Wikipedia

Derrick Dillon

Derrick Dillon (born October 28, 1995) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at LSU.

Derrick Dillon
refer to caption
Dillon at LSU in 2019
Personal information
Born: (1995-10-28) October 28, 1995 (age 29)
Franklinton, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:Pine
(Franklinton, Louisiana)
College:LSU
Position:Wide receiver, Kick returner
Undrafted:2020
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
USFL
  • USFL Special Teams Player of the Year (2023)
NCAA
USFL records
  • 109-yard return
  • Most career kickoff return yards: 1,200
Career USFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:56
Receiving yards:726
Return yards:1,200
Total touchdowns:7
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Dillon attended Pine High School in Franklinton, Louisiana. Dillon initially committed to Florida but switched his commitment to LSU.[1]

College career

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Dillon redshirted his freshman year and played eight games, primarily on special teams as a redshirt freshman. As a sophomore in 2017, he rushed for 86 yards on 15 rushes and added 125 yards on 14 receptions.[2] Dillon caught a 71-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown reception against Auburn in 2018.[3] He also had a 49-yard touchdown pass from Joe Burrow in the Fiesta Bowl victory over UCF. Dillon caught 22 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns as a junior.[2] He underwent hip surgery in February 2019 and missed spring practices.[4] Dillon caught two passes for 22 yards against Oklahoma in the 2019 College Football Playoff Semifinal.[5] As a senior in 2019, Dillon made 15 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns.[6] He started three games when Terrace Marshall Jr. was out with an injury. Dillon participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl.[3] in his career, Dillon caught 51 passes for 634 yards and four touchdowns.[7] In a makeshift pro day after the LSU event was cancelled, Dillon ran a 4.29 in a 40-yard dash.[8]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight
5 ft 10+3⁄4 in
(1.80 m) 		186 lb
(84 kg)
Values from Pro Day[9]

New York Giants

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After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, Dillon signed an undrafted free agent deal with the New York Giants.[6] He was given a $15,000 signing bonus in addition to a guaranteed salary of $25,000 for the 2020 season.[5] He was waived on September 5, 2020, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[10][11] He was released from the practice squad on September 8 and re-signed again on September 16.[12][13] He was released on December 1, 2020.[14] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Giants on January 5, 2021.[15] He was placed on injured reserve on August 3, 2021. Dillon was cut by the Giants on August 11.[16]

Tampa Bay Bandits

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Dillon was selected in the 15th round of the 2022 USFL draft by the Tampa Bay Bandits.[17]

As a wide receiver Dillon finished the season with 28 receptions for 386 yards, and one touchdown. As a kick returner, Dillon had 19 returns for 447 yards.[18]

Cleveland Browns

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On August 1, 2022, Dillon signed with the Cleveland Browns.[19] He was waived by the Browns on August 15, 2022.[20]

Memphis Showboats

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Dillon signed with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL on January 11, 2023.[21]

On May 20, 2023, in a 22–0 win over the Pittsburgh Maulers, Dillon returned a missed 59-yard field goal attempt for a 109-yard touchdown.[22] Dillon's performance earned him the USFL's Special Teams Player of the Week.[23]

Dillon caught his first touchdown of the season on May 28, 2023, against the Houston Gamblers in a 64-yard catch and run from quarterback Cole Kelley.[24] The Showboats won the game 23–20.

On June 17, 2023, during the final week of the USFL season against the Birmingham Stallions, Dillon returned the opening kickoff for a 90-yard touchdown.[25] Despite Dillion's efforts, the Showboats lost the game 27–20, and were eliminated from the playoff contention.[26]

Dillon finished the season with 28 receptions for 340 yards, and one touchdown. Dillon also had 23 kick returns for 753 yards, and one touchdown, plus a 109-yard touchdown via missed field goal return.[18] He was later named Special Teams Player of the Year.[27] He was released on March 10, 2024.[28]

Career statistics

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Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Kick Returns Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2022 TB 10 10 28 386 13.7 75 4 1 -9 -9.0 -9 0 19 447 23.5 32 0 0 0
2023 MEM 9 9 28 340 12.1 64T 1 2 15 7.5 11 0 23 753 32.7 90T 1 0 0
Career 19 19 56 726 13.0 75 5 3 6 2.0 11 0 42 1,200 28.6 90T 1 0 0

Personal life

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Dillon's father Earl Cotton died on March 7, 2018, due to complications from a bacterial infection.[4] Dillon has two sisters.[29]

References

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  1. ^ Bryant, Carter (February 5, 2015). "LSU Football Recruiting: Meet the Tigers' 2015 Class". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Shipp, Sonny (April 15, 2020). "Derrick Dillon looking for his shot in the NFL". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Kubena, Brooks (November 18, 2019). "LSU's Derrick Dillon accepts invite to play in longest running college football all-star game". The Advocate. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Miller, Brody (March 19, 2019). "LSU receiver Derrick Dillon underwent hip surgery in February, out for spring". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Nivison, Austin (April 26, 2020). "Derrick Dillon's UDFA contract details have been revealed". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Nowak, Jeff (April 25, 2020). "LSU WR Derrick Dillon quickly reaches UDFA deal with Giants after going undrafted: source". The Advocate. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  7. ^ Auzenne, Josh (April 26, 2020). "2020 NFL Draft: LSU WR Derrick Dillon signs with New York Giants as undrafted rookie free agent". WAFB. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  8. ^ Schwartz, Paul (April 26, 2020). "Giants signing undrafted receivers Binjimen Victor, Austin Mack, Derrick Dillon". New York Post. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  9. ^ "2020 Draft Scout Derrick Dilon, LSU NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  10. ^ Eisen, Michael (September 5, 2020). "New York Giants announce 53-man roster". Giants.com.
  11. ^ Eisen, Michael (September 6, 2020). "Giants sign 14 to practice squad; 2 spots open". Giants.com.
  12. ^ @Giants (September 8, 2020). "We have added DB Ryan Lewis and RB Rod Smith to the practice squad. WR Derrick Dillon has been terminated from the practice squad" (Tweet). Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ @Dan_Salomone (September 16, 2020). "ROSTER UPDATE: The Giants have signed WR Derrick Dillon to the practice squad" (Tweet). Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Eisen, Michael (December 1, 2020). "Transactions: 3 Giants activated off COVID-19 list; Kyler Fackrell to IR". Giants.com. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  15. ^ "Giants' Derrick Dillon: Back with Giants". CBSSports.com. January 5, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  16. ^ Williams, Charean (August 11, 2021). "Giants sign Elijah Qualls, cut RJ McIntosh, Derrick Dillon". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  17. ^ Benton, Dan (February 24, 2022). "More former Giants selected in USFL Player Draft". Giants Wire. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Derrick Dillon football Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  19. ^ Poisal, Anthony (August 1, 2022). "Browns activate OT Jack Conklin, make other roster moves". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  20. ^ Poisal, Anthony (August 15, 2022). "CB Denzel Ward activated from active/PUP list". ClevelandBrowns.com.
  21. ^ @USFLShowboats (January 11, 2023). "Free Agent Signings" (Tweet). Retrieved January 11, 2023 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Gaydos, Ryan (May 21, 2023). "USFL's Derrick Dillon returns missed field-goal kick 109 yards for incredible Showboats touchdown". Fox News. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  23. ^ "USFL Players of the Week: Alex McGough, pair of defensive stars shine in Week 6". FOX Sports. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  24. ^ "USFL roundup: Showboats score late to turn back Gamblers". Reuters. May 29, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  25. ^ "Showboats' Derrick Dillon takes opening kickoff 90 yards to the house for a TD". FOX Sports. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  26. ^ "USFL Week 10 highlights: Stallions end Showboats' season". FOX Sports. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  27. ^ "Memphis' Derrick Dillon named USFL Special Teams Player of the Year". FOX Sports. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  28. ^ "UFL Teams Set their Training Camp Rosters to 58". UFLBoard.com. March 10, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  29. ^ "LSU receiver Derrick Dillon finally has his moment, but his father wasn't there to see it". Retrieved May 8, 2022.
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