Kyle Dugger

Kyle Dugger (born March 22, 1996) is an American football safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Lenoir–Rhyne.

Kyle Dugger
No. 35 – New England Patriots
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1996-03-22) March 22, 1996
Decatur, Georgia
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Whitewater
(Fayetteville, Georgia)
College:Lenoir–Rhyne
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 2 / Pick: 37
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • Cliff Harris Award (2019)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2020
Total tackles:61
Pass deflections:0
Interceptions:0
Forced fumbles:0
Fumble recoveries:0
Player stats at NFL.com

High school career

Primarily playing basketball at Whitewater High School, Dugger did not start on the football team until his senior year. Lenoir–Rhyne, an NCAA Division II program in North Carolina, was one of three schools that offered Dugger,[1] along with NCAA Division III member Berry College and NAIA member Reinhardt University.[2]

College career

After redshirting his freshman year, Dugger became an immediate starter in the Bears secondary his redshirt freshman year.[1] He played cornerback during his redshirt freshman season but switched to safety before his sophomore season, which he also redshirted due to a meniscus injury.[3] He recorded three interceptions and three fumble recoveries during his junior season.[4]

Dugger utilized his athleticism during his senior year, at one point returning two punts for touchdowns within a seven-minute span against Virginia–Wise.[5] For his play in his senior season, Dugger was awarded the Cliff Harris Award in 2019, given to the best small-school defensive player.[6] Dugger also participated in the 2020 Senior Bowl, where scouts praised his field instincts.[7]

Scouts praised Dugger for his speed on the field, projecting him at either safety, cornerback or returner in the NFL.[1]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand size40-yard dashVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 0 7⁄8 in
(1.85 m)		 217 lb
(98 kg)		 32 7⁄8 in
(0.84 m)		 10 3⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		4.49 s42.0 in
(1.07 m)		11 ft 2 in
(3.40 m)		17 reps
All values from NFL Combine[8]

Dugger was drafted by the New England Patriots with the 37th pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was the first player chosen in that draft who played outside Division I FBS.[9]

References
  1. Goodbread, Chase. "Super sleeper: D-II safety Kyle Dugger squarely on NFL's radar". NFL.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  2. Ledbetter, D. Orlando (January 23, 2020). "Q&A: Kyle Dugger on playing in the Senior Bowl". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  3. Brugler, Dane (April 7, 2020). The Athletic's 2020 NFL Draft Guide (PDF). The Athletic. p. 226. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  4. Feldman, Bruce. "Bruce Feldman's 2019 college football Freaks List". The Athletic. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  5. Roberts, Ryan (November 4, 2019). "Kyle Dugger, the Small School Superstar We All Need". Pro Football Ready. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  6. "Lenoir-Rhyne's Kyle Dugger wins 2019 Cliff Harris Award". NCAA. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  7. Brugler, Dane (January 21, 2020). "Senior Bowl: Adam Trautman, Kyle Dugger and Ben Bartch make strong impressions on Day 1". The Athletic. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  8. "Kyle Dugger Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  9. Yang, Nicole (April 24, 2020). "The Patriots select Kyle Dugger with 37th overall pick in 2020 NFL Draft". Boston.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
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