Eli Apple

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Eli Apple
Personal information
Born: (1995-08-09) August 9, 1995 (age 28)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:203 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:Eastern Regional
(Voorhees Township, New Jersey)
College:Ohio State (2013–2015)
Position:Cornerback
NFL draft:2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Interceptions:
6
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Eli Apple (né Woodard, born August 9, 1995) is an

2016 NFL Draft. He has also played for the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Miami Dolphins
.

Early years

Apple, born Eli Woodard, was born to a

Nebraska, North Carolina, NC State, and Clemson and ranked his top three schools as Rutgers, Ohio State, and Notre Dame.[3] On February 12, 2012, he announced his verbal commitment to Ohio State after Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[4][5]

College career

Apple enrolled at Ohio State in January 2013 as a five-star prospect (

redshirted as a true freshman and went on to play in 2014 as a redshirt freshman.[7][8][9] He played in the 2015 Sugar Bowl and the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship.[10][11][12] In his second season with the Buckeyes, he was the Defensive MVP.[13]

Professional career

Pre-draft

External videos
video icon Eli Apple's NFL Combine Workout
video icon Eli Apple runs the 40-yard dash
video icon Eli Apple makes one-handed grab at combine

On January 4, 2016, Apple announced his decision to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the

2016 NFL Draft.[14] Apple attended the NFL Scouting Combine and completed the majority of combine drills before suffering cramps.[15] He finished with the tenth fastest time in the 40-yard dash among all participating players at the NFL Combine.[16]

On March 11, 2016, Apple attended Ohio State's

pro day, but opted to stand on his combine numbers and only performed the short shuttle, three-cone drill, and positional drills. Apple had pre-draft visits with multiple teams, including the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Tennessee Titans.[17][18] At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Apple was projected to be an early to mid first round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked the third best cornerback prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com, was ranked the fourth best cornerback by NFL analyst Mike Mayock, and was ranked the sixth best defensive back by Sports Illustrated.[19][20][21]

External videos
video icon Giants draft Eli Apple 10th overall
video icon NFL Draft Profile: Eli Apple
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split
20-yard shuttle
 Three-cone drill Bench press
Wonderlic
6 ft 0+5⁄8 in
(1.84 m) 		199 lb
(90 kg) 		31+3⁄8 in
(0.80 m) 		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.40 s 1.53 s 2.59 s 4.08 s 7.00 s 13 reps 21[22]
All values from
Pro Day[23]

New York Giants

2016 season

The New York Giants selected Apple in the first round (10th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.[24] Apple was the second cornerback drafted in 2016, after Jalen Ramsey (5th overall).[25] It was reported that the Giants had initially planned to draft linebacker Leonard Floyd or offensive tackle Jack Conklin. However, circumstances changed after Laremy Tunsil unexpectedly fell out of the top ten. The Titans traded ahead of the Giants to draft Jack Conklin (8th overall) and the Chicago Bears traded ahead of the Giants to select Leonard Floyd (9th overall). Giants' General Manager Jerry Reese opted to keep the tenth overall pick and selected Apple who was their highest graded player available on their draft board without any issues or injuries.[26] Draft analysts and fans criticized the selection of Apple as many deemed it to be a reach.[27][28]

On May 6, 2016, the Giants signed Apple to a fully guaranteed four-year, $15.15 million that includes a signing bonus of $9.21 million.[29][30]

Apple entered training camp slated as the third cornerback on the depth chart behind veterans Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Head coach Ben McAdoo named Apple the third cornerback on the depth chart to begin the regular season and first-team nickelback.

He made his professional regular season debut in the Giants' season-opener at the

pass deflections, one interception, and a forced fumble in 14 games and 11 starts.[39]

2017 season

Apple entered training camp slated as a starting outside cornerback. Head coach Ben McAdoo named Apple and Janoris Jenkins the starting outside cornerbacks to begin the regular season with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as the starting slot cornerback.[40]

He started the Giants' season-opening 19–3 loss to the Cowboys and made seven combined tackles and a pass deflection.

touchdowns during the fourth quarter.[45] In Week 15, he returned as a backup cornerback and collected a season-high nine combined tackles during a 34–29 loss to the Eagles.[46]

On December 20, 2017, it was reported that tensions between Apple and his teammates had reached an all-time high, with Giants' safety Landon Collins saying Apple was a "cancer" and should not be on the team in 2018.[47] On December 27, 2017, Apple was suspended by the team for the 2017 season finale after reportedly getting into an argument with coaching staff about being asked to practice with the scout team and for a "pattern of behavior that is conduct detrimental to the team".[48] Apple finished the 2017 NFL season with 49 combined tackles (41 solo) and eight pass deflections in 11 games and seven starts.[49]

2018 season

The Giants' new coach, Pat Shurmur, said about Apple that he "believe[d] in a clean slate".[50] Apple was to be a starting cornerback alongside safeties Landon Collins and Curtis Riley.[51] On September 16, 2018, Apple recorded one tackle before exiting in the third quarter of the Giants' 20–13 loss at the Cowboys due to a groin injury.[52] His injury sidelined him for the next two games (Weeks 3–4).[53] In Week 6, he collected eight combined tackles and recorded a season-high three pass deflections during a 34–13 loss to the Eagles.[54]

New Orleans Saints

On October 23, 2018, the Giants traded Apple to the

2020 NFL Draft.[55] The Saints traded for Apple in order to add him to their depleted secondary. Cornerback Patrick Robinson was placed on injured reserve after breaking his ankle in Week 3 and cornerback Ken Crawley sustained an injury to his oblique the day before the trade.[56] Head coach Sean Payton immediately named Apple a starting cornerback, reuniting him with former Ohio State secondary teammates Marshon Lattimore and Vonn Bell.[57] On October 28, 2018, Apple made his Saints' debut and collected nine solo tackles in a 30–20 win at the Vikings in Week 8.[58] On November 11, 2018, Apple recorded his first interception with the Saints in a 51–14 victory over the Bengals.[59]

On May 1, 2019, the Saints declined the fifth-year option on Apple's contract.[60] He started 15 games in 2019, recording 58 tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble.[61] During the 2020 free agency period, Apple was set to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders before the deal fell through.[62][63]

Carolina Panthers

On May 29, 2020, Apple signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.[64] He was placed on injured reserve on September 7, 2020, with ankle and foot injuries.[65] He was activated on October 3, 2020.[66] He was released by the team on October 27, 2020.[67]

Cincinnati Bengals

On March 23, 2021, Apple signed a one-year contract with the Bengals.

trolled other players on social media, notably Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, who had lost to Apple and the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game two weeks prior.[71][72]

Apple re-signed with the Bengals on a one-year contract on March 19, 2022.[73] In the 2022 season, Apple recorded 49 total tackles and eight passes defended in 15 games and starts.[74]

Miami Dolphins

On July 29, 2023, Apple signed with the Miami Dolphins, after starting cornerback Jalen Ramsey suffered a knee injury.[75]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg TD FF FR Yds TD
2016 NYG 14 11 51 41 10 0.0 7 1 0 0.0 0 1 2 0 0
2017 NYG 11 7 49 41 8 0.0 8 0 0 0.0 0 0 2 0 0
2018 NYG 5 5 23 20 3 0.0 5 0 0 0.0 0 1 1 0 0
NO 10 10 52 42 10 0.0 9 2 29 14.5 0 0 1 2 0
2019 NO 15 15 58 53 5 0.0 4 0 0 0.0 0 1 0 0 0
2020 CAR 2 0 4 3 1 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
2021 CIN 16 15 49 38 11 0.0 10 2 50 25.0 0 0 1 0 0
2022 CIN 15 15 49 35 14 0.0 8 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
2023 MIA 10 4 46 37 9 0.5 9 1 8 8.0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 98 82 381 310 71 0.5 60 6 87 14.5 0 3 7 2 0

Personal life

Apple was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was raised by his mother Annie Apple and stepfather Tim Apple in Voorhees Township, New Jersey.[76] He is also the nephew of actor and comedian Michael Blackson.[77] In 2012, he changed his name from Eli Woodard to Eli Apple.[78]

References

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  2. ^ Wiltfong, Steve (February 16, 2012). ""Special Time To Be A Buckeye"". 247sports.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
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  4. ^ "Buckeyes' 2013 recruiting class rated 7th nationally by ESPN". Akron Beacon Journal. June 7, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  5. ^ Kratch, James (April 29, 2016). "Before Apple was Giants' No. 10 pick, he was NJ HS star". NJ.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  6. ^ "Eli Apple". Ohio State Buckeyes Athletics. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
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  65. ^ Simmons, Myles (September 7, 2020). "Panthers re-sign Efe Obada, place Eli Apple on reserve/injured". Panthers.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
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  68. ^ Baby, Ben (March 23, 2021). "Bengals sign free-agent CB Apple to 1-year deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  69. ^ "Eli Apple 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  70. ^ Kerr, Jeff (February 14, 2022). "Super Bowl 2022: NFL players troll Bengals' Eli Apple after he gives up winning touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp". CBSSports.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  71. ^ McCarriston, Shanna (January 31, 2022). "Bengals' Eli Apple trolls Chiefs' Tyreek Hill by offering him Super Bowl tickets". CBSSports.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  72. ^ Powers, Christopher (February 14, 2022). "Half the receivers in the NFL have chosen violence on Monday as Eli Apple gets roasted into another dimension". The Loop. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
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  74. ^ "Eli Apple 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  75. ^ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (July 29, 2023). "Source: Short-handed Dolphins agree to deal with Eli Apple". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  76. ^ McCarthy, Erin (October 15, 2015). "Penn State game special for Ohio State's Eli Apple". Inquirer.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  77. ^ Magee, Patrick (December 21, 2012). "Eli Apple is still roasted by Saints fans, and his uncle, Michael Blackson, understands why". NOLA.com. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  78. ^ Bournival, Brad (December 21, 2012). "Eli Woodard changes his name to Eli Apple". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 5, 2017.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eli Apple.
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