J. R. Sweezy

J. R. Sweezy

refer to caption Sweezy with the Seattle Seahawks
No. 73 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position:	Offensive guard
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1989-04-08) April 8, 1989
Place of birth:	Mooresville, North Carolina
Height:
Weight:
Career information
High school:	Mooresville (NC)
College:	North Carolina State
NFL draft:	2012 / Round: 7 / Pick: 225
Career history
Seattle Seahawks (2012–2015) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLVIII) 2× NFC champion (2013, 2014)
Career NFL statistics as of 2015
Games Played: 59 Games Started: 49 Player stats at NFL.com

Justin Ross "J. R." Sweezy (born April 8, 1989) is an American football offensive guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the seventh round, 225th overall, by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at NC State.

Early Life

Sweezy grew up a rabid Wolfpack fan as his grandfather had previously played fullback for NC State. As a linebacker at Mooresville High School his junior year he amassed 115 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. He played linebacker and recorded 195 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, 6 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles in 12 games his senior year. He also wrestled winning the Class 3A Heavyweight Wrestling Championship for North Carolina. After coming onto NC State as a defensive end, Sweezy proved he could play at the BCS level.

College career

Sweezy played 35 games with 20 starts along the defensive line at NC State, starting every game his junior and senior seasons. Wearing 52, he posted 86 tackles (65 solo), 22 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, 33 quarterback pressures, three passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for the Wolfpack. Voted team captain his senior season and was selected honorable mention All-ACC his junior year. Sweezy appeared to have his share of off-the-field issues, including being arrested for having pot in his house, and for assaulting a 65-year-old bus driver.

Professional Career

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	Arm length	Hand size	40-yd dash	10-yd split	20-yd split	20-ss	3-cone	Vert	Broad	BP
6 ft 5 in	298 lb	34 in	9​5⁄8 in	5.01 s			4.41 s	7.40 s	36 in	10 ft 1 in	21 reps
All values from NFL Combine

Seattle Seahawks

Coming out of NC State, Sweezy wasn't a highly sought after draft prospect at defensive end. The Seahawks offensive line coach, Tom Cable, saw something in Sweezy. After agreeing to switch to the offensive line the Seahawks drafted him in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL draft, reuniting him with former college teammate, Russell Wilson.

In his rookie season he got the first start of his career against the Arizona Cardinals replacing veteran guard John Moffitt. He again started for the injured Moffitt in the last 2 games of the regular season against the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams. During the 2012 campaign he had 3 starts and played in 13 games. For the 2013 season Sweezy started 13 regular season games and in the post season for a Seahawks team that would go on to win the Super Bowl that year. In 2014 Sweezy had his first season where he started every regular season game at right guard. The Seahawks would go on to return to the Super Bowl losing to the New England Patriots.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On March 9, 2016, J.R. Sweezy and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to a five-year deal worth $32.5 million.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · ESPN · Pro Football Reference
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers bio
• Seattle Seahawks bio
• NC State bio