DeMarcus Lawrence

DeMarcus Lawrence (born April 28, 1992) is an American football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boise State and was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

DeMarcus Lawrence
Lawrence in 2020
No. 90 – Dallas Cowboys
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1992-04-28) April 28, 1992
Aiken, South Carolina
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:Silver Bluff (Aiken)
College:Boise State
NFL Draft:2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 34
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2020
Total tackles:292
Sacks:44.5
Forced fumbles:15
Fumble recoveries:8
Interceptions:1
Pass deflections:6
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Lawrence attended and played high school football at Silver Bluff High School.[1][2]

College career

Lawrence attended Butler Community College from 2010 to 2011.[3][4] He transferred to Boise State University before the 2012 season.[5] In his first year with the Broncos, he led the team in sacks with 9.5.[6] In 2013, he again led the team with 10.5 sacks. After the season, he entered the 2014 NFL Draft.[7][8]

Collegiate statistics
NCAA Collegiate Career statistics
Boise State Broncos
Season Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
YearClassGPCombSoloAsstLossSackIntYardsTDLongPDFFFRYardsTD
2012SO1148242413.59.5180800000
2013JR1272393320.510.5000013000
Career23120635734.020.0180813000

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand size40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 2 7⁄8 in
(1.90 m)		 251 lb
(114 kg)		 33 in
(0.84 m)		 11 in
(0.28 m)		4.80 s1.68 s2.80 s4.31 s7.46 s34 1⁄2 in
(0.88 m)		9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)		20 reps
All values from NFL Combine[9]

2014

After releasing franchise career sack leader DeMarcus Ware in a salary cap move and having previously lost starters Jason Hatcher and Jay Ratliff, the Dallas Cowboys looked to improve the talent of their defensive line in the 2014 NFL Draft.[10] The team traded up with the Washington Redskins moving to the 34th position, in exchange for a second (#47-Trent Murphy) and a third round (#78-Spencer Long) draft choices, in order to select Lawrence in the second round.[11][12] After fracturing his right foot in training camp, he started the year on the injured reserve list and did not appear in a game until Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals.[13] The lost time affected his play and with little impact (11 tackles with no sacks), he could not earn the starter right defensive end job ahead of Jeremy Mincey.[14]

He played a significant role in the Wild Card Round against the Detroit Lions on January 4, 2015, with the Cowboys leading 24–20 and just over two minutes remaining in the game, quarterback Matthew Stafford fumbled deep in Detroit's territory. Rather than falling on the ball to down it and securing the game-clinching turnover, Lawrence attempted to pick it up and score, which resulted in his fumbling the ball back to the Lions. He redeemed himself on the ensuing drive, on 4th and 3 with a minute left and the Lions threatening to win the game from the Cowboys' 42-yard line, he sacked Stafford, causing a fumble and recovering it all in one play, sealing the victory.[15] He had a strong showing in the playoffs with two sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.[16][17]

2015

In 2015, although defensive end Greg Hardy was the big offseason acquisition by the Cowboys, Lawrence had a bigger impact from his left defensive end position. He entered the season with an improved physical presence and would develop his edge rushing skills with every passing week. He finished the season with a streak of seven games with at least a sack, registering a total of eight (led the team), 31 quarterback pressures (second on the team) and 56 tackles.[18][19] His best games came against the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, and the New York Jets. In January 2016, he had back surgery, which turned out to be more serious than originally expected.[20]

2016

On June 30, 2016, Lawrence was suspended for four games, after his appeal was denied.[21] Lawrence was relatively unproductive during the 2016 NFL season, only registering one sack in 12 games played, this year at right end.[22]

2017
Lawrence about to sack Kirk Cousins in a game against the Washington Redskins

Lawrence had a breakout season in 2017 after shifting back over to the left side, his natural position. On September 17, 2017, in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos, Lawrence forced a fumble off quarterback Trevor Siemian. The fumble helped set up the Cowboys on a touchdown-scoring drive in the 42–17 loss.[23] In Week 3 of the 2017 season, Lawrence sacked Arizona Cardinals' quarterback Carson Palmer three times, giving him the league-lead 6.5 sacks. His performance in Week 3 earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[24] Lawrence's 6.5 sacks was enough to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors, for the month of September.[25] On December 19, 2017, after a breakout season with 14.5 sacks, Lawrence was named to his first Pro Bowl.[26] His 14.5 sacks finished tied for second in the league with the Jaguars' Calais Campbell behind the Cardinals' Chandler Jones.[27][28] He was ranked 34th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.[29]

2018

On March 5, 2018, the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Lawrence, who officially signed it later that day after they were unable to come to terms on a long-term deal.[30]

In Week 4 of the 2018 season, against the Detroit Lions, Lawrence matched his career-high with a three-sack performance.[31] On October 13, 2018, it was revealed that Lawrence was diagnosed with a torn labrum in his shoulder, in which the injury was intact for two years.[32] He finished the 2018 season with 10.5 sacks, 64 total tackles, 23 quarterback hits, one interception, and two forced fumbles.[33]

2019

On March 4, 2019, the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Lawrence, making him the highest paid defensive end in the NFL.[34]

On April 5, 2019, the Cowboys signed Lawrence to a five-year, $105 million contract with $65 million guaranteed.[35]

In week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Lawrence recorded a sack forced fumble on Carson Wentz which was recovered by teammate Antwaun Woods in the 37–10 win. This was Lawrence's first sack in a game against the Eagles.[36]

2020

In Week 5 against the New York Giants, Lawrence recorded his first sack of the season on Daniel Jones, a strip sack which was returned by Anthony Brown for a 29 yard touchdown during the 37–34 win.[37]

Career statistics
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombTotalAstSackIntYardsAvgLongTDPDFFFR
2014DAL 709630.00000.00012
2015DAL 16135535208.00000.00110
2016DAL 9311831.00000.00010
2017DAL 161658352314.5000.000142
2018DAL 161564422210.511313130121
2019DAL 16164530155.000000222
2020DAL 16155834246.500000241
Career967830019011045.511313.01306158

References
  1. "DeMarcus Lawrence, Silver Bluff , Weak-Side Defensive End". 247Sports. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  2. "Flashback: Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence learned toughness as a child the hard way". SportsDay. September 27, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  3. "DeMarcus Lawrence, Butler C.C. Grizzlies, Weak-Side Defensive End". 247Sports. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  4. "Cowboys' Tyrone Crawford and DeMarcus Lawrence have family bond". ESPN.com. December 13, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  5. "Lawrence Signs with Broncos". CSTV. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  6. Rains, BJ. "BSU's Lawrence hoping to be even better after big 2012". Idaho Press. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  7. "DeMarcus Lawrence Entering NFL". CBSSports. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  8. Rains, BJ. "Boise State's Lawrence to enter NFL Draft". Idaho Press. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  9. "NFL Draft Profile: Demarcus Lawrence". NFL.com. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  10. Rosenthal, Gregg. "DeMarcus Ware released by Dallas Cowboys". NFL.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  11. MacMahon, Tim. "Cowboys paid premium for Lawrence". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  12. "2014 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  13. "Demarcus Lawrence (broken foot) out 8 to 12 weeks". NFL.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  14. "Demarcus Lawrence 2014 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  15. Wilson, Ryan (January 4, 2015). "Cowboys' Demarcus Lawrence recovers two fumbles in final 2:10". cbssports.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  16. "Wild Card - Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys - January 4th, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  17. "Divisional Round - Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers - January 11th, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  18. "2015 Dallas Cowboys Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  19. "Demarcus Lawrence 2015 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  20. "Cowboys DE Lawrence OK, but back surgery more serious than expected". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  21. "Cowboys' Lawrence suspended 4 games". ESPN.com. June 30, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  22. "Demarcus Lawrence 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  23. "Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos - September 17th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  24. Lam, Quang M. (September 27, 2017). "Tom Brady, Kirk Cousins among Players of the Week". NFL.com.
  25. Lewis, Edward (September 28, 2017). "Kareem Hunt, Todd Gurley among Players of the Month". NFL.com.
  26. "NFL announces 2018 Pro Bowl rosters". NFL.com. December 19, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  27. "Demarcus Lawrence 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  28. "2017 NFL Defense". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  29. NFL Top 100 Players of 2018 - No. 34 DeMarcus Lawrence
  30. Patra, Kevin (March 5, 2018). "Demarcus Lawrence signs Cowboys' franchise tag". NFL.com.
  31. George, Brandon (September 30, 2018). "Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence is showing why he's no one-trick pony, but even he could use some help". SportsDay. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  32. Teope, Herbie. "DeMarcus Lawrence has had torn labrum for 2 years". NFL.com. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  33. "Demarcus Lawrence 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  34. Bergman, Jeremy (March 4, 2019). "Cowboys franchise tag DE DeMarcus Lawrence". NFL.com. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  35. Maya, Adam (April 5, 2019). "Cowboys, DeMarcus Lawrence agree to $105M deal". NFL.com.
  36. "Cowboys run over Eagles, take 1st in NFC East with 37-10 win". www.espn.com. October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  37. "New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys - October 11th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
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