Jahleel Billingsley (born May 17, 2001) is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and Alabama Crimson Tide.

Jahleel Billingsley
Personal information
Born: (2001-05-17) May 17, 2001 (age 23)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:Phillips Academy
(Chicago, Illinois)
College:Alabama (2019–2021)
Texas (2022)
Position:Tight end
Undrafted:2023
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards

Early life

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Billingsley grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Wendell Phillips Academy High School, where he played football and basketball.[1][2] He played multiple positions for the Wildcats including tight end, receiver, wildcat quarterback and defensive line.[3] Billingsley was rated a four-star prospect and committed to play college football at Alabama over offers from Auburn, Florida, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State.[4] He was the first Alabama recruit from the state of Illinois since 1997.[5]

College career

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Bilingsley played in nine games with two receptions for 16 yards as a freshman.[6][7] He caught 18 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns as the Crimson Tide won the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.[3][8] Billingsley also led the team with 89 kick return yards.[9]

Billingsley was moved down the depth chart prior to the start of the 2021 season.[10] When coach Nick Saban was asked about it after the team’s first game against Miami, he said Saban said, “Jahleel and I have talked on several occasions because he’s certainly a guy that we want to have success for his own benefit individually, as well as for the team. Sometime when you get a little external encouragement it can be a positive for you.”[11][12] Billingsley caught a 26-yard touchdown pass in the Crimson Tide's 31-29 win in Week 3 over 11th-ranked Florida and returned to the starting lineup the following game against Southern Miss.[13]

Billingsley ended the 2021 season with 17 receptions for 256 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games.

On January 11, 2022, Billingsley entered the transfer portal after not catching a pass during the CFB Championship for Alabama. Then on January 16, it was announced that Billingsley would be transferring to Texas to play with former Alabama Offensive Coordinator, Steve Sarkisian.

He started his time at Texas with a six-game suspension for "something that happened before his arrival in Texas."[14] During the four games he did play in, he was targeted just six times, making three catches for 38 receiving yards.[15] He left the team before their 2022 season was over.[16]

College statistics

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Year School Conf Class Pos G Receiving
Rec Yds Avg TD
2019 Alabama SEC FR TE 9 2 16 1.8 0
2020 Alabama SEC SO TE 12 18 287 15.9 3
2021 Alabama SEC JR TE 15 17 256 15.1 3
2022 Texas Big 12 SR TE 4 3 38 12.7 0
Career Texas 36 37 559 15.1 6

Source:[17]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 4 in
(1.93 m)
223 lb
(101 kg)
32+12 in
(0.83 m)
9+38 in
(0.24 m)
4.60 s 1.59 s 2.57 s 4.52 s 7.14 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)
9 ft 9 in
(2.97 m)
All values from Pro Day[18]

In late 2022 Billingsley chose to forego his final two years of college eligibility and enter the draft.[19] was not invited to the 2023 NFL Combine, but did participate in Texas' Pro Day. Despite being on draft watch lists, he was not selected in the 2023 NFL draft, but did garner an invite to mini-camp by the Tennessee Titans.[14]

Calgary Stampeders

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Billingsley was signed by the Calgary Stampeders to their practice roster on July 12, 2023.[20] He was released on July 15, 2023.[21]

San Antonio Brahmas

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Billingsley was selected by the San Antonio Brahmas in the 2023 XFL Rookie Draft on June 16, 2023 - before signing with Calgary.[22] After being released by Calgary, he signed with the Brahmas on October 20, 2023.[23] He was not part of the roster after the 2024 UFL dispersal draft on January 15, 2024.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Phillips' Jahleel Billingsley rolling with Crimson Tide". Chicago Sun-Times. December 30, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  2. ^ Suttles, Aaron (December 1, 2020). "Jahleel Billingsley emerges as another weapon for Alabama to create mismatches". The Athletic. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Locals Jahleel Billingsley, Tuf Borland meet again in College Football Playoff championship". Chicago Sun-Times. January 10, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "Phillips TE Jahleel Billingsley becomes first local player to commit to Alabama in at least 20 years". Chicago Tribune. July 6, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "Phillips' Jahleel Billingsley — Alabama's first recruit from Illinois since 1997 — is a 'big-time talent'". Chicago Tribune. July 21, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  6. ^ Casagrande, Michael (December 2, 2020). "Alabama and the quest to solve the TE challenge while unleashing one of its own". AL.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  7. ^ "Jahleel Billingsley: 5 things to know about the Alabama Crimson Tide football tight end". Tuscaloosa News. December 19, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  8. ^ Myerberg, Paul (April 16, 2021). "Alabama football lost some star power, so watching national champions try to repeat will be fascinating". USA Today. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  9. ^ Rodak, Mike (December 29, 2020). "Tight end Jahleel Billingsley is Alabama's unlikely leader in kick-return yardage". AL.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  10. ^ "Saban again has sharp words for Jahleel Billingsley". al. August 21, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  11. ^ "Nick Saban discusses viral sideline moment with Jahleel Billingsley". Saturday Down South. September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  12. ^ Kelly, Nick. "What Alabama's Nick Saban said about his sideline conversation with TE Jahleel Billingsley". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  13. ^ "Alabama football gave a peek at its secret weapon against Southern Miss, and just at the right time". Tuscaloosa News. September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Billingsley's An Interesting Invite To Titans Rookie Minicamp". May 3, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  15. ^ Miller, Andrew. "Texas Football: Titans invite TE Jahleel Billingsley to rookie minicamp". Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  16. ^ Hookstead, David (November 25, 2022). "Texas Reportedly Loses Former Alabama Tight End". Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  17. ^ "JAHLEEL BILLINGSLEY". Roll Tide. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Jahleel Billingsley College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  19. ^ Thompson, Cole. "Former Texas TE Jahleel Billingsley To Declare For 2023 NFL Draft". Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  20. ^ Zenitz, Matt (July 10, 2023). "Former Alabama, Texas tight end Jahleel Billingsley lands new professional opportunity". On3. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  21. ^ "Transactions". Calgary Stampeders. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  22. ^ "XFL Completes Rookie Draft". www.xfl.com. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  23. ^ "15 Players Sign Letters of Intent With XFL". www.xfl.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  24. ^ "2024 UFL Team Rosters". TheUFL.com. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
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