J. D. DiRenzo (born July 27, 1998) is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football for the Sacred Heart Pioneers and Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
| Personal information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | July 27, 1998 Hammonton, New Jersey, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 315 lb (143 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | St. Joseph Academy (NJ) | ||||
| College: | Sacred Heart (2017–2021) Rutgers (2022) | ||||
| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||
| Undrafted: | 2023 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||
| |||||
Early life and high school
editDiRenzo was born on July 27, 1998, in Hammonton, New Jersey.[1] His grandfather, Dan DiRenzo, was reportedly a member of the Philadelphia Eagles during their 1948 and 1949 championship run.[2] He attended St. Joseph Academy and helped them win state championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015 while being a four-year letterman; he was selected third-team all-state and was first-team All-South Jersey and first-team all-conference in his senior year.[3][4]
College career
editDiRenzo began his collegiate career with the Sacred Heart Pioneers, appearing in no games as a true freshman in 2017.[4] He then became a starter in 2018, starting all 11 games while helping the Pioneers have the best rushing offense in the conference.[4] Having been a right tackle in 2018, he shifted to left tackle in 2019 and started all 12 games while being named first-team All-Northeast Conference (NEC).[5]
In the spring 2021 season, postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DiRenzo started all five games and was named first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), first-team all-conference and All-New England as he helped Sacred Heart reach the FCS playoffs while winning the NEC championship.[4] He was a third-team All-American in 2021 while starting all 12 games at left tackle, additionally being chosen first-team All-NEC and All-New England.[4]
After having started 40 games for Sacred Heart, DiRenzo entered the NCAA transfer portal and transferred to play for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in 2022, using a final year of eligibility granted to him due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7][8] He started all 12 games – nine at left guard and three at left tackle – and was named the team's offensive most valuable player.[9] He was invited to the Hula Bowl after the season.[10]
Professional career
edit| 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+5⁄8 in (1.95 m) |
306 lb (139 kg) |
32+5⁄8 in (0.83 m) |
10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m) |
5.31 s | 1.84 s | 2.88 s | 4.69 s | 7.45 s | 33.5 in (0.85 m) |
9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) | ||
| All values from Pro Day[11] | ||||||||||||
DiRenzo was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine and was not selected in the 2023 NFL draft, but was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent.[2] He appeared on 102 snaps in preseason but was released at the final roster cuts, then re-signed to the practice squad.[12][13] He was elevated to the active roster for the team's Week 15 game against the Atlanta Falcons, and made his NFL debut in the 9–7 win, playing seven total snaps.[14][15] DiRenzo was signed to the active roster on January 2, 2024.[16] He finished the season having appeared in three games.[1]
On August 6, 2024, DiRenzo was waived with an injury designation.[17]
References
edit- ^ a b "J.D. DiRenzo Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ a b Schroeder, Charles (May 2, 2023). "Hammonton's JD DiRenzo to fulfill boyhood dream by signing with NFL team: 'It's now my job to prove them right'". Press of Atlantic City.
- ^ "Area offensive football players at NCAA Division I colleges". Press of Atlantic City. August 19, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "J.D. DiRenzo". Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
- ^ Russo, John (July 27, 2020). "St. Joseph grad J.D. DiRenzo among Sacred Heart's preseason all-conference picks". Press of Atlantic City.
- ^ "NFL Draft Profile: J.D. DiRenzo, Offensive Lineman, Rutgers Scarlet Knights". Sports Illustrated. January 18, 2023.
- ^ Hunt, Todderick (January 8, 2023). "Massive, 20-offer OL graduate transfer JD DiRenzo comes home to Rutgers". NJ.com.
- ^ Iseman, Chris (March 29, 2022). "How transfer O-lineman JD DiRenzo is adjusting to Rutgers football and the Big Ten". Asbury Park Press.
- ^ Russo, John (December 6, 2022). "Rutgers names St. Joseph grad J.D. DiRenzo offensive MVP: College notebook". Press of Atlantic City.
- ^ Dyer, Kristian (January 10, 2023). "Rutgers football: J.D. DiRenzo is set for the Hula Bowl". USA Today.
- ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout J.D. DiRenzo College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ Fonesca, Brian (August 29, 2023). "Rutgers in NFL: Which Scarlet Knights survived final cuts, made 53-man roster ahead of 2023 season?". NJ.com.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (August 30, 2023). "Panthers add 11 players to the practice squad". Carolina Panthers.
- ^ Rizzuti, Anthony (December 16, 2023). "Panthers elevate 2 offensive linemen for Week 15 matchup vs. Falcons". USA Today.
- ^ "J.D. DiRenzo Career Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (January 2, 2024). "Wideout Jonathan Mingo placed on IR with foot injury". Panthers.com. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ "Panthers claim S Caden Sterns off waivers". nbcsports.com. Retrieved August 6, 2024.