Rams 4th Pick -- DeJuan Groce CB
By Rams Nation's Staff
Has above average straight-line speed…Shows a burst and acceleration
to catch up with receivers…Aware of his assignments working in the zone,
understanding route concepts well…Shows the hand/eye coordination with
timing to stick his hand in to break up the pass…Has natural hands for
the interception and also to field punts…Can break down, wrap and secure
as a tackler, showing the willingness to throw his body around in run support…Uses
his leaping ability to serve as a gunner on the punt coverage unit…Shows
the ability to latch and trail the receiver through routes…Sees combo
routes develop, throwing the shoulder to make the tackle or knock the receiver
off stride…Two-year starter at right cornerback who is regarded as one
of the best punt returners in the history of college football…Boasts two
of the four best punt return seasons in school annals…Returned 78 punts
for 1218 yards (15.6 avg) and five touchdowns during his career, ranking second
in school history to Johnny Rodgers’ 1515 yards (1970-72)…His five
scoring returns are topped only by Rodgers (seven, tied the NCAA career record)
on Nebraska’s all-time record list…Recorded 142 tackles (89 solos)
with four stops behind the line of scrimmage, eight interceptions, 41 pass deflections
(tied with Keyou Craver, 1998-2001, for second on the school’s career-record
list behind Ralph Brown’s 50, 1996-99) and three forced fumbles while
starting 27 of 48 games.
2002 SEASON
First-team All-American selection as a return specialist by the American Football
Coaches Association, The NFL Draft Report and CNN/SI, adding fourth-team All-American
honors as a defensive back by The Sporting News…Consensus All-Big Twelve
Conference first-team choice as a returner, adding second-team accolades as
a defensive back…Selected National Player of the Week by The Sporting
News vs. Troy State, adding Big Twelve Player of the Week honors vs. Troy State,
Utah State and Missouri…One of three team captains…Started every
game at right cornerback…Recorded 61 tackles (38 solos) with two stops
for losses of 3 yards…Intercepted four passes for 26 yards in returns
and had eight pass deflections…Also caused a fumble…Returned 43
punts for 732 yards (17.0 avg) and four touchdowns…His 732 yards broke
the old school season-record of 618 yards by Johnny Rodgers in 1972 and his
four scores surpassed Rodgers’ season-record of three in 1971.
Troy State…Deflected a pass, intercepted 2 others and returned punts
83 & 72 yards for touchdowns…His two punts for touchdowns tied an
NCAA Division 1-A game-record.
Utah State…Batted away a pass, had two interceptions for 21 yards in returns
and gained 66 yards on 4 punt returns.
Penn State…Posted 5 tackles (4 solos) with a 12-yard punt return. Iowa
State…Caused a fumble and delivered 6 hits.
Missouri…Made 4 tackles, including one for a 2-yard loss and returned
4 punts for 114 yards, including an 89-yard touchdown…Only Johnny Rodgers
(92 vs. Oklahoma State, 1971) and Bobby Newcombe (94 vs. Missouri, 2000) had
longer punt returns in school history.
Oklahoma State…Registered 7 tackles with a stop behind the line of scrimmage
and 3 punt returns for 32 yards.
Texas A&M…Gained 50 yards on 3 punt returns and batted away 3 passes.
Texas…Made a career-high 15 tackles (12 solos) and set up a score with
a 44-yard punt return.
Kansas…Deflected a pass and returned 5 punts for 61 yards.
Colorado…Collected 4 tackles and picked up 17 yards on 2 punt returns.
Mississippi (Independence Bowl)…Closed out his career with 5 tackles,
a pass break-up and 8 punt returns for 102 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown.
2001 SEASON
Started eleven games at right cornerback…Recorded 31 tackles (19 solos)
with a stop for a 3-yard loss…Deflected 14 passes and intercepted three
others…Also blocked a kick…Returned 33 punts for 469 yards (14.2
avg) and a touchdown.
Notre Dame…Returned an interception 40 yards, had 4 punt returns for
24 yards and was in on a season-high 8 tackles (7 solos).
Missouri…Made 3 tackles with 5 pass deflections and returned 7 punts for
145 yards.
Iowa State…Had a 9-yard interception return and 2 punt returns for 38
yards.
Texas Tech…Deflected 2 passes and return 2 punts for 36 yards.
Oklahoma…Had 5 tackles, a pass deflection and 5 punt returns for 40 yards.
Kansas…Intercepted a pass.
Kansas State…Collected 3 tackles with a stop for a 3-yard loss, a pass
deflection and a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Miami (Rose Bowl)…Had a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown and 4 tackles.
2000 SEASON
Played in eleven games, starting vs. Kansas State and Colorado…Recorded
26 tackles (20 solos) with a stop for a 6-yard loss and a forced fumble…Set
a school season-record with 17 pass deflections and also intercepted a pass.
San Jose State…Posted 4 solo tackles with his first career interception
and deflected 4 passes.
Iowa State…Followed with 5 pass break-ups.
Oklahoma…Posted a season-high 7 tackles (6 solos) and a pass deflection.
Kansas…Caused a fumble, deflected a pass and was in on 4 hits, including
one for a 6-yard loss.
Kansas State and Colorado…In his first career starts, he deflected 3 passes
in each game.
Northwestern (Alamo Bowl)…Totaled 6 tackles (5 solos).
1999 SEASON
Played in twelve games as a reserve cornerback, making 24 tackles (12 solos)
with two pass deflections and a forced fumble…Returned two punts for 17
yards (8.5 avg).
Iowa State and Kansas…Made 4 tackles in each game.
California…Caused a fumble and returned 2 punts for 17 yards.
Tennessee (Fiesta Bowl)…Added a solo tackle.
1998 SEASON
Redshirted as a freshman.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.53 in the 40-yard dash…33.5-inch vertical jump…29-inch arm length…9
3/8-inch hands…Bench presses 355 pounds…Right-handed.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended St. Edward (Garfield Heights, Oh.) High…All-American defensive
back by Parade, Super Prep and the National Recruiting Advisor, and was also
a member of Prep Star's Dream Team…Earned All-State honors from the Associated
Press and was a Best of the Midwest selection by the Detroit Free Press in 1997…Played
safety and cornerback and returned kickoffs and punts for Coach Jim McQuaide
his sophomore, junior and senior years after transferring from John F. Kennedy
High in Cleveland…Holds school records for the longest touchdown reception
(90 yards) and kick return (96 yards), had 23 catches for 389 yards and four
touchdowns, while recording 22 tackles and two interceptions in 1997…On
special teams, he averaged almost 27 yards per attempt and returned seven kicks
for scores during his three-year varsity career…Had an outstanding game
against rival Cincinnati Elder, when he returned a kickoff for a touchdown,
had two interceptions and blocked a kick…Ran the 100 (10.7 best) and 200
(21.9) in track.
PERSONAL
Communication Studies major…Has visited hospitals as part of Team Spirit.
He is also a member of the 2001 Unity Council…Son of Debra and Warren
Groce…Born 2/17/80… Resides in Garfield Heights, Ohio.