Jay Ward (American football)

American football player (born 2000)

American football player

Jay WardNo. 24 – Minnesota Vikings

Position:| Safety
Personal information
Born:|  (2000-07-13) July 13, 2000 (age 25)
Moultrie, Georgia, U.S.
Height:| 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:| 188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school:| Colquitt County (Moultrie)
College:| LSU (2019–2022)
NFL draft:| 2023: 4th round, 134th pick
Career history

* Minnesota Vikings (2023–present)

Roster status:| Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
| Total tackles:| 14

|

Fumble recoveries:| 1
Pass deflections:| 1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jay Ward (born July 13, 2000) is an American professional football safety for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Ward was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the LSU Tigers.

## Early life

[edit]

Ward was born in Moultrie, Georgia.[1] He had two brothers who also played football up to the collegiate level.[2] He attended Colquitt County High School and was one of the school's all-time best defensive backs, recording a career total of 11 interceptions.[2] As a senior, Ward helped the team compile a regular season record of 14–0 before losing in the state championship.[3] He also competed in track and field, winning a regional championship.[2] A three-star prospect, he had initially committed to play college football for the Kentucky Wildcats, but then switched to the LSU Tigers.[4][5]

## College career

[edit]

Ward saw immediate playing time as a true freshman in 2019, appearing in 13 games during the team's national championship season, mainly on special teams.[4] After being part of a defense that allowed a record-breaking 623 passing yards in the 2020 season-opening upset loss to Mississippi State Bulldogs and seeing limited action in the subsequent games, Ward rebounded by blocking what would have been a game-tying field goal at the end of regulation by Arkansas in Week 6; he then forced a fumble against Alabama, posted an interception against Florida, and made two against Ole Miss to conclude the season.[4] He finished the year with nine games played, 29 tackles and one touchdown (off an interception against Ole Miss).[6][7]

Ward moved from cornerback to safety in 2021 and started all 11 games, posting 71 tackles, six pass deflections, two interceptions and one forced fumble.[6] In 2022, he saw action at safety, nickel cornerback and outside cornerback.[8] He appeared in a total of 13 games that year, starting nine, and posted 60 tackles, in addition to one interception and a fumble return for a touchdown.[9] After the season, Ward declared for the NFL Draft.[8][10]

## Professional career

[edit]

Pre-draft measurables  Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

6 ft 0+3⁄4 in
(1.85 m)  | 188 lb
(85 kg)  | 32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)  | 8+1⁄4 in
(0.21 m) | 4.55 s | 1.53 s | 2.60 s | 4.35 s | 7.31 s | 36.0 in
(0.91 m) | 11 ft 1 in
(3.38 m) | 16 reps
Sources:[11][12]

Ward was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round, 134th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.[13] As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 games. He recorded one fumble recovery in the 2023 season.[14]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Jay Ward". ESPN.
2. ^ a b c Grandy, Wayne (November 28, 2022). "Ward, Edwards will surely meet in SEC title game". The Moultrie Observer.
3. ^ "NFL Draft Profile: Jay Ward, Cornerback, LSU Tigers". Sports Illustrated. September 21, 2022.
4. ^ a b c Miller, Brody (March 31, 2021). "How LSU DB Jay Ward went from beleaguered to beloved and became the spring's rising star". The Athletic.
5. ^ Bennett, John (February 6, 2019). "LSU adds surprise signing Jay Ward from Georgia". WVUE-DT.
6. ^ a b Nettuno, Tyler (April 4, 2022). "LSU Tigers snapshot profile: No. 5 Jay Ward". USA Today.
7. ^ Mickles, Sheldon (August 9, 2021). "A nose for the ball helps Jay Ward land in a crucial spot in the back end of LSU's defense". The Advocate.
8. ^ a b Riley, Koki (December 9, 2022). "LSU safety Ward declares for NFL Draft". The Town Talk. p. B1 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Jay Ward". LSU Tigers. July 8, 2019.
10. ^ Nagy, Zack (December 7, 2022). "LSU Defensive Back Jay Ward Declares for 2023 NFL Draft". Sports Illustrated.
11. ^ Zierlein, Lance. "Jay Ward Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
12. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Jay Ward College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
13. ^ Young, Lindsey (April 29, 2023). "Vikings Draft LSU Safety Jay Ward in 4th Round". Vikings.com.
14. ^ "Jay Ward 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Minnesota Vikings bio
* LSU Tigers bio

* v
* t
* e

2019 LSU Tigers football—consensus national champions

* Andre Anthony
* Avery Atkins
* Micah Baskerville
* Anthony Bradford
* Myles Brennan
* Joe Burrow
* Tory Carter
* K'Lavon Chaisson
* Saahdiq Charles
* Ja'Marr Chase
* Damone Clark
* Lloyd Cushenberry
* Ty Davis-Price
* Austin Deculus
* Grant Delpit
* Derrick Dillon
* Michael Divinity
* Clyde Edwards-Helaire
* Neil Farrell
* Breiden Fehoko
* Blake Ferguson
* Cor'Dale Flott
* Kristian Fulton
* Chasen Hines
* Siaki Ika
* Ed Ingram
* Justin Jefferson
* Jaray Jenkins
* Jontre Kirklin
* Rashard Lawrence
* Damien Lewis
* Glen Logan
* Adrian Magee
* Terrace Marshall Jr.
* T. K. McLendon
* Racey McMath
* Thaddeus Moss
* Trey Palmer
* Jacob Phillips
* Patrick Queen
* Tyler Shelvin
* JaCoby Stevens
* Derek Stingley Jr.
* Stephen Sullivan
* Badara Traore
* Charles Turner III
* Kary Vincent Jr.
* Zach Von Rosenberg
* Jay Ward
* Josh Williams
* Cade York

Head coach
Ed Orgeron

Assistant coaches
Roy Anderson
Dave Aranda
Joe Brady
Bill Busch
Kevin Coyle
James Cregg
Kevin Faulk
Steve Ensminger
Mark Hutson
Bill Johnson
Dennis Johnson
Mickey Joseph
Jorge Munoz
DJ Mangas
Greg McMahon
Tommy Moffitt
Corey Raymond
John Robinson
Tommie Robinson
Kenechi Udeze

* v
* t
* e

Minnesota Vikings 2023 NFL draft selections

* Jordan Addison
* Mekhi Blackmon
* Jay Ward
* Jaquelin Roy
* Jaren Hall
* DeWayne McBride

* v
* t
* e

Minnesota Vikings roster

Active

* 0 Ivan Pace Jr.
* 1 Jalen Nailor
* 2 Isaiah Rodgers
* 3 Jordan Addison
* 5 Mekhi Blackmon
* 7 Byron Murphy
* 8 Sam Howell
* 9 J. J. McCarthy
* 11 Brett Rypien
* 12 Max Brosmer
* 13 Tai Felton
* 14 Tim Jones
* 15 Dallas Turner
* 16 Will Reichard
* 17 Ryan Wright
* 18 Justin Jefferson
* 19 Dontae Fleming
* 20 Reddy Steward
* 21 Jeff Okudah
* 22 Harrison Smith
* 23 Ambry Thomas
* 24 Jay Ward
* 25 Kahlef Hailassie
* 26 Theo Jackson
* 27 Jordan Mason
* 29 Dwight McGlothern
* 30 C. J. Ham
* 31 Myles Price
* 32 Ty Chandler
* 33 Aaron Jones
* 34 Zemaiah Vaughn
* 35 Keenan Garber
* 36 Zavier Scott
* 37 Tavierre Thomas
* 38 Tre Stewart
* 39 Gervarrius Owens
* 40 Mishael Powell
* 41 Kobe King
* 42 Andrew DePaola
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* 44 Josh Metellus
* 45 Nick Vannett
* 46 Bryson Nesbit
* 48 Ben Yurosek
* 49 Giovanni Ricci
* 50 Levi Drake Rodriguez
* 51 Blake Cashman
* 52 Dorian Mausi
* 54 Bo Richter
* 55 Eric Wilson
* 56 Austin Keys
* 57 Chaz Chambliss
* 58 Jonathan Greenard
* 59 Gabriel Murphy
* 60 Joe Huber
* 61 Jalen Redmond
* 62 Logan Brown
* 64 Blake Brandel
* 65 Michael Jurgens
* 66 Vershon Lee
* 67 Justin Skule
* 68 Henry Byrd
* 71 Christian Darrisaw
* 72 Leroy Watson
* 73 Walter Rouse
* 74 Donovan Jackson
* 75 Brian O'Neill
* 76 Will Fries
* 78 Ryan Kelly
* 81 Lucky Jackson
* 82 Jeshaun Jones
* 83 Silas Bolden
* 84 Josh Oliver
* 85 Robert Lewis
* 86 Gavin Bartholomew
* 87 T. J. Hockenson
* 89 Thayer Thomas
* 90 Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
* 91 Oscar Chapman (Int.)
* 92 Jonathan Harris
* 93 Jonathan Allen
* 94 Taki Taimani
* 95 Travis Bell
* 96 Tyler Batty
* 97 Harrison Phillips
* 98 Javon Hargrave
* 99 Elijah Williams

Reserve

* 4 Rondale Moore (IR)
* 69 Matt Nelson (IR)

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