Bowling Green State University Athletics
Patton Inks Free Agent Deal with Pittsburgh
April 26, 2004 | Football
April 26, 2004
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University All-American cornerback Janssen Patton has signed a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will report to a mini-camp with the team later this week. He led the MAC this past season with seven interceptions.
"I think Janssen has a real shot at being a contributor at the next level because of his great instincts," said BGSU coach Gregg Brandon. "He has a nose for the football and consistently was able to come up with big plays throughout his collegiate career. That's not something you can teach."
Patton started 40 games during his career at BGSU and earned All-American accolades as a senior. He is the first player in NCAA IA history to record three interceptions in a game twice in one season and three times in his career. He had 18 career interceptions which ranks second all-time at BGSU and third in MAC history.
Janssen Patton Bio
6-0, 180, Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stone Mountain HS)
2003: Named third-team All-American by College Football News and honorable mention All-American by CNNSI ... was the only player in NCAA IA history to record two three-interception games in a season and three times in a career... recovered a fumble and recorded three tackles in the win over Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl...2003 First-Team All-MAC selection ... ranked second in school history and was tied for third in MAC history with 18 career interceptions ... led the MAC and finished fourth nationally with seven interceptions... had 57 tackles and 12 pass deflections... had his second three-INT game vs. NIU, earning MAC Defensive P-O-W honors for the second time in three weeks (also in WMU game) ... had three INTs at WMU ... had his first INT of the season at Ohio State and recovered an onside kick ... most experienced player on defense with 40 career starts ... second on the team with 12 PBUs ... rushed twice for a total of 38 yards vs. Liberty.
2002: Named to All-MAC second-team...had 63 tackles...a pre-season All-MAC pick...had a team-high 13 passes defended, including three interceptions...recovered one fumble...had four tackles vs. EMU...recorded nine tackles and a pick at NIU...had four tackles and an interception vs. Kent State...eight tackles vs. BSU...made seven tackles and had go-ahead 12-yard INT return vs. WMU...had eight stops vs. Missouri and seven against CMU...has made 28 career starts, most among BGSU defensive players
2001: Named to All-MAC second-team...Started in all 11 games...recorded 40 tackles (31 solo)...had a team-high four interceptions including two picks at Missouri...had 13 pass deflections on the season...returned a kickoff 42 yards for a touchdown against Temple...had a fumble recovery at Northwestern...named Special Teams MVP against Kent State and Defensive MVP against Missouri.
2000: Played in nine games, making six starts ... finished third in the MAC with a team-leading four interceptions ... recorded 42 tackles (35 solo) ... tied a school record with three interceptions at Kent State ... returned one of those picks 74 yards for a touchdown ... named MAC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in that game ... had eight pass deflections on the season ... named defensive team MVP against Marshall and KSU.
At Stone Mountain H.S.: An All-DeKalb County defensive back for Stone Mountain H.S. in both his junior and senior seasons ... totalled 102 tackles as a senior and 277 in his career for coach Bill Harris ... named to the Atlanta Touchdown Club First Team ... was rated among the top 10 defensive backs in the Atlanta area ... won the team's "coaches award" ... had five interceptions his senior year, giving him 17 in his high school career.
Personal: An interpersonal communication major ... born April 15, 1982 ... son of Carolyn and Ricky Patton, a former member of the Atlanta Falcons.
Patton's Career Statistics
Year Solo Ast. Total TFL Int. PBU FR 2003 40 17 57 3/4 7 12 0 2002 38 25 63 2/5 3 13 1 2001 31 9 40 0/0 4 13 1 2000 35 7 42 0/0 4 8 0 Career 144 58 202 5/9 18 46 3
