Derek Dimke
Derek Dimke (born April 16, 1990)[1] is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. Dimke played college football at the University of Illinois, where he broke several school records. He was signed by the Detroit Lions in 2012.
Free agent | |||
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Position: | Placekicker | ||
Personal information | |||
Born: | Rockford, Illinois | April 16, 1990||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
Weight: | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||
Career information | |||
High school: | Boylan Catholic (Rockford, Illinois) | ||
College: | Illinois | ||
Undrafted: | 2012 | ||
Career history | |||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||
Career NFL statistics | |||
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Early years
Dimke attended Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, Illinois.[1] He was selected second-team All-State by the Chicago Tribune[2] and was also a special mention All-State selection by the Champaign News-Gazette.[1] He set an Illinois high school record when he kicked a 54-yard field goal during the playoffs his senior year.[3]
College career
Dimke was a 4-year letterman at the University of Illinois. During his college career, he made 39 of 46 field goals for a field goal percentage of 84.7%. He also went 89 for 89 on extra point attempts, for a combined field goal and extra point percentage of 94.8%. He is the most accurate kicker in Fighting Illini history. He holds several other school records including most points scored in a season by a kicker, most field goals in a season, most field goals in a bowl game, most consecutive PATs made, and most touchbacks in a single game.[4] Dimke ranks 6th on the Fighting Illini football career scoring list, and 2nd on the single season scoring list. In his junior season, he was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.[5] He led the Big Ten in both field goals per game and touchbacks. He was selected to Phil Steele's first-team All-Big Ten team following the conclusion of his Junior season.[6] He was selected to the Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches.[7] He also was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection by the media.[1] He was also named to the ESPN All-Big Ten Bowl Team for his performance in the Texas Bowl. In his Senior season, he was selected to the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List.[8][9] Dimke led the Fighting Illini in scoring during the 2011 season. During his senior year, he also was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection by coaches & media.[10] He was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2009, 2010, and 2011.[1] He was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week three times (11/30/09), (10/11/10), and (9/26/11) while at Illinois.[1] Following his senior season, he was invited to the NFL Combine. Dimke graduated with a degree in finance in 2012.
Professional career
Detroit Lions
On April 30, 2012, Dimke signed with the Detroit Lions.[11] He went 2 for 2 on field goals during the preseason while battling Jason Hanson for the starting role.[12] On August 27, 2012, he was released.[13]
New York Jets
Dimke signed with the New York Jets on April 11, 2013.[14] He was released on May 12, 2013.[15]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dimke was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on June 4, 2013. During his time there he went 6 for 7 on field goals while battling Lawrence Tynes and Rian Lindell for the starting role.[16] He was later cut on August 31, 2013.[17]
New Orleans Saints
Dimke was signed by the New Orleans Saints to a futures contract on January 2, 2014.[18] Dimke went 4 for 4 with a long of 49 yards. Dimke along with kicker Shayne Graham were released as part of the final roster cuts on August 30, 2014.[19]
Jacksonville Jaguars
On January 5, 2015, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Dimke to a reserve/future contract.[20]
He was released on May 11, 2015.[21]
References
- "Illinois Fighting Illini Profile". fightingillini.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013.
- "Chicago Tribune Names Derek Dimke to All-State 2nd Team". wifr.com. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
- http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-11-11/sports/0711100498_1_titans-bears-12-yard-td
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Big Ten Announces 2010 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors". bigten.org. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010.
- "Seven Illini Named to Phil Steele's All-Big Ten Teams". fightingillini.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
- "Dimke Makes All-Big Ten Team". mystateline.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- "Lou Groza Award preseason watch list". sportingnews.com. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- "Ex-Boylan standout Derek Dimke on Lou Groza Award list". rrstar.com. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
- "Ex-Boylan standout Derek Dimke on Lou Groza Award list". bigten.org. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
- "Detroit Lions sign seven more undrafted free agents, including Wayne State's Troy Burrell". mlive.com. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
- http://www.wrex.com/story/19388010/lions-cut-dimke
- "Hanson will be Lions kicker in 2012 with expected release of Derek Dimke". detroitlions.com. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
- Orr, Conor (April 11, 2013). "Jets sign free agent K Derek Dimke". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
- Jets Staff (May 12, 2013). "4 Tryouts Signed, 3 Undrafted FAs Released". New York Jets. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
- http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/09/bucs-derek-dimke-took-advantage-of-opportunity-in-opener/
- "Bucs Add Kicker Dimke, Waive TE Landi". Tampa Bay Buccaneers. June 4, 2013. Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- "New Orleans Saints preach balance against Philadelphia Eagles: notebook". The Times-Picayune. January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
- New Orleans Saints trim roster to 53-player limit www.neworleanssaints.com, Retrieved August 30, 2014.
- Jaguars make roster moves, sign three players to reserve/future contracts www.firstcoastnews.com, Retrieved January 7, 2015
- "Jaguars make roster moves". Jacksonville Jaguars. May 11, 2015. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2015.