TRANSACTIONS: • 3/12/06 – signed by Rams as
unrestricted free agent. • 4/20/02 – selected by Carolina Panthers in
the third round (73rd overall) in 2002 NFL Draft.
PRO: Versatile linebacker who
can play both middle and weakside spots.
2006 SEASON: Led the team in
tackles with 136 (104 solo). • Tied for team-lead with nine tackles
(eight solo) in Week 1 vs. Denver 9/10. • Led the team with career-high
13 solo tackles in Week 2 at San Francisco 9/17. • Tied career high with
a team-high 13 tackles in Week 6 vs. Seattle 10/15. • Made 13 tackles in
Week 8 at San Diego 10/29. • Led the team with 10 tackles and recorded
first two sacks of the season in Week 10 at Seattle 11/12. • Led the
team with 10 tackles in Week 11 at Carolina 11/19. • Collected a
team-high 10 tackles in Week 17 at Minnesota 12/31.
2005 SEASON: Led
Panthers in tackles for second straight season. • Fourth-quarter
interception vs. New York Jets 11/13, returned a career-long 35 yards for
touchdown off QB Brooks Bollinger. • Season-high 12 tackles (10 solo)
with one sack and one pass defensed against Dallas 12/24. • Five tackles
(three solo) in each postseason contest, at New York Giants 1/6/06 and at
Chicago 1/15/06, adding one sack and forced fumble against the Giants and one
pass defensed against the Bears.
2004 SEASON:
Carolina’s leading tackler. • 10 tackles (eight solo) with two passes
defensed and second career interception, off Raiders’ QB Kerry Collins, vs.
Oakland 11/7. • Season-high 11 tackles (eight solo), adding one forced
fumble, one sack, and one interception off 49ers’ QB Tim Rattay at San Francisco
11/14. • Had third straight week with double-digit tackle game as he
made 10 tackles (eight solo) vs. Arizona 11/21, adding one sack on Cardinals’ QB
Shaun King.
2003 SEASON: Named to
USA Today’s All-Joe team after finishing second on team in
tackles. • Six tackles (five solo) with two passes defensed and first
career interception off Saints’ QB Aaron Brooks at New Orleans
10/26. • Eight tackles (seven solo) and forced fumble on Cowboys’ RB
Richie Anderson vs. Dallas 1/3/04 in NFC Wildcard Game. • Collected nine
tackles (five solo) and sack on Eagles’ QB Donovan McNabb at Philadelphia
1/18/04 in NFC Championship Game. • Made career-high 16 tackles (six
solo) vs. New England 2/1/04 in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
2002 SEASON: Played
in 15 games as rookie, starting eight – one at weakside linebacker and one at
middle. • Made first NFL start at Atlanta 10/20 at weakside linebacker,
making nine tackles (six solo). • Moved from weakside to middle for
final eight games of season after injury to LB Dan Morgan, producing five
straight games with double-digit tackles. • Tied for team-lead with 11
tackles (nine solo), adding first career half-sack on Browns’ QB Tim Couch at
Cleveland 12/1. • Tied for team-lead with career-high 12 tackles (eight
solo) with first career forced fumble and first career full sack on Bengals’ QB
Jon Kitna vs. Cincinnati 12/8. • Tied career-high with 12 tackles the
following week at Pittsburgh 12/15 (eight solo).
College Highlights:
• Three-year starter at Georgia…finished
Bulldogs’ career with 211 tackles, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, 3.5
sacks, 14 tackles for losses, seven passes defensed, and 15 quarterback
pressures. • Showed versatility, starting at middle linebacker as
sophomore, strongside linebacker as junior, and weakside linebacker as
senior…started nine games at weakside linebacker as senior, posting 43 tackles,
one sack, one forced fumble, one pass defensed, and six quarterback
pressures. • Started 10 games at strongside linebacker as junior in
2000, finishing third on team with career-high 85 tackles…added two sacks, one
fumble recovery, four passes defensed, three quarterback pressures, and
team-high 10 special teams stops. • Played in eight games, starting five
at middle linebacker as sophomore. • Played in all 11 games as true
freshman, finishing with 50 tackles. • Agricultural engineering
major.
Personal Info:
• Born William Cordell Witherspoon in San
Antonio, Texas. • Son of retired military officer, 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 education
and better experience that country’s culture. • Fluent in German and is
learning both Arabic and Swedish. • Moved from defensive end to
linebacker prior to 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 senior with jump of
26’ 10.5”. • Enjoys speaking at schools and visiting children’s
hospitals. • Married to Rebecca with daughters, Layne and Maya…resides
in Wildwood, Mo.
