Jace Amaro

Jace Amaro
No. 88 Tennessee Titans
Position: Tight end
Personal information
Date of birth: (1992-06-26) June 26, 1992
Place of birth: Plano, Texas
Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight: 265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school: San Antonio (TX) MacArthur
College: Texas Tech
NFL Draft: 2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 49
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • PFWA NFL 1st-team All-Rookie (2014)
  • Unanimous 1st-Team All-American (2013)
  • 2x 1st-Team All-Big 12 (2012, 2013)
  • CFPA National Tight End of the Year (2013)
  • Ozzie Newsome Award (2013)
  • USA Today High School All-American (2010)
  • NCAA Division I record holder for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2015
Receptions: 41
Receiving yards: 404
Receiving touchdowns: 2
Player stats at NFL.com

Jace Jordan Amaro (born June 26, 1992) is an American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Tech. Amaro is of Mexican descent.

High school

A native of Plano, Texas, Amaro attended MacArthur High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he was a three-sport star in football, basketball and track. He played as a tight end for the MacArthur Brahmas football team, and was an honorable mention All-State selection, first-Team All-Area and first-Team District 26-5A. He suffered a Anterior cruciate ligament injury during his junior year.[1] As a senior, he made 56 receptions for 887 yards with 11 touchdowns. He helped lead the basketball team to state quarterfinals appearance.[2]

Also a standout track & field athlete, Amaro broke a 23-year-old District 26-5A shot put record with a throw of 18.88 meters (61 ft, 10 in).[3] He also won the 2010 regional track meet and earned a silver medal with a second-place finish at the state meet. He got a top-throw of 50.75 meters (166 ft, 4 in) in the discus throw at the 2010 District 26-5A, where he took second.[4]

Recruiting

Regarded as a four-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, Amaro was ranked as the No. 3 tight end in his class and No. 52 in Rivals Top 100.[5] He was named USA Today and PrepStar First-Team All-America, and was ranked in the top five for tight ends in the Dave Campbell's Top 300.

College career

Amaro attended Texas Tech University from 2011 to 2013. During his college career, he earned Unanimous All-American honors and set the record for Division I (NCAA) single season receiving yards by a tight end in 2013.

Freshman

In his freshman year, Amaro had 7 catches for 57 yards and 2 TDs.

Sophomore

In his sophomore year, Amaro started off his first game against Northwestern State with 4 catches for 49 yards. The next week at Texas State, he was able to pull in 3 balls for 55 yards and a touchdown. Against New Mexico, he had 4 catches for 57 yards and two more scores. Against Iowa State, he had four catches for 48 yards and zero scores. Against Oklahoma, he had 3 catches for 29 yards. His best game of the season occurred when Texas Tech upset the then #3 West Virginia; he pulled in 5 catches for 156 yards and 1 touchdown.

During the West Virginia game, Amaro received an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season after receiving a hard hit to his midsection jumping for a ball. He briefly returned to the game and made 2 receptions after halftime before being unable to continue. The injury was later revealed to be a Grade III (I-V) spleen laceration and a fractured rib. The injury caused internal bleeding, requiring hospitalization and 6.5 units of blood.[6] Amaro was bedridden for three weeks.[1]

Despite only playing 6 regular season games, Amaro was named a 1st Team All-Big 12 Conference player by ESPN. He finished his sophomore season with 25 catches for 409 yards and four touchdowns.[7]

Amaro sufficiently recovered from his injury to appear in the 2012 Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas against Minnesota, in which he was ejected for punching a defender. Due to his earlier injury, Amaro had been unable to practice until the week of the game.[1]

Junior

Snubbed by the John Mackey Award in its pre and midseason watchlists,[8] Amaro started the 2013 season strong, leading the country at his position in receptions and reception yards through 7 games as well as leading the country in reception yardage on third down. His performance garnered a midseason 1st team All-American listing from CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, Athlon Sports, USA Today, and FOX Sports.[9][10] Following a 136 receiving yard and 2 TD performance over West Virginia, Amaro earned Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors.[11] Amaro accompanies former Texas Tech All-American wide receiver Michael Crabtree as the only Red Raiders to ever record eight or more receptions in six consecutive games.[12]

Amaro broke the 1,000 receiving yards mark following a loss to Oklahoma State on November 2, 2013. Amaro exceeded his career receptions and reception yard highs with 15 and 174 respectively, and was two receptions shy of tying the NCAA single-game record for receptions by a tight end. In the following games against Kansas State and Baylor, Amaro received significant injuries. A hit during the Kansas State game forced him to be carted off the field, before later returning briefly. In the subsequent game against Baylor, Amaro received a high hit to the shoulder from safety Ahmad Dixon. The hit required Amaro to again return to the locker room with an injury.[13]

Amaro completed the regular season 90 yards and 14 receptions short of setting NCAA FBS records for single season tight end receiving yards and receptions, with an opportunity to set the records in an appearance in the 2013 Holiday Bowl.[14] Amaro broke the single season tight end receiving record during the game, and finished his Holiday Bowl performance with 8 receptions and 112 yards.[15] With the completion of the season, Amaro's 104 receiving yards per game also set an NCAA single season record for the tight end position.

Amaro was named a semi-finalist for the John Mackey and Fred Biletnikoff Awards in November, becoming the first player to be listed for both awards since Missouri's Chase Coffman in 2008.[16][17] Amaro was also named a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, given to the best offensive player with Texas ties.[18] On November 25, 2013, it was announced that Amaro was not named a finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the best tight end in college football, leading several media personalities including CBS Sports writer Dennis Dodd to criticize the Award's validity.[19][20][21][22][23][24] At the point at which the finalist list was announced, Amaro had only 16 fewer receptions than the three finalists combined.

The Associated Press and Big 12 Coaches named Amaro a unanimous 2013 All-Big 12 first team selection on December 9, 2013.[25] He was additionally named a 1st Team All-American at the tight end position by Bleacher Report, USA Today, CBS Sports, Sporting News, Athlon Sports, SB Nation, the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated and the Walter Camp Foundation.[26][27][28][29] Amaro became a Unanimous All-American with his 1st team selection by the American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America on December 18, 2013, the first Red Raider to earn the honor since Michael Crabtree in 2008. Only 5 Red Raiders overall have earned unanimous All-American honors: Mark Bounds in 1991, Zach Thomas in 1995, Byron Hanspard in 1996, and Michael Crabtree in 2007-08.[30]

Amaro announced his intention to declare for the draft following the Red Raiders upset victory over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.[31][32][33]

Professional career

2014 NFL Draft

Pre-draft measurables
Ht WtArm lengthHand size 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
6 ft  5 3⁄8 in 265 lb34 in9 in 4.74 s 4.3 s 7.42 s 33 in 28 reps
All values from NFL Combine[34]

Amaro lowered his 40 time to a 4.60 at his pro day.[35]

New York Jets

Jace Amaro was selected 49th overall by the New York Jets and was the second tight end selected. He was signed on May 16, 2014.[36] In his rookie year of 2014, Amaro had 345 receiving yards on 38 receptions in 14 games.

On September 1, 2015, it was revealed that Amaro had a torn labrum, an injury since he landed awkwardly during the first preseason game against the Lions. The injury required surgery, prematurely ending his 2015 season.[37]

The Jets waived Amaro on September 3, 2016 for final roster cuts before the start of the season.[38]

Tennessee Titans

Amaro was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans on September 4, 2016.[39]

Career Stats

Receiving Rushing Fumbles
Year Team G GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2014 NYJ 14 4 38 345 9.1 43 2 -- -- -- -- -- 1 0
2015 NYJ 0 0 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Total 14 4 38 345 9.1 43 2 -- -- -- -- -- 1 0

[40]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ubben, David (2013-10-17). "Amaro healthy and coming up big for Texas Tech". Fox Sports Southwest. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  2. ↑ http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jace_amaro_763506.html
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/MeetResults.aspx?Meet=165659#4215
  5. ↑ https://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-rivalste/2011
  6. ↑ Halley, Jim. "Junior tight end Jace Amaro and Texas Tech proving doubters wrong". USA Today. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Jace Amaro Bio". Texas Tech University. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  8. ↑ Ubben, David. "Big 12 tight ends snubbed on Mackey list". ESPN. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "CBSSports.com 2013 Midseason College Football All-America Team". CBS Sports. October 15, 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Mariota, Barr headline SI.com's 2013 Midseason All-America Team". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  11. ↑ "Amaro, Lackey and Stewart Named Big 12 Football Players of the Week". Big 12 Conference. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  12. ↑ Greenspan, Dan. "Jace Amaro adds to prolific pace to keep Texas Tech undefeated". NFL.com. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  13. ↑ Volk, Pete. "Jace Amaro injury: Texas Tech tight end helped off field after hard hit". SBNation. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  14. ↑ Griffin, Tim (13 December 2013). "Jace Amaro makes two All-American teams". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  15. ↑ "Webb's 4 TD passes tie Holiday Bowl record". ESPN. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  16. ↑ Fornelli, Tom (November 18, 2013). "Biletnikoff Award announces its 10 semifinalists". CBS Sports. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  17. ↑ Beal, Blayne (November 18, 2013). "Tech's @J_ACER22 named semifinalist for Mackey Award & Biletnikoff. 1st since Mizzou's Chase Coffman in '08 to be semifinalist for both.". Twitter. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  18. ↑ "Amaro named semifinalist for Earl Campbell Tyler Rose award". KCBD. Nov 19, 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  19. ↑ Greenspan, Dan. "Texas Tech's Jace Amaro hints at return after Mackey snub". NFL.com. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  20. ↑ Brock, Cameron. "Amaro Named Unanimous All-American". Scout.com. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  21. ↑ Graham, Mike (November 25, 2013). "Jace Amaro is left off the Mackey Award finalist list; Will it motivate him to come back?". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  22. ↑ Dodd, Dennis. "Twitter". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  23. ↑ "Twitter". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  24. ↑ Huguenin, Mike. "Jace Amaro's omission is biggest awards blunder". NFL.com. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  25. ↑ "2013 AP All-Big 12 Team". Associated Press. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  26. ↑ Myerberg, Paul (11 December 2013). "USA TODAY Sports' All-America college football team". USA Today. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  27. ↑ Chambers, Randy. "Bleacher Report's 2013 College Football All-America Team". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  28. ↑ "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2013 All-America Team" (PDF). Walter Camp Foundation. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  29. ↑ "Jameis Winston, Aaron Donald lead SI.com's 2013 All-America Team". Sports Illustrated. December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Three repeat as AP All-Americans". Associated Press. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  31. ↑ Sanchez, Josh. "Texas Tech's Jace Amaro drawing comparisons to Jermichael Finley". Fansided.com. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  32. ↑ Edholm, Eric. "2014 NFL Draft report; TTU's Amaro could be top tight end if he leaves school early". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  33. ↑ Pirtle, Krista (31 December 2013). "Texas Tech TE Amaro dominates in final game as Red Raider, declares for NFL draft". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  34. ↑ http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/jace-amaro?id=2543481
  35. ↑ http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1860917/jace-amaro
  36. ↑ "New York Jets sign rookie tight end Jace Amaro". NFL. 2014-05-16. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  37. ↑ Alper, Josh. "Jets place Jace Amaro on injured reserve". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  38. ↑ Shook, Nick (September 3, 2016). "Jets waive Dee Milliner, Jace Amaro". NFL.com. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  39. ↑ Wyatt, Jim. "Titans Claim Jets TE Jace Amaro, Release DL Mehdi Abdesmad". TitansOnline.com.
  40. ↑ "Jace Amaro Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 21 July 2015.

External links

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