Aaron Curry

Aaron Curry signing autographs in June 2009.
No. 59     Seattle Seahawks
Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: April 6, 1986 (1986-04-06) (age 23)
Place of birth: Fayetteville, North Carolina
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	Weight: 254 lb (115 kg)
Career information
College: Wake Forest
NFL Draft: 2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4
Debuted in 2009 for the Seattle Seahawks
Career history
As player: Seattle Seahawks (2009–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
College awards and honors
Career NFL statistics as of week 11, 2009
Tackles	49
Sacks	2.0
Forced fumbles	2
Stats at NFL.com

Aaron Curry (born April 6, 1986 in Fayetteville, North Carolina) is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seahawks fourth overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wake Forest.

[edit] Early years

Curry attended E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. While there he played linebacker and tight end. He earned all-conference and all-region honors and was the conferences defensive player of the year as a senior after recording 123 tackles. He was also selected to the North Carolina–South Carolina Shrine Bowl as a tight end.

Considered only a two-star recruit by both Rivals and Scout.com,^[1][2] Curry chose to play college football at Wake Forest University over East Carolina,^[3] the only two scholarships he was offered.^[4] Curry said he chose Wake Forest in part because it was two hours from home, but mostly for revenge. "Anybody who passed me up, I was going to punish them. That's why I chose the ACC, [because] those schools like Carolina, Duke, and North Carolina State were right around the corner, and I wasn't wanted by any of them."^[4]

[edit] College career

As a freshman in 2005 he started 10 of 11 games and was the teams fifth leading tackler with 39. After his great season he was named second team Freshman All-American and ACC All-Freshman Team by the Sporting News. As a sophomore in 2006 he started all 14 games at outside linebacker, finishing second on the team in tackles with 83. Curry's breakout season came as a junior in 2007. During the season he tied the NCAA record for the most interception returns for touchdown in a season by a linebacker with three.^[6] He also broke the school record with 226 interception return yards. He finished the season second on the team and 13th in the ACC in tackles with 99, and earned Second team All-ACC honors and second team All-America honors from CollegeSportsReport.com. Curry seriously considered entering the 2008 NFL Draft to provide for his family, but later chose to return.

In his senior season he had 105 tackles, including 16 for a loss, and was the winner of the Butkus Award. Curry was also selected an All-American by ESPN, Pro Football Weekly, and Sports Illustrated.

Curry graduated in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in sociology.^[4]

[edit] Awards and honors

• Sporting News Freshman All-ACC 2005)
• Sporting News Freshman All-American (2005)
• Second-team All-ACC (2007)
• First-team All-ACC (2008)
• First-team All-American (2008)
• Butkus Award (2008)

[edit] Professional career

[edit] 2009 NFL Draft

Curry was widely believed to be the best linebacker available in the 2009 NFL Draft.^[7] Considered a "safe pick", he was even in the debate for the No. 1 pick overall.^[8] ESPN′s Mel Kiper, Jr. compared Curry to Keith Bulluck.^[9]

(* represents NFL Combine)^[10][11][12]

[edit] Seattle Seahawks

Curry was drafted fourth overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2009 NFL Draft. He was the highest drafted linebacker since LaVar Arrington went second overall in the 2000 NFL Draft.^[13] On August 8, 2009, Curry signed a six-year, $60 million contract including $34 million guaranteed.^[14]

Curry became the starting strongside linebacker for the Seahawks immediately. In hist first career game against the St. Louis Rams he recorded four tackles. He recorded his first career sack against Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in week 3.

[edit] Personal

Curry is the son of former Detroit Lions and Baltimore Colts defensive back Reggie Pinkney; he has had a minimal relationship with his father.

He currently resides in Bellevue, Washington.^[14]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Seattle Seahawks bio
• Wake Forest Demon Deacons bio