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| DeShone Kizer | |
|---|---|
| Name | DeShone Kizer |
| Birth date | 5 December 1996 |
| Birth place | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in |
| Weight | 236 lb |
| Position | Quarterback |
| College | Notre Dame |
| Draft | 2017 NFL Draft, 2nd round, 52nd overall |
| Pastteams | Cleveland Browns; Green Bay Packers; Oakland Raiders; Indianapolis Colts; New York Jets; Pittsburgh Steelers |
DeShone Kizer is an American football quarterback who played collegiately at University of Notre Dame and was selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He started games as a rookie for the Browns before spending time on rosters and practice squads with several National Football League franchises, continuing a professional career marked by mobility and development efforts. Kizer's trajectory includes notable interactions with coaches, teammates, and personnel across multiple organizations in the NFL.
Kizer was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in the Greater Cleveland area, attending Avon Lake High School in Avon Lake, Ohio. As a high school athlete he played quarterback and emerged as a prospect during regional camps and state championships in Ohio. He competed against recruits committed to programs like Ohio State University, University of Michigan, Penn State University, University of Notre Dame, and University of Oklahoma, drawing offers from Power Five programs. Kizer participated in events that featured prospects from Texas, Florida, and California, and he committed to Notre Dame Fighting Irish football after recruiting visits and evaluations by coaching staffs.
At University of Notre Dame, Kizer redshirted before becoming the starting quarterback, succeeding predecessors in the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program. He played under head coach Brian Kelly and offensive staff that included coordinators who had worked at LSU, Clemson University, University of Michigan, and Boise State University. Kizer competed in marquee matchups against opponents such as University of Southern California, Ohio State University, Stanford University, and University of Florida, earning statistical recognition and conference consideration. During his tenure he shared locker rooms with teammates who later joined the NFL, and he faced defenses coached by staffs from programs like Alabama, Georgia Bulldogs football, and Notre Dame rival schools. Kizer declared for the 2017 NFL Draft after his junior season, entering a draft class that included quarterbacks drafted by franchises such as the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Giants.
Selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft, Kizer joined a franchise led by owner representatives and coaches who had recently rebuilt rosters with high draft picks. He started games as a rookie, competing against quarterbacks on teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North. Following his tenure in Cleveland, Kizer was traded to the Green Bay Packers and later spent time with the Oakland Raiders organization during offseasons and preseason camps. Subsequent stints included joining the Indianapolis Colts, signing futures or practice-squad contracts with the New York Jets, and being evaluated by the Pittsburgh Steelers during training camp periods. Across these transactions he worked under coaching staffs linked to head coaches who had backgrounds with New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Baltimore Ravens personnel. Kizer’s professional timeline intersected with roster decisions involving quarterbacks from franchises such as the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, and Denver Broncos.
Kizer's playing style combined size and arm strength reminiscent of quarterbacks developed in systems like those at University of Louisville and University of Texas. Observers compared elements of his mechanics to quarterbacks who played for Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills affiliates, noting mobility and downfield passing capabilities in schemes influenced by coordinators from Oregon Ducks football and Auburn Tigers football. Scouting reports highlighted his ability to make off-platform throws similar to players developed at Florida State University and University of Miami (Florida), while also noting decision-making and processing that critics linked to learning curves seen in young quarterbacks from programs like University of California, Los Angeles and University of Washington. His physical traits—height, weight, and arm velocity—matched profiles sought by franchises including the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and Arizona Cardinals.
Kizer's personal background includes ties to the Cleveland metropolitan area and associations with coaches, mentors, and teammates who progressed to the NFL. He has public connections to alumni networks at University of Notre Dame and relations with sports organizations in Ohio. Off the field he engaged with community events and charitable activities coordinated by teams and foundations associated with franchises like the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers. Kizer's interactions have involved agents and representatives who have worked across agencies serving clients in the NFL and other professional sports leagues.
Kizer's statistical record spans collegiate totals with Notre Dame Fighting Irish football and professional statistics accrued during appearances for the Cleveland Browns and other NFL teams. College statistics placed him among Notre Dame passers in single-season and career categories, comparable to records held by alumni who entered the NFL Draft. Professional numbers include passing attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions recorded during regular-season gameplay and preseason exhibitions.