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| Height: | 6-3 |
| Weight: | 259 |
| College: | Southern California |
| Experience: | 2nd season |
56 Brian Cushing - Biography
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 259
COLLEGE: Southern California
NFL EXP: 2nd season
| Career Statistics | ||||||||||||
| Year | Team | G | GS | tckls | solo | ast | sacks | int | yds | avg | lg | td |
| 2009 | HOU | 16 | 16 | 133 | 86 | 47 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 16 | 16 | 133 | 86 | 47 | 4.0 | 4 | 26 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 | |
HONORS: 2010 AFC Pro Bowler...2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year...2009 AFC Defensive Player of the Week (6 and 8)...NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (November 2009).
PRO: Fast and physical rookie linebacker who was Houston's first-round pick (15th overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft...opened the season as the starter at SLB...was second in NFL in tackles to Ray Lewis with 134 tackles.
2009 (Houston 16/16): Made professional debut for the Texans, starting at linebacker against the New York Jets (9/13) and tied for the team-high with eight tackles (five solo)...had team-high ten tackles, including two tackles for loss at Tennessee (9/20)...named the Texans co-Defensive Player of the Week (along with LB DeMeco Ryans) after his ten tackles at Tennessee...became the first Texans rookie to lead his team in tackles in his first three career games vs. Jacksonville (9/27) where he registered eight tackles (six solo), one tackle for loss, and two pass defenses...led Texans in tackles for the fourth consecutive game with seven (five solo) vs. Oakland (10/4)...also had three hits on the quarterback and one tackle for loss, when he wrapped up Oakland RB Justin Fargas in the endzone for the Texans first safety since 12/15/02...had six tackles (three solo) including 0.5 sack and a quarterback hit at Arizona (10/11)...was the Texans defensive player of the game at Cincinnati (10/18), where he made nine tackles (six solo), two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and intercepted a pass from Bengals QB Carson Palmer late in the fourth quarter to clinch the victory...named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week (10/21) for his performance against Cincinnati...led the Texans in tackles for the fifth times in seven games by recording eight tackles (five solo) and one pass defensed vs. San Francisco (10/25)...led the Texans in tackles for the sixth time in eight games with ten (three solo) as well as having one sack, one pass defensed and one interception at Buffalo (11/1)...set a new career-high with 12 tackles (10 solo), one pass defensed, one tackle for a loss and one quarterback hit at Indianapolis (11/8)...led the defense in tackles for the eigth times in ten games with ten tackles (eight solo) including one for a loss vs. Tennessee (11/23)...defensive leader in tackles for the ninth time, compiling 11 tackles (seven solo) vs. Indianapolis (11/29), where he picked off a Peyton Manning pass for his third interception of the season...was named NFL Rookie of the Month of November after totaling 43 tackles, two interceptions and a sack...had three solo tackles including one for a loss at Jacksonville (12/6)...recorded one sack for a loss of 13 yards, three hits on the quarterback and ten tackles (six solo) including three for a loss vs. Seattle (12/13)...made seven tackles (three solo) with two hits on Rams quarteback Keith Null including combining with SS Bernard Pollard for a loss of five yards...made nine solo tackles at Miami (12/27) inlcuding one for a loss, intercepted one pass, deflected a pass and sacked an opposing quarterback for the third straight week.
CAREER: Started 38 of 44 games he played in, including 13 at right defensive end and 31 at strongside outside linebacker...finished his career with 178 tackles that included 101 solos, 8.5 quarterback sacks for minus-57 yards, 27.0 stops for losses totaling 106 yards and two pressures...intercepted one pass and deflected 12 others...blocked two punts...recovered an onside kick that he returned for 42 yards for a touchdown in 2006...caused and recovered three fumbles.
2008 (USC 13/13): Was named All-American first-team selection by Sports Illustrated, earning second-team accolades from The Sporting News and Associated Press and third-team recognition from The NFL Draft Report, Rivals.com and College Football News...consensus All-Pac 10 Conference first-team choice...finalist for the Butkus Award, semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy...ranked second on the team with 73 tackles (46 solos)...added three sacks for minus-22 yards...led the squad with 10.5 stops for losses...had a quarterback pressure, a forced fumble, deflected six passes and recorded his first career interception.
2007 (USC 10/8): Earned All-Pac 10 honorable mention...finished with 25 tackles, 14 solos, a 2-yard sack and 2.5 stops for losses of four yards...deflected two passes and recovered one fumble...helped the Trojans rank second in the nation in both scoring defense (16.0 ppg) and total defense (273.15 ypg), as they also ranked fourth against the run (84.15 ypg) and sixth in pass efficiency defense (102.07 rating).
2006 (USC 13/13): Shifted to the right defensive end position in USC's hybrid 3-4 "Elephant" defense...earned Sophomore All-America third-team honors from College Football News...All-Pac 10 Conference second-team choice...recorded 57 tackles (27 solos) with 4.5 sacks for minus-33 yards, tied for second on the team...added a quarterback pressure, a pass deflection and a forced fumble...led the Trojans with a career-high 13.5 stops for losses...scored on a 42-yard onside kick return and blocked a punt that he advanced 21 yards.
2005 (USC 8/4): Started the last four games on the strong side including national title game vs. Texas... made 23 tackles (14 solos), including 0.5 for a loss, and had three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt that he returned six yards…had surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder after the season.
Selected by the Houston Texans in first round (15th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft...signed by Texans on Aug. 2, 2009.
Attended Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) High School...earned Parade, USA Today, Prep Football Report, Scout.com, SuperPrep, EA Sports and PrepStar All-American honors as a senior...recorded 120 tackles, 11 stops for loss, 10 sacks and seven interceptions as a linebacker in 2004...played running back and tight end and gained 475 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 456 yards (35.1 avg) with seven scores.
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