Robert Ayers

No. 56     Denver Broncos
Outside linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: September 6, 1985 (1985-09-06) (age 24)
Place of birth: Clio, South Carolina
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	Weight: 272 lb (123 kg)
Career information
College: Tennessee
NFL Draft: 2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18
Debuted in 2009 for the Denver Broncos
Career history
As player: Denver Broncos (2009–present)
Career highlights and awards
First team All-SEC (2008)
Career NFL statistics as of 2009
Tackles	11
Sacks	0
Interceptions	0
Stats at NFL.com

Robert Ayers (born September 6, 1985 in Clio, South Carolina) is an American football outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Broncos 18th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.

Contents 1 Early years 2 College career 3 Professional career 3.1 Pre-draft 3.2 Denver Broncos 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Early years

Ayers attended Marlboro County High School in Bennettsville, South Carolina. He was an All-State linebacker and was selected to play in the 2003 Shrine Bowl as a senior. That season he recorded 112 tackles and intercepted five passes. As a junior he had 94 tackles, eight sacks, and three interceptions. In addition to lettering in football he lettered in track as a sprinter, running the 100-meter dash and 4 x 100 metres relay.

[edit] College career

Ayers began at the University of Tennessee as a redshirt outside linebacker in 2004. As a sophomore he moved to defensive end and was a backup, recording five tackles and one sack. In 2006 he once again was a backup, totaling 25 tackles and one sack. In 2007 Ayers was once again a backup, but led the team with four sacks and 12 tackles for losses. He also had 34 tackles, two pass breakups and four quarterback pressures. As a senior in 2008 Ayers became a starter at right defensive end, recording 49 tackles, a team leading three sacks, and a team and league leading 15.5 tackles for losses. He also had six pressures and an interception.

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Pre-draft

Pre-draft measureables
Ht	Wt	40-yard dash	10-yd split	20-yd split	20 ss	3-cone	Vert	Broad	BP	Wonderlic
6-3⅛ *	272 lb *	4.78 *	1.62 *	2.78 *	4.46 **	7.07 **	29½ in. *	8'06" *	18 *	29 *

(* represents NFL Combine; **represents Tennessee Pro Day) ^[1][2].^[3]

[edit] Denver Broncos

Ayers was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 1st round (18th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. On August 4, 2009, Ayers signed a five-year contract with $9.7 million guaranteed.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Denver Broncos bio
• Tennessee Volunteers bio

v • d • e 2009 NFL Draft First Round Selections Matthew Stafford · Jason Smith · Tyson Jackson · Aaron Curry · Mark Sanchez · Andre Smith · Darrius Heyward-Bey · Eugene Monroe · B.J. Raji · Michael Crabtree · Aaron Maybin · Knowshon Moreno · Brian Orakpo · Malcolm Jenkins · Brian Cushing · Larry English · Josh Freeman · Robert Ayers · Jeremy Maclin · Brandon Pettigrew · Alex Mack · Percy Harvin · Michael Oher · Peria Jerry · Vontae Davis · Clay Matthews III · Donald Brown · Eric Wood · Hakeem Nicks · Kenny Britt · Chris Wells · Evander Hood Draft Years 70  • 71  • 72  • 73  • 74  • 75  • 76  • 77  • 78  • 79  • 80  • 81  • 82  • 83  • 84  • 85  • 86  • 87  • 88  • 89  • 90  • 91  • 92  • 93  • 94  • 95  • 96  • 97  • 98  • 99  • 00  • 01  • 02  • 03  • 04  • 05  • 06  • 07  • 08  • 09

v • d • e Denver Broncos 2009 NFL Draft selections Knowshon Moreno • Robert Ayers • Alphonso Smith • Darcel McBath • Richard Quinn • David Bruton • Seth Olsen • Kenny McKinley • Tom Brandstater • Blake Schlueter