Bio
Bio
Larry English, a two-time winner of the Vern Smith Leadership
Award as the top player in the Mid-American Conference, was the top
choice of the San Diego Chargers in the 2009 NFL Draft. He won the
Smith Award as a junior and senior and was also a three-time first-team
All-MAC selection.
English became only the second defensive player in MAC history to
win the award once and more impressively, became only the fourth player
to win the award twice, joining a very select group that includes Tampa
Bay Buccaneers quarterback Byron Leftwich. English left Northern
Illinois as the school’s all-time leader in sacks (31.5) and tackles
for loss (63).
San Diego State Head Coach Brady Hoke spent the last five seasons
at MAC rival Ball State and had this to say of English, “He’s a player
you had to know where he was all the time. Larry is a tremendous
athlete. The thing that always struck me about him is how hard he
played from snap to whistle. He played with great tenacity and always
came ready to play. He always had our attention.”
English’s uncle, Charles Robinson, lettered as a fullback at Wisconsin in 1972.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: First-round pick (16), April 25, 2009.
2009: Filled in for LB Shawne Merriman week 3 against Miami
and had pass deflection on third down in the fourth quarter. Saw more
playing time on SNF against the Steelers and recorded first career NFL
sack. On the same play, English caused his first NFL forced fumble.
Recorded his second sack of the season by bringing down Denver QB Kyle
Orton.
COLLEGE: MAC Player of Week vs. Tennessee and Kent State as
senior...conference and team-leading 10.5 sacks as junior to rank 11th
in nation...included school-record five sacks vs. Idaho...tied school
record with 12 sacks and set school mark with four forced fumbles as
sophomore...also set campus record with six tackles for loss in ’06
game vs. Temple...played in 50 games with 47 starts at defensive
end...finished career with 237 TT, 63 TFL, 31.5 sacks, eight FF and
four FR...medical redshirt in 2004...played at Northern Illinois from
2004-08...honor roll student majored in liberal arts and sciences.
PERSONAL:Born in Aurora, Illinois...highly decorated
linebacker and fullback at Marmion Military Academy in Aurora...also
lettered in basketball and track (discus).