Kyle Dugger

Kyle Dugger
refer to caption
Dugger in 2023
No. 23 – New England Patriots
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1996-03-22) March 22, 1996 (age 28)
Decatur, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Whitewater
(Fayetteville, Georgia)
College:Lenoir–Rhyne (2014–2019)
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 2023
Total tackles:343
Sacks:2.5
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:2
Pass deflections:20
Interceptions:9
Defensive touchdowns:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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

Early life

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Duggar primarily played basketball at Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. 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

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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

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press Wonderlic
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 s 1.61 s 2.65 s 42.0 in
(1.07 m)		 11 ft 2 in
(3.40 m)		 17 reps 23
All values from NFL Combine[8][9]

2020

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Dugger was drafted by the New England Patriots with the 37th pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.[10] He was the first player chosen in that draft who played outside Division I FBS.[11]

As a rookie, Dugger appeared in 14 games and started seven.[12] He had a season-high 12 total tackles in Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens.[13]

2021

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In Week 6, Dugger recorded his first career interception off of quarterback Dak Prescott during the 29–35 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys.[14] The next week, Dugger recorded his second straight game with a pick, intercepting quarterback Mike White in the 54–13 win over the New York Jets.[15] He finished the season with 92 tackles, five passes defensed, and four interceptions.[16]

2022

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In Week 17, Dugger intercepted a pass from Teddy Bridgewater and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown in a 23–21 win over the Miami Dolphins, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[17] He led the league with three defensive touchdowns (two interceptions, one fumble recovery), and finished second on the team with 78 tackles.[18][19]

2024

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On March 5, 2024, the Patriots placed the transition tag on Dugger, giving them the right to match any offer from another team.[20] On April 7, 2024, Dugger signed a four-year extension worth $58 million with the Patriots.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Goodbread, Chase. "Super sleeper: D-II safety Kyle Dugger squarely on NFL's radar". NFL.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. 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 (July 12, 2019). "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.com. December 27, 2019. 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 Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  9. ^ "2020 Draft Scout Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  10. ^ "2020 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  11. ^ Yang, Nicole (April 24, 2020). "The Patriots select Kyle Dugger with 37th overall pick in 2020 NFL Draft". Boston.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  12. ^ "Kyle Dugger 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  13. ^ "Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - November 15th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  14. ^ "Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots - October 17th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "New York Jets at New England Patriots - October 24th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  16. ^ "Kyle Dugger 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  17. ^ Smith, Coral (January 4, 2023). "Buccaneers WR Mike Evans, Chargers RB Austin Ekeler lead Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  18. ^ "2022 New England Patriots Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "2022 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  20. ^ "Patriots Utilize Transition Tag to Extend Their Rights to Safety Kyle Dugger". Patriots.com. March 5, 2024.
  21. ^ Kownack, Bobby (April 7, 2024). "Patriots agree to terms with S Kyle Dugger on four-year extension worth up to $66 million". NFL.com.
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