Charles Edward Drake III (September 5, 1981 – July 6, 2012) was an American football player. He was selected by the New York Giants in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL draft after playing college football for the Michigan Wolverines. Drake played professionally in the Austrian Football League and NFL Europe.
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| Date of birth | September 25, 1981 |
|---|---|
| Date of death | July 6, 2012 (aged 30) |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Safety |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| US college | Michigan |
| NFL draft | 2003 / round: 7 / Pick 240 Drafted by the Giants |
| Career stats | |
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Early life
editA native of Los Angeles, Drake played high school football at Westchester High School, where he was selected as an all-city running back.
College career
editDrake committed to play college football at the University of Michigan as part of the incoming class of 1999. He played at Michigan from 1999 to 2002. He was converted to a defensive back as a sophomore in 2000. He was the starting safety in nine games for the 2001 Michigan team and a starter at cornerback in 13 games for the 2002 team.[1][2]
After his senior year at Michigan, Drake was selected to participate in the 2003 NFL Combine.[3]
Professional career
editHe was selected by the New York Giants in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL draft but was released by the Giants in late August 2003, prior to the start of the regular season.[4][5] He was signed the Detroit Lions in December 2003 as a member of the team's practice squad.[6] He remained with the team through the 2004 exhibition season. He was released by the Lions during the first week of September 2004.[7] That fall, he played at the safety position for the Rhein Fire of the NFL Europe.[8] He also played for the Frankfurt Galaxy of the NFL Europe and the Cineplexx Blue Devils of the Austrian Football League[9][10][11]
Personal life
editDrake died in July 2012 at age 30.[10][12][13] He had a son, Charles Drake IV, and a daughter named Milaan Drake.[10]
References
edit- ^ "2001 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.
- ^ "2002 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.
- ^ "Six Michigan Seniors Invited to Participate in NFL Combine". mgoblue.com. University of Michigan. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ "2003 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ "Giants cut 12 including two seventh round draft picks". Associated Press Archive. August 25, 2003.
- ^ "Transactions". Hartford Courant. December 16, 2003.
- ^ "Lions release 14 players". Toledo Blade. September 5, 2004.
- ^ "Das Formbarometer der Rhein Fire Nationals: Die 40 bringt Yancy richtig in Form". NGZ Online Rhein-Kreis. October 3, 2004.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Thunder and Galaxy to meet in World Bowl XII". patriots.com. June 7, 2004. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Services for former NFL running back Charles Drake III to be held today". Our Weekly. July 18, 2012. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013.
- ^ "Ex-Rhein Fire Charles Drake zu den Blue Devils". Football-Aktuell. March 26, 2008.
- ^ "Former Westchester Football Star Charles Drake is Dead at 30". Los Angeles Sports Journal. July 7, 2012. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012.
- ^ "Michigan football mourns death of 30-year-old Charles Drake". Detroit Free Press. July 18, 2012.