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Player Profile
#99
Erasmus
James
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-4
Weight: 266
NFL Years: 3
College: Wisconsin
Hometown: Hollywood, FL
PHOTOS  1  2  3  4  5VIDEOS  1  2  3

Games and Starts

(regular season, playoffs) 2005 (15/9), 2006 (2/2). Total (17/11). 

Professional Biography

Returns to the Vikings lineup in 2007 after knee surgery in 2006...Explosive natural pass rusher notched 4.0 sacks in his rookie campaign...Joined the Vikings as the 3rd straight 1st-round defensive lineman the team has selected, joining Kenechi Udeze in 2004 and Kevin Williams in 2003...The Vikings selected a defensive player
in the 1st round in 4 consecutive drafts when LB Chad Greenway was taken in 2006...First Wisconsin defender taken in the 1st round since Arizona selected Wendell Bryant in 2002.


NFL History

  • Placed on injured reserve on 12/7/07 with knee injury.
  • Started game vs. Detroit (12/2), his 1st start since the 2nd game of 2006 and notched 4 tackles to lead the Vikings defensive line.
  • Notched 1st sack of 2007 and 1st sack since 12/18/05 when he caught former Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper vs. Oakland (11/18).
  • Had season-high 4 tackles and a tackle for loss @ Green Bay (11/11).
  • Notched 1st tackles of 2007 vs. San Diego (11/4) when he notched 2.
  • Inactive for game @ Dallas (10/21) and vs. Philadelphia (10/28).
  • Played in 1st game of 2007 @ Chicago (10/14) after battling back from knee injury suffered in 2nd game of 2006.
  • Inactive for opening 4 games of the 2007 season.
  • Joins fellow 1st-rounders Kevin Williams and Kenechi Udeze on the Vikings defensive line.
  • Was the 2nd 1st-rounder (#18) in 2005 by the Vikings, joining WR Troy Williamson (#7).
  • Is 1 of 9 former 1st-round picks playing for the Vikings in 2007, including 5 on defense.
  • Returns for 2007 after missing final 14 games of 2006 with knee injury that landed him on injured reserve.
  • Notched a pair of sacks as a rookie against eventual Super Bowl XL winner Ben Roethlisberger.
  • Played in 15 games as a rookie.

College Information

Earned All-America honors from Associated Press, Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association as a senior...Earned Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year honors as a senior...Tabbed as Touchdown Club of Columbus Defensive Player of the Year...Missed time as a senior with ankle injury suffered vs. Purdue...Named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week 3 times in his career, twice as a senior and in his college football debut against Virginia as a freshman in 2001...In season opener as a freshman, posted 3.0 sacks against Arizona...Notched 18 career sacks...Missed 2003 season due to hip injury sustained in preseason training in August, redshirting for the season...Played in Alamo Bowl as a sophomore and Outback Bowl as a senior.

2004 Enjoyed one of the top seasons by a Wisconsin defensive player in team history, notching All-America honors from Associated Press, Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association...A 1st-Team All-Big Ten honoree, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year...Earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors vs. Arizona and vs. Penn State...Touchdown Club of Columbus, OH, named him national defensive player of the year...Tied for 2nd in Big Ten with 8.0 sacks...Named winner of UW’s Jay Seiler Coaches Appreciation Award...Started 10 of the 11 games he played at LDE, coming off the bench vs. Minnesota and missing Northwestern game with ankle injury suffered vs. Purdue...Had 2-sack games against Arizona and Penn State...Posted a sack against Central Florida in the season opener, the 1st game back on the field since 2002.

2003 Redshirted after suffering hip injury during preseason camp in August...Rehabbed the injury but did not undergo surgery.

2002 Started 13 of the 14 games at RDE...Notched sacks against Northern Illinois, Penn State, Indiana and Ohio State...Had season-high 9 tackles vs. Indiana along with 2 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery...Notched career-best 57 tackles...Led team with 17 QB hurries.

2001 Started 1st career game and lone start of season vs. Indiana...Forced career-high 3 fumbles on season...In 1st collegiate game, earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in season opener vs. Virginia when he had 3 sacks and forced a fumble...Posted sacks against Iowa, Michigan and eventual #1 overall NFL Draft pick David Carr against Fresno State.

Personal Biography

Born on the island of St. Kitt’s in the Caribbean...Moved to Bronx, NY, as a child and then to Florida as he entered high school...Did not play football until his senior year at McArthur High in Hollywood, FL...Previous to trying football, was a standout basketball player...Majored in criminal justice and sociology...Father is the press secretary to the Prime Minister of St.Kitt’s...Named Academic All-Big Ten in 2001...Active in the Twin Cities community through the Page Education Foundation, Increase The Peace, the Jewis Community Relations Council and Prevent Child Abuse...Aspires to a career in law enforcement following his football-playing days...Participated in the African-American Read-In in spring 2007 in conjuntion with the University of Minnesota and Dr. Neville Alexander.

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