C. J. Mosley (linebacker)

Clint "C. J." Mosley, Jr. (born June 19, 1992) is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

High school career

A native of Theodore, Alabama, Mosley attended Theodore High School, where he played football, basketball and ran track. As a sophomore, he was credited with 112 tackles, four sacks, and one interception, as the Bobcats finished with a 6–5 record, losing to Auburn in the opening round of the Class 6A playoffs. In his junior season, Mosley set a school record with 176 tackles, (115 solo), while also recording 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks, causing four fumbles, recovering two more, and intercepting two passes, earning an ASWA 6A All-State selection.^[1]

Improving his own school record, Mosley registered 186 tackles as a senior in 2009, also adding seven sacks, five fumble recoveries and four interceptions. Theodore finished with a 9–2 season record, yet was upset by T. J. Yeldon's Daphne team in the first round of the playoffs.^[2] Still, Mosley earned his second consecutive ASWA 6A All-State honors, as well as Class 6A Lineman of the Year. He finished his career at Theodore as the school's all-time leading tackler, with over 500 stops in his career.

Mosley was also on the school's track & field team. He ran the 110m hurdles in 16.15 seconds and the 200m dash in 24.33 seconds. In the jumping events, he got personal-best leaps of 1.80 meters in the high jump, 6.58 meters in the long jump and 12.6 meters in the triple jump. He was also a member of the 4 × 100 m relay (43.44 s) squad.^[3]

Regarded as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Mosley was listed as the No. 6 outside linebacker prospect in a class highlighted by five-star linebackers Jordan Hicks and Christian Jones.^[4] He was also the No. 2 player from Alabama, behind fellow Crimson Tide recruit Dee Milliner.^[5] Mosley played in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he committed to Alabama during the game. He chose the Crimson Tide over Auburn, but also had offers from Florida State, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, among others.

College career

Freshman Year (2010)

Mosley was a consensus Freshman All-American in 2010, selected by the FWAA,^[6] Rivals.com,^[7] and College Football News^[8] after playing in all 13 games as a true freshman.^[9]

Sophomore Year (2011)

Mosley dislocated his right elbow in the first quarter of the fourth game of the 2011 season against Arkansas. He missed the following two games against Florida and Vanderbilt and did not record a tackle in the next game versus Mississippi.^[10] Mosley shared the starting weak-side inside linebacker ("Will") linebacker spot with Nico Johnson in 2011 and 2012, with Alabama coaches using Mosley more in pass coverage.^[11][12]

Junior Year (2012)

The AP recognized Mosley as a first team All-American after the 2012 regular season, a year after former teammate linebacker Dont'a Hightower made the AP All-American first team and other linebacker teammate Courtney Upshaw made the second team.^[13] With Mosley's selection to the AP All-American team in 2012, Alabama had a linebacker on that team (first through third teams) for four of the previous five years. Mosley led the team in tackles in 2012 with 107; sophomore Trey DePriest was second with 59 tackles. Mosley finished third for the 2012 Butkus Award (goes to the country's best linebacker) behind Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o and Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones.^[14] Mosley earned Alabama's MVP award in 2012.^[15] Mosley's three career interception returns for touchdowns tied an Alabama record.^[16] Mosley indicated in December 2012 that he will return to Alabama for his senior season.^[17]

Senior Year (2013)

Mosley led the Alabama football team in tackles (108) for the second consecutive year, averaging the most tackles-per-game in his college career. In November 2013 Mosley was a semifinalist for the Lombardi, Bednarik and Butkus Awards.^[18] Alabama coaches chose Mosley as one of the "players of the week" in nine of Alabama's first ten games of the 2013 season. Michael Sam is often mentioned as the 2013 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, while Mosley shared the award.

Mosley was again a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection.^[19] He was also selected to the First Team of the Associated Press' All-America Team.^[20]

Professional career

2014 NFL Draft

Considered one of the best inside linebackers available in the 2014 NFL Draft, Mosley was projected to be selected in the upper half of the first round as of January 2014.^[21] He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens as the 17th pick of the first round, making him the highest selected Alabama linebacker since Rolando McClain in 2010.

Baltimore Ravens

2014 Season

Mosley was assigned the number 57, the number worn by former Baltimore Raven O. J. Brigance. The number 57 had been unofficially retired after Brigance was diagnosed with ALS.^[23] Number 57 was also worn by Bart Scott (who was assigned the number before O.J. Brigance's diagnosis) who made the Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2002 and had many excellent years in Baltimore and a fine career in the NFL. ESPN considered Mosley a pre-season frontrunner for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.^[24] Mosley was signed for $8.878 million with a signing bonus of $4.711 million on May 27, 2014.^[25] On October 5, 2014, Mosley lead the team with a 14 tackle performance in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He also secured his first career interception off a tipped pass from Andrew Luck. In week 12 against the New Orleans Saints C.J. recorded his first career sack. Mosley was voted to the 2015 Pro Bowl which made him the first Baltimore Ravens player to be selected in his rookie season. Mosley was the runner up for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

2015 Season

Mosley returning a fumble for a touchdown against Cincinnati Bengals.

In Week 3 of the 2015 season against the Cincinnati Bengals, Mosley recorded his first career touchdown after recovering the ball that Elvis Dumervil stripped from Andy Dalton.^[26]

References

External links

• Baltimore Ravens bio
• Alabama Crimson Tide bio