Will Witherspoon

Infobox NFLactive

---

caption=Will Witherspoon during the 2005 Carolina Panthers Training Camp.
currentteam=St. Louis Rams
currentnumber=51
currentpositionplain=Middle linebacker
birthdate=birth date and age|1980|8|19
birthplace=San Antonio, Texas
heightft=6
heightin=1
weight=240
debutyear=2002
debutteam=Carolina Panthers
highlights=
* Rams MVP (2007)
college=Georgia
draftyear=2002
draftround=3
draftpick=73
pastteams=
* Carolina Panthers (2002-2005)
* St. Louis Rams (2006-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=577
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=18.0
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=7
nfl=WIT150248

William "Will" Cordell Witherspoon (born August 19, 1980 in San Antonio, Texas) is an American football linebacker for the St. Louis Rams of the NFL.

Personal life & high school career

Witherspoon's father was a military officer, and so Witherspoon moved around as a child. However, his family never lived on the military bases, instead deciding to live in the community so the children could experience the culture. In addition to speaking English, he knows how to speak German, and is learning both Arabic and Swedish. He attended Good Shepherd Lutheran School in middle school. He played defensive end for Rutherford High School in Panama City, Florida, but switched to linebacker before his senior year. He was chosen as the USA Today Florida Player of the Year for his efforts as a senior, where he posted 112 tackles, 3 sacks, and three interceptions.

College career

He played college football at the University of Georgia, where he was a starter for three years. After playing every game as a true freshman, he started most of the Bulldogs' games for the remainder of his time at Georgia, switching between the middle, strong-side, and weak-side linebacker positions. He graduated with 211 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He was an Agricultural engineering major.

Professional career

Carolina Panthers

Witherspoon was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft. Witherspoon was the latest addition to new coach John Fox's overhaul of the defense, and Witherspoon's versatility at linebacker helped the Panthers total the second-best defense in the league. He replaced Dan Morgan at middle linebacker halfway through the season after Morgan went down with injury. He finished the season with 71 tackles and 1.5 sacks, his first half sack coming at the Cleveland Browns on December 1. During the 2003 NFL season, Witherspoon was the only Panther linebacker to start every game, where he once again filled in for an injured Morgan at middle linebacker. He intercepted his first pass off New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks. During Super Bowl XXXVIII, Witherspoon posted a career-high 16 tackles. He ended the campaign with a total of 99 tackles, one sack and one interception. The following year, "Spoonie" was one of the few defensive players to start every game for the Panthers, who were wracked with injuries. Despite the loss of key personnel like defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, the Panthers led the league in interceptions. Witherspoon set personal bests with three sacks and four interceptions and a then career-high of 103 tackles. In 2005, his final year with the Panthers, Witherspoon played in 15 games and finished the season 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions.

t. Louis Rams

On March 12, 2006 he signed with the St.Louis Rams as an unrestricted free agent.In his first season with the Rams, he played in all 16 games and recorded a career-high 113 tackles and three sacks. Last season, he recorded 110 tackles and a career-high seven sacks. [{http://www.nfl.com/players/willwitherspoon/careerstats?id=WIT150248} Stats courtesy of NFL.com] He was named Team MVP (December 26) for 2007. [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/FC153562E3B1B0F3862573BD005FFC84?OpenDocument]

References

External links

* [http://www.stlouisrams.com/article/53228/ Announcement of his signing with St.Louis]
* [http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/players/53230/ Rams Player Bio]