Dillion Winfrey

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Dillion Winfrey (born September 26, 1993) is an indoor American football defensive back for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football at the University of Central Arkansas.

High school career[edit]

Winfrey attended high school at Bryant High School in Bryant, Arkansas. He played all three sides of the ball during his career at Bryant, playing wide receiver, defensive back, and as a return specialist. During the 2010 season, Winfrey caught 24 passes for 358 yards, 55 tackles, two interceptions, six punt returns for 132 yards, six kickoff returns for 211 yards, and a return for a touchdown.^[1] He also ran track in high school. Winfrey was a two-time All-State selection for track and football, a Nike All-Arkansas team member, as well as being a finalist for the 2011 Landers Award.^[2] On February 3, 2012, Winfrey signed a letter of commitment to the University of Central Arkansas.^[3]

College career[edit]

Winfrey played 12 games his freshman season while having two starts. He amassed 36 total tackles, two interceptions, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble. In his sophomore season, Winfrey started ten of the 12 games he played in and was second on the Bears in tackles with 56. He also had one sack and four tackles for loss while forcing two fumbles and recovering one of them. In his junior season, Winfrey would suffer an ankle injury in the first game, sidelining him for the next two contests. In the ten games he played in 2014, Winfrey made eight starts, had 38 total tackles, six and a half tackles for loss, an interception, and three passes broken up. 2015 would be Winfrey's final season with the Bears. As a senior, Winfrey played just eight games, having only 16 tackles, and four pass deflections. Winfrey would announce after the season that he would be entering the 2016 NFL Draft.

College statistics[edit]

Professional career[edit]

Winfrey went undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Arizona Rattlers[edit]

After going to two open tryouts, one in 2016 and one in 2017, Winfrey signed his first professional contract with the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL).^[5] He made his IFL debut on April 4, 2017, against the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles. He registered seven total tackles (three of them solo) in a 73–60 win. In Week 15, Winfrey intercepted his first pass against the Nebraska Danger in their 43–33 win.^[6] He finished his rookie season with 26 total tackles, one tackle for loss, four passes broken up, and an interception. Winfrey made his playoff debut on June 24, against the Nebraska Danger, where he had two tackles and intercepted a pass to help the Rattlers advance to the 2017 United Bowl.^[7] The Rattlers would face off against the Sioux Falls Storm in the finale of the 2017 season. He had one tackle in the final game to win his first professional championship, 50–41.^[8]

After an impressive rookie season, Winfrey re-signed with the Rattlers for the 2018 season. In 2018, Winfrey collected 55 total tackles, four passes broken up, and a single interception.^[9]

San Antonio Commanders[edit]

In 2019, Winfrey signed with the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), but before he played a snap he was transferred to the Arizona Rattlers.^[10]

Arizona Rattlers (second stint)[edit]

Winfrey had a breakout season in 2019. In Week 9, Winfrey earned his first Defensive Player of the Week Award. He finished the game with nine tackles, two pass breakups, and two interceptions including a 30-yard pick-six.^[11] By the end of the season, Winfrey had racked up 48 total tackles, five tackles for loss, eight passes defended, and five interceptions. Winfrey was named Second-team All-IFL after the season.^[12]

FCF Wild Aces[edit]

Winfrey would try out for the Fan Controlled Football League in early 2021, being assigned to the Heavy Hitters Defense.^[13] Eventually, he landed on the FCF Zappers for the first week of the season. In his lone game with the Zappers, Winfrey recorded just one solo tackle. He was drafted onto the FCF Wild Aces in Week 2, where he collected two solo tackles, an assisted tackle, and a pass breakup.^[14] In their Week 3 game, Winfrey recorded just one tackle. In Week 4, Winfrey was drafted onto the FCF Glacier Boyz, where he recorded one assisted tackle.^[15] Winfrey was then drafted to the Wild Aces again in Week 5 for the first round of the playoffs. He recorded two solo tackles, one assisted tackle, and an interception that he then returned for a 48-yard touchdown. The Wild Aces advanced to the 2021 People's Championship after they defeated the Zappers, 32–6.^[16] In the People's Championship, Winfrey had two solo tackles, two assisted tackles, and two passes broken up. He would help the Wild Aces defeat the Glacier Boyz, 46–40, winning his second professional championship.^[17]

Arizona Rattlers (third stint)[edit]

2021 season[edit]

After sitting out the 2020 season due to COVID-19, Winfrey re-signed with the Arizona Rattlers for the 2021 season. In Week 1, Winfrey intercepted his first pass of the season against the Northern Arizona Wranglers.^[18] In Week 11, he returned an interception for 26 yards.^[19] In Week 14, Winfrey had eight tackles (seven solo), two pass breakups, and an interception. In Week 16, Winfrey tied a franchise record of three interceptions in a single game. He did so while having four tackles, a pass breakup, as well as returning an interception for a touchdown. He earned the IFL Defensive Player of the Week Award for his efforts.^[20] In Week 17, Winfrey added two more interceptions to his season total.^[21] In Week 18, Winfrey earned his second IFL Defensive Player of the Week Award after collecting four tackles, a tackle for loss, and another multi-interception game.^[22] Winfrey ended the regular season leading the league in interceptions (11), pass breakups (20), and passes defended (31). He also collected 59 tackles (48 of them solo), a forced fumble and recovery, as well as an interception returned for a touchdown. After the season, Winfrey was named the IFL Defensive Player of the Year and was a First-team All-IFL selection.^[23] In the first game of the playoffs, Winfrey intercepted a pass to bring his total to 12 on the season. In the 2021 United Bowl, Winfrey intercepted two more passes, ending the year with 14 total interceptions. The Rattlers would lose the United Bowl, 37–34.^[24]

2022 season[edit]

On November 4, 2021, Winfrey re-signed with the Rattlers for the 2022 season.^[25] Winfrey snagged his first interception of the season in Week 4.^[26] On June 25, 2022, Winfrey intercepted yet another pass this time bringing it back for a 54-yard pick-six for his first touchdown of the season.^[27] Winfrey finished the season with 50 tackles (39 solo), eight interceptions (2nd in the league), 18 pass breakups, and an interception returned for a touchdown. After the conclusion of the season, Winfrey was named First-team All-IFL for the second consecutive season.^[28] In the first round of the playoffs, Winfrey intercepted a pass to help the Rattlers move on to the Western Conference Championship with a 53–38 win over the Duke City Gladiators.^[29] In that game, Winfrey picked up eight total tackles and the Rattlers would lose to the Northern Arizona Wranglers, 52–51.^[30]

2023 season[edit]

Winfrey re-signed with the Rattlers for the 2023 season.^[31] In Week 1, Winfrey earned his first IFL Special Teams Player of the Week Award of his career when he had five returns for 160 yards and his first career kickoff return touchdown in the Rattlers' 60–53 win against the Quad City Steamwheelers.^[32] In Week 4, Winfrey had eight kick returns for 153 yards, he also added two solo tackles and missed field goal return for 20 yards.^[33] Winfrey caught his first interception of the season in Week 5 against the Duke City Gladiators.^[34] Winfrey was named First-team All-IFL for the third season in a row and finished the season with career highs in solo tackles (49), assisted tackles (15), combined tackles (64), kicks returned (19), kick return yards (411), average yards per return (21.6), and kick return touchdowns (1). He also was tied for being the league leader in interceptions (8).^[35]

IFL career statistics[edit]

Regular season[edit]

Postseason[edit]

Awards and honors[edit]

• United Bowl champion (2017)
• FCF People's champion (2021)
• IFL Defensive Player of the Year (2021)
• First-team All-IFL (2021,2022,2023)
• Second-team All-IFL (2019)
• IFL Defensive Player of the Week (2019: Week 9; 2021: Week 16, 18; 2022: Week 17)
• IFL Special Teams Player of the Week (2023: Week 1)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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