Position: Outside linebacker Height 1.93 m Place of birth: Macon, Georgia Weight 121 kg | College: Kentucky Nationality American Name Bud Dupree | |
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Date of birth: (1993-02-12) February 12, 1993 (age 22) High school: Irwinton (GA) Wilkinson Co. NFL draft: 2015 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22 Role American football linebacker Current team Pittsburgh Steelers (#48 / Linebacker) Education University of Kentucky (2011–2015) Similar People Vic Beasley, Shane Ray, Jarvis Jones, Sammie Coates, Randy Gregory Profiles | ||
2015 NFL Draft Rd 1 Pk 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers Select OLB Bud Dupree
Alvin "Bud" Dupree Jr. (born February 12, 1993) is an American football outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kentucky, and was drafted in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Steelers.
Contents
- 2015 NFL Draft Rd 1 Pk 22 Pittsburgh Steelers Select OLB Bud Dupree
- High school career
- College career
- Professional career
- Personal life
- References
High school career
Dupree attended Wilkinson County High School in Irwinton, Georgia. He was a three-year starter at defensive end and four-year starter at tight end. As a senior, he had over 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on offense and 62 tackles and 10 sacks on defense. He was also voted First-team all state by the Georgia Sports-writer Association and Atlanta Georgia Constitution. Dupree was ranked by Rivals.com as a three-star recruit. He also played basketball for his high school, was on the honor roll, and a member of the Future Business Leaders of America.
College career
As a true freshman at University of Kentucky in 2011, Dupree played in 12 games with three starts at linebacker. During games against Georgia and Vanderbilt, he had a season high five tackles in each game. He finished the season with 21 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery.
As a sophomore in 2012, Dupree started all 12 regular season games and recorded 91 tackles, 12.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks. He recorded a season high 12 tackles against Western Kentucky. For his sophomore season he ranked 10th in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in tackles and seventh in the FBS for sacks and tackles for loss. After this season he would switch from linebacker to defensive lineman for his last two years at Kentucky.
As a junior, in 2013, he played in 11 games, ranking second on his team with 61 tackles, first on the team with 9.5 tackles-for-loss at defensive end. He also had seven sacks and two forced fumbles. Against Mississippi State, Dupree recorded a career-high 13 tackles. In the SEC he finished sixth in sacks.
Dupree returned as a starter at defensive end his senior season in 2014 and was voted team captain for the Wildcats that year. For the season he had 74 tackles, 12.5 tackles-for-loss, and eight sacks. He also started all 12 games and recorded his first career interception which he returned for a game-winning touchdown in a 45-38 win against South Carolina. On Saturday, May 9, 2015, he graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in community and leadership development.
Professional career
Coming out of college, Dupree was projected to be a first round draft pick by the majority of NFL analysts. He was also ranked the top defensive end out of the 148 available by NFLDraftScout.com. Analysts and scouts gave him positive reviews for his freakish athlectism, explosive burst, large frame, outstanding power and strength, ability to play zone coverage, and character. The only criticisms he received were due to his below-average instincts and lack of consistency.
On April 30, 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the first round with the 22nd overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was the first University of Kentucky player taken in the first round since defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson went with the fourth overall pick to the New York Jets in the 2003 NFL Draft.
On May 15, 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Dupree to a four-year contract worth $11.22 million with $8.63 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $4.96 million.
He began his rookie season as the backup left outside linebacker behind veteran Arthur Moats. Dupree made his professional regular season debut in the Steeler's regular season opener against the New England Patriots and finished the 28-21 loss with two solo tackles and sacked Tom Brady. The next game, he made a season-high four combined tackles and a sack during the Steeler's 43-18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. On November 29, 2015, he made his first career start against the Seattle Seahawks and made one solo tackle. He finished his rookie season with 26 combined tackles, four sacks, and a pass deflection while playing in all 16 regular season games and five starts.
Dupree was named the starting left outside linebacker ahead of Moats to begin the 2016 regular season. On September 4, 2016, Dupree was placed on injured reserve after suffering a groin injury. He was activated off injured reserve on November 19, 2016 prior to Week 11. He played in his first game of the season the following game. On November 24, 2016, he recorded two solo tackles in a 28-7 victory at the Indianapolis Colts. On December 11, 2016, he made his first start of the season and recorded a career-high five solo tackles, an assisted tackle, and sacked Bill's quarterback Tyrod Taylor 2.5 times during a 27-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Personal life
Dupree was raised in Macon, Georgia. His father is Alvin Dupree Sr. and his mother is Sophia Stephens. He is also an avid dog lover. The nickname "Bud" was given to him by his godmother. She said while his mother was pregnant with him she had a dream of people calling him Bud and him playing football.