#51 Will Witherspoon

Position	MLB
DOB	8/19/80
Height	6-1
Weight	240
College	Georgia
NFL Exp.	8

TRANSACTIONS: Signed as an unrestricted free agent by St. Louis (3/12/06)�selected by Carolina in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft (4/20/02).

PRO: Eighth-year NFL veteran has played middle linebacker and weakside linebacker during career�totaled 777 career tackles (553 solo)�tallied a career-high 7.0 sacks in 2007�became the first linebacker to lead the Rams in sacks since Kevin Greene had 10.0 in 1992�produced a career-high 136 tackles in 2006�produced 25 career double-digit tackle games, including playoffs�generated career-high 16 tackles in Super Bowl XXXVIII vs. New England (2/1/04)�two-time USA Today All-Joe Team selection (2003, 2007).

2008 SEASON: Played in 16 games with 12 starts�finished third on the team with 88 tackles (61 solo)�Week 3 at Seattle (9/21): Recorded a team-high and season-high 12 tackles (eight solo) and 1.0 sack�Week 7 vs. Dallas (10/19): Made first interception as a Ram and returned it 2 yards�added five tackles (three solo).

2007 SEASON: Started all 16 games at middle linebacker for the Rams�led team in tackles with 132 stops (103 solo)�tallied a career-high 7.0 sacks�posted at least 1.0 sack in five consecutive games between Weeks 8-13�became the first linebacker in 15 years to lead the Rams in sacks since Kevin Greene had 10.0 in 1992�winner of team�s Daniel F. Reeves Memorial Award given to Rams� MVP�USA Today All-Joe Team selection, the second of his career...vs. San Francisco (9/16): Led team with 11 tackles (nine solo)�at Seattle (10/21): Tied career-high 16 tackles (15 solo)�vs. Cleveland (10/28): Produced 10 tackles (10 solo) led all defenders�notched second sack of the season�first back-to-back double-digit tackle games since 2005�at New Orleans (11/11): Registered seven tackles to lead the team for third consecutive week�tallied third sack of the season and forced a fumble�lined up at defensive end in pass rushing situations�vs. Seattle (11/25): Tied a single-game career-high 2.0 sacks�second career multi-sack game, previously accomplished at Seattle (11/12/06)�fourth consecutive contest with at least 1.0 sack.

2006 SEASON: Led the team in tackles with 136 (104 solo)�at San Francisco (9/17): Led the team with then career-high 13 solo tackles�vs. Seattle (10/15): Tied a career high with a team-high 13 tackles�at San Diego (10/29): Made 13 tackles�at Seattle (11/12): Led the team with 10 tackles and recorded first two sacks of the season.

2005 SEASON: Led Panthers in tackles for second straight season�vs. New York Jets (11/13): Recorded a fourth-quarter interception off QB Brooks Bollinger and returned the ball 35 yards for touchdown�vs. Dallas (12/24): Notched a season-high 12 tackles (10 solo) with 1.0 sack and one pass defensed.

2004 SEASON: Led the Panthers with 110 tackles�at San Francisco (11/14): Season-high 11 tackles (eight solo), adding one forced fumble, 1.0 sack, and one interception off 49ers� QB Tim Rattay�vs. Arizona (11/21): Had third straight game with double-digit tackles as he made 10 tackles (eight solo), adding 1.0 sack on Cardinals� QB Shaun King.

2003 SEASON: Named to USA Today All-Joe team after finishing second on team in tackles�at New Orleans (10/26): Produced six tackles (five solo) with two passes defensed and his first career interception off Saints� QB Aaron Brooks�Super Bowl XXXVIII vs. New England (2/1/04): Made a career-high 16 tackles (six solo).

2002 SEASON: Played in 15 games as a rookie, starting eight�at Atlanta (10/20): Made first NFL start at weakside linebacker, making nine tackles (six solo)�vs. Cincinnati (12/8): Tied for team-lead with 12 tackles (eight solo) with first career forced fumble and first career full sack on Bengals� QB Jon Kitna.

Three-year starter at Georgia�finished Bulldogs� career with 211 tackles, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, 3.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, and 15 quarterback pressures�showed versatility, starting at middle linebacker as sophomore, strongside linebacker as junior, and weakside linebacker as a senior�started nine games at weakside linebacker as a senior, posting 43 tackles, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, one pass defensed, and six quarterback pressures�started 10 games at strongside linebacker as a junior in 2000, finishing third on the team with a career-high 85 tackles�added 2.0 sacks, one fumble recovery, four passes defensed, three quarterback pressures, and a team-high 10 special teams stops.

Born William Cordell Witherspoon in San Antonio, Texas�son of a retired military officer, Will has lived in Germany, England, and Arizona�with father stationed abroad, family lived in the community instead of military bases so the children could broaden their education and better experience that country�s culture�moved from defensive end to linebacker prior to his senior year at Rutherford High in Panama City, Fla., earning USA Today Player of the Year for Florida after leading team to 13-1 record and second-place finish in state playoffs�also lettered in track, competing in 100- and 200-meters�state long-jump champion as a senior with jump of 26� 10.5��enjoys speaking at schools and visiting children�s hospitals�married with daughters, Layne, Maya and Shaye�resides in Wildwood, Mo.