WorldWide RamsEd "Pi Double i" Henderson Player Bio: Jerry Tillery prepped at Shreveport's Evangel Christian Academy, the same school that turned out the late Joel Mcknight (NYJ), Trent Taylor (SF) and brothers Josh and John David Booty (LSU/USC), rated as one of the nations top offensive linemen. After receiving a scholarship to Notre Dame, Tillery converted as a true freshman as a defensive lineman. Tillery would become problematic with discipline issues which arose early in his collegiate career. In his freshman year, he would start three games that season recording 12 tackles (two for loss). The "Fighting Irish" of Notre Dame received a bid to play in the Fiesta Bowl against the Ohio St Buckeyes where they lost 44-28. However, Tillery did not play after receiving a suspension by the school for violating unspecified team rules. He would go on a rampage on Twitter as it appeared he suggested that Notre Dame should fire head coach Brian Kelly and hire former LSU head coach Les Miles. The following season, Tillery's sophomore year, again with disciplinary issues, broadcast cameras on a nationally televised game against the USC Trojans produced footage of him not only stepping on the Trojan players but kicking them too in a Notre Dame loss. However, he finished the season productively with 37 tackles (three tackles for loss). Things would turn around for the best his junior season as a starter ended the year as on the nations elite defensive tackles. Credit to his offseason dedication of working out, he finished the year with 56 tackles (nine for loss) and added 4 1/2 sacks. Tillery's senior year, he gained national respect by the voters which garnered him second-team All-American recognition from the Associated Press while obliterating opposing offenses finishing the year with 30 tackles (10.5 for loss), three forced fumbles, eight sacks, and blocked two kicks. Jerry Tillery |
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