2.59 s 4.54 s 7.24 s 39.5 in
(1.00 m)		 10 ft 11 in
(3.33 m)		 16 reps
All values from Pro Day[6]

Minnesota Vikings

Badet declared for the 2018 NFL draft but went undrafted and later signed as an undrafted free agent for the Minnesota Vikings.[4] He was placed in the team's concussion protocol after the first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but returned for the team's next three preseason games.[7] He appeared in all four of the team's preseason games, totalling 5 receptions for 34 yards.[8] He was placed on the team's practice squad before the start of the season. In June 2019 he participated in the 40 Yards of Gold contest to determine the fastest player in the NFL and he was supposed to earn $25,000, but only received a check for his participation and performance.[9]

Badet re-signed with the Vikings and was given a $75,000 bonus to keep him away from the New York Jets, who were also pursuing him.[10] He appeared in the team's four 2019 preseason games, seeing limited snaps, touching the ball just twice for 17 yards. Badet was hampered by a groin injury that forced him to miss several practices.[11] He was cut by the Vikings before the start of the 2019 NFL season.[12]

Dallas Renegades

Badet declared for the 2020 XFL Draft, impressing team scouts at the various combines and was selected as the fourth pick of the skills position phase by the Dallas Renegades.[5] Renegades general manager and head coach Bob Stoops, who coached at Oklahoma before Badet's arrival in 2017, drafted him.[13] Badet had a unique helmet that featured Allen Iverson, Michael Jackson, and SpongeBob SquarePants.[14] In his second game against the Los Angeles Wildcats, Badet caught six passes for 53 yards.[15] Badet finished the season with 16 receptions for 108 yards.[16] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[17]

Washington Football Team

On September 17, 2020, Badet signed with the Washington Football Team's practice squad.[18] He was elevated to the active roster on October 24 and November 7 for the team's weeks 7 and 9 games against the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[19][20] Badet was promoted to the active roster on November 9, 2020.[21] He was waived on December 19, 2020,[22] and re-signed to the practice squad three days later.[23] He signed a reserve/futures contract with the team on January 11, 2021,[24] but was waived on May 3, 2021.[25]

Atlanta Falcons

On June 17, 2021, Badet signed with the Atlanta Falcons.[26] He was waived/injured on August 6, 2021, and placed on injured reserve. He was released on August 17 with an injury settlement.[27]

Las Vegas Raiders

On November 10, 2021, Badet was signed to the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad.[28] He was released on December 4.[29]

Michigan Panthers

On February 23, 2022, Badet was selected with the sixth pick of the 15th round of the 2022 USFL draft by the Michigan Panthers.[30] He was transferred to the team's inactive roster on April 22, 2022,[31] due to a hamstring injury.[32] He was released on May 10.[33]

Vegas Vipers

Badet was drafted by the Vegas Vipers of the XFL in the 2023 XFL Draft.[34]

In his debut with the team he caught six passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns, including the first touchdown of the season from Luis Perez in the team's 20–22 loss.[35][36] The Vipers folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).[37]

Toronto Argonauts

On February 8, 2024, it was announced that Badet had been signed by the Toronto Argonauts.[38] He was placed on the retired list on May 12, 2024.[39]

Professional statistics

Regular season

Year Team League Games Receiving
GP GS Rec Yds Avg YPG Lg TD
2018 MIN NFL DNP
2019 MIN
2020 DAL XFL 5 4 16 108 6.7 21.6 16 0
2020 WAS NFL 3 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0
2021 ATL DNP
LV
2022 MIC USFL 1 0 1 12 12.0 12.0 12 0
2023 VGS XFL 9 8 34 449 13.2 49.9 56 5
Career 24 13 51 569 11.2 23.7 56 5

Source:[40]

References

  1. ^ "Jeff Badet Timeline Events". 247sports.com. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  2. ^ Thompson, Tylor (February 1, 2013). "Jeff Badet is a Cat". Kentucky Sports Radio. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Trotter, Jake (March 28, 2017). "WR Jeff Badet transfers to Oklahoma". ESPN. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Ainsworth, Charlene (April 28, 2018). "NFL Draft 2018: Oklahoma's Jeff Badet signs to the Minnesota Vikings". OU Daily. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Kennedy, Collin (February 8, 2020). "Former OU receiver Jeff Badet carries impactful presence in XFL". 247 Sports. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "2018 NFL Draft Scout Jeff Badet College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  7. ^ "Six Vikings exit preseason game with injuries, some season-ending". ESPN. August 18, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  8. ^ "Jeff Badet: Game Logs at NFL.com". www.nfl.com. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  9. ^ Thomasson, Chris (July 23, 2019). "Vikings' Jeff Badet hasn't been paid for 40 Yards of Gold, calls it 'one big scam'". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Thomasson, Chris (May 4, 2019). "Vikings gave WR Jeff Badet $75,000 signing bonus to keep him away from Jets". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  11. ^ "Vikings' Jeff Badet: Still nursing groin injury". CBS Sports. July 27, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "Jeff Badet: Fails to make roster". CBS Sports. September 1, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  13. ^ Sigler, John (October 15, 2019). "XFL's Dallas Renegades draft ex-Saints WR Tommylee Lewis". Saints Wire. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  14. ^ "XFL wide receiver Jeff Badet has a helmet worth keeping an eye on". ESPN. February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  15. ^ Reneau, Kegan (February 16, 2020). "Landry Jones, Bob Stoops win first XFL game 25-18 over Los Angeles Wildcats". Sooners Wire. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  16. ^ "Jeff Badet". XFL. Archived from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  17. ^ Condotta, Bob (April 10, 2020). "XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue". SeattleTimes.com. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  18. ^ "Washington Football Team Signs Two Players To The Practice Squad". WashingtonFootball.com. September 17, 2020.
  19. ^ Wormeli, Ryan (October 24, 2020). "Washington places Charles, AGG on IR". NBCSports.com. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  20. ^ Stackpole, Kyle (November 7, 2020). "Washington Activates WR Steven Sims Off Injured Reserve". WashingtonFootball.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  21. ^ "Monday's NFL injury and roster news for Week 10". NFL.com. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  22. ^ "Washington Signs QB Taylor Heinicke From Practice Squad, Releases WR Jeff Badet". WashingtonFootball.com. December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  23. ^ Washington Football Team [@WashingtonNFL] (December 22, 2020). "We have signed WR Jeff Badet to the practice squad" (Tweet). Retrieved February 5, 2021 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ "Washington Signs 13 Players To Reserve/Future Contracts". WashingtonFootball.com. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  25. ^ "Washington Releases WRs Jeff Badet, Trevor Davis". WashingtonFootball.com. May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  26. ^ "Falcons sign four free agents". AtlantaFalcons.com. June 17, 2021.
  27. ^ Urben, Matt (August 17, 2021). "Falcons release WR Jeff Badet from IR with injury settlement". Falcons Wire. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  28. ^ "Raiders promote DT Kendal Vickers". Raiders.com. November 10, 2021.
  29. ^ "Raiders promote FB Sutton Smith to active roster". Raiders.com. December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  30. ^ Callaway, Josh (February 23, 2022). "Former Oklahoma WR Jeff Badet Selected in USFL Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  31. ^ @USFLPanthers (April 22, 2022). "Roster Updates" (Tweet). Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ @USFLPanthers (April 22, 2022). "Jeff Badet, WR: Questionable (Hamstring)" (Tweet). Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ @USFLPanthers (May 10, 2022). "Roster Updates" (Tweet). Retrieved May 10, 2022 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ "Top XFL Wide Receivers 2023: Josh Gordon and Martavis Bryant Look for Redemption". February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  35. ^ "Vipers vs. Renegades final score, results: Arlington defense, Drew Plitt lead team to win in first XFL 2023 game". www.sportingnews.com. February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  36. ^ "Former Vikings WR Jeff Badet scores first XFL touchdown". Vikings Wire. February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  37. ^ Seifert, Kevin (January 1, 2024). "Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  38. ^ "Double Blue Ink American WR Jeff Badet". Toronto Argonauts. February 8, 2024.
  39. ^ "Transactions - Football Player Trades and Signings". CFL.ca. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  40. ^ "Jeff Badet". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved August 14, 2024.