Leigh Tiffin
|
Tiffin kicking an extra point for Alabama | |||
| No. 10 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Placekicker | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth: | August 3, 1988 | ||
| Place of birth: | Muscle Shoals, Alabama | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Weight: | 212 lb (96 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| College: | Alabama | ||
| Undrafted: | 2010 | ||
| Career history | |||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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Van Leigh Tiffin (born August 3, 1988) is a former American football kicker. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Alabama. Named for his father, he is called Leigh to distinguish him from Van Tiffin.
College career
Tiffin, who wore number 99 for the Alabama Crimson Tide, got his chance to kick as a freshman following a groin injury to starting kicker Jamie Christensen. Tiffin was a hero, kicking the game-winning 47–yard field goal, in Alabama's 13–10 win over Vanderbilt on September 9, 2006.[3] However, two weeks later against a very strong Arkansas team, he would miss three field goals in a 24–23 overtime loss, including the game-tying extra point.[4] Christensen returned to the role the following week against Florida and except for two extra points against Florida International. Tiffin would be benched for the remainder of the season.
In 2007, he won the starting placekicking role over Christensen. The highlight of his sophomore year was when he went 4–4 in field goal attempts (39, 51, 29, 50) in a losing effort against Mississippi State. He was only the second kicker in Alabama football history to make two 50+ yard field goals in a game, the other being his father. His four kicks were Alabama's only points of the game.[5]
In the 2008 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff, Tiffin kicked a 54–yard field goal, his career long, in a 34–10 victory over #9-ranked Clemson.[6] He finished the season with 20 of 29 field goals and a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
For the 2009 season, he was 30 for 35 for 87.9 percent. After kicking a field goal against LSU, he became Alabama's all-time leading scorer with 350 points. This year, he was named Lou Groza Award "Star of the Week" three times and was a finalist for the Groza. In mid-December, Tiffin was named to the Associated Press All-American Team along with five other Crimson Tide players.
Professional career
Cleveland Browns
Tiffin was given a tryout with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent[7] and agreed to a rookie free agent deal on May 3, 2010.[8] He was waived/injured on May 18 and reverted to injured reserve. He was released from injured reserve with an injury settlement on May 26.
Personal
Tiffin, born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, is the son of Mia Michelle (née Self) and Van Leigh Tiffin. His father, known as Van, was a former Crimson Tide kicker who was the hero of the 1985 Iron Bowl against rival Auburn. Leigh Tiffin graduated from Muscle Shoals High School.
Tiffin married Baylee Ann Ellson. They have a daughter, Ava Bayleigh; their son Van Leigh III was born January 5, 2013.
References
- ↑ "All-SEC Football Team Announced". SEC. 2009-12-09. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 13, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
- ↑ "2009 AP All-SEC Team". SEC. 2009-12-07. Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
- ↑ "Freshman walk-on's 47-yard FG lifts 'Bama over Vandy". ESPN. 2006-09-06. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
- ↑ "OT kicking woes doom Alabama". ESPN. 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
- ↑ "Miss. State earns second straight win over Bama". ESPN. 2007-11-10. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
- ↑ "No. 24 Alabama limits No. 9 Clemson's ground game in upset victory". ESPN. August 30, 2008.
- ↑ http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/04/alabamas_leigh_tiffin_is_heade.html
- ↑ http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/05/tides_leigh_tiffin_agrees_to_f.html