Alex Erickson
Alex Michael Erickson (born November 6, 1992) is an American football wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin and was signed by the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2016.[1][2]
Erickson in the 2017 NFL season. | |||||||||||||
No. 12 – Cincinnati Bengals | |||||||||||||
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Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | Darlington, Wisconsin | November 6, 1992||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Darlington (WI) | ||||||||||||
College: | Wisconsin | ||||||||||||
Undrafted: | 2016 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
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Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2019 | |||||||||||||
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High school career
At Darlington High School, Erickson rushed for 3,856 yards and 57 touchdowns, passed for 3,648 yards and 37 touchdowns and recorded 170 tackles and 14 interceptions.[3] He was chosen to play in the WFCA All-Star game as a senior and was named the Wisconsin State Journal Small School Player of the Year.[4] He was first-team all-state as defensive back and first-team all-conference as defensive back and quarterback after gaining 2,489 yards of total offense (1,239 rushing and 1,250 passing), scoring 33 touchdowns (20 rushing and 13 passing) and making 50 tackles with three interceptions.[5]
College career
Erickson lettered three years at Wisconsin, finishing his career ranked 10th in school history with 1,877 receiving yards and ranked sixth all-time with 141 career receptions.[6][7] In the 2013 season, he had nine receptions for 127 receiving yards in seven games.[8] The next season, his role in the offense expanded with 55 receptions for 772 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in 13 games.[9] For his senior season, he caught 77 passes (second in school history) for 978 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns and he was named first-team All-Big Ten (media), second-team All-Big Ten (coaches), and Academic All-Big Ten (for the third consecutive year).[10][11]
Professional career
Cincinnati Bengals
Erickson signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent. He was the only undrafted free agent to make the Bengals' final roster.[12]
He started the season as the team's primary kick returner and punt returner, a spot he continued throughout the season, and as a backup receiver.[13] For the season, he had 6 catches for 71 yards, and averaged 27.9 yards per kickoff return and 7.0 yards per punt return.[14][15] His 810 kickoff return yards led the NFL in that category.[16]
On November 19, 2017, Erickson recorded his first NFL touchdown, scoring on a 29-yard pass from Andy Dalton during the Bengals 20–17 victory over the Denver Broncos.[17] Overall, he finished the 2017 season with 12 receptions for 180 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown to go along with 32 kick returns for 663 net yards and 39 punt returns for 278 net yards.[18]
On September 8, 2018, Erickson signed a two-year contract extension with the Bengals through the 2020 season.[19] He finished the 2018 season with 20 receptions for 187 yards.[20]
Erickson posted his first career 100+ receiving yard game on October 20, 2019 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he finished with 137 receiving yards as the Bengals lost 17-27.[21] Overall, Erickson finished the 2019 season with 43 receptions for 529 receiving yards.[22]
Personal life
The son of Mike and Linda Erickson, Erickson has two brothers, Mitchell and Brett. He married Kelsi Erickson in 2017.[23] Erickson graduated from Wisconsin in December 2015 with bachelor's degree in agricultural business management.[24]
References
- "Former Badgers receiver Erickson fitting in with Bengals". FOX Sports. May 16, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- Harvey, Coley (August 13, 2016). "As Bengals' WR race heats up, get to know the elusive Alex Erickson". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- Potrykus, Jeff (August 29, 2013). "UW's Alex Erickson goes from walk-on to fourth receiver". JS Online. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- Hernandez, Rob (December 5, 2010). "Prep football Small Schools Player of the Year: Alex Erickson, Darlington". madison.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- "Alex Erickson | Football". Wisconsin Badgers Ahtletics. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- "Alex Erickson College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- "Wisconsin Badgers Receiving". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- "Alex Erickson 2013 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- "Alex Erickson 2014 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- "Alex Erickson 2015 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- "Alex Erickson". Wisconsin Athletics. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Alex Erickson". www.bengals.com. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Alex Erickson, the coolest story in Cincy". Buckys5thQuarter.com. August 30, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- "Alex Erickson". NFL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Alex Erickson 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- "2016 NFL Kick & Punt Returns". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- "Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos - November 19th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Alex Erickson 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- Bergman, Jeremy (September 8, 2018). "Bengals sign returner Alex Erickson to extension". NFL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Alex Erickson 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- "Minshew, defense lead Jaguars over winless Bengals 27-17". www.espn.com. Associated Press. October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- "Alex Erickson 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- Toback, Rebecca (July 18, 2017). "Video: Must see moment from Alex Erickson's wedding". Cincy Jungle. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- "Alex Erickson". Wisconsin Athletics. Retrieved March 15, 2019.