Brandon Dillon (American football)
![]() Dillon with the Vegas Vipers in 2023 | |||||
Personal information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born: | Bringhurst, Indiana, U.S. | April 30, 1997||||
Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
Weight: | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Carroll (Flora, Indiana) | ||||
College: | Marian (2015–2018) | ||||
Position: | Tight end | ||||
Undrafted: | 2019 | ||||
Career history | |||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||
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Player stats at PFR |
Brandon Dillon (born April 30, 1997) is an American professional football tight end. He played college football for the Marian Knights and has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Vegas Vipers, and Washington Commanders.
Early life and high school
[edit]Dillon grew up in Bringhurst, Indiana and attended Carroll High School in nearby Flora, Indiana, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. In football, Dillon was a four-year starter on both offense and defense and was named All-Area by the Kokomo Tribune twice and was a two-time Class A All-State selection, as well as all-area by the Lafayette Journal & Courier.[1] He was also a two-time All-Area selection in basketball.[2] Despite being recruited by Bowling Green, Toledo and Ohio University to join their programs as a preferred walk-on, Dillon opted to enroll at nearby Marian University, an NAIA school.[3]
College career
[edit]Dillon was a member Marian Knights for four seasons and was a freshman when the team won the 2015 NAIA National Championship. As a senior, Dillon caught 35 passes for 603 yards and five touchdowns and was named a first-team NAIA All-American. After the season he was the only NAIA player to be invited to participate in the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.[4] Dillon finished his collegiate career with 105 receptions for 1,661 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 42 games played.[5]
Professional career
[edit]Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 3+7⁄8 in (1.93 m) |
248 lb (112 kg) |
31+1⁄4 in (0.79 m) |
9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) |
4.77 s | 1.66 s | 2.75 s | 4.33 s | 7.05 s | 32.5 in (0.83 m) |
9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) |
19 reps | |
All values from Pro Day[6] |
Minnesota Vikings
[edit]Dillon signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019.[7] Considered a long shot to make the team, Dillon made the Vikings' 53-man roster out of training camp.[8] He made his NFL debut in the Vikings season opener on September 8, 2019.[9] He was waived on September 10, 2019, and re-signed to the Vikings practice squad the next day.[10][11] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on January 12, 2020.[12]
Dillon was waived by the Vikings during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[13][14] He was elevated to the active roster on November 15, November 28, and December 5 for the team's weeks 10, 12, and 13 games against the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, and Jacksonville Jaguars, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[15][16][17] He was placed on the practice squad/injured list on December 8.[18] He was placed on the practice squad/COVID-19 list by the team on December 29,[19] and signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on January 5, 2021.[20] He was released by the Vikings on September 18, 2021, and re-signed to their practice squad.[21] Dillon was waived on December 28.[22]
New York Jets
[edit]On December 29, 2021, Dillon was signed to the New York Jets practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 10, 2022.[23] He was waived on May 9, 2022.[24]
New Orleans Saints
[edit]On June 21, 2022, Dillon signed with the New Orleans Saints. He was released on August 3, 2022.[25]
Vegas Vipers
[edit]Dillon played for the Vegas Vipers of the XFL in 2023. He was released from his contract on May 25, 2023.[26]
Washington Commanders
[edit]Dillon signed with the Washington Commanders on May 30, 2023.[27] On August 29, 2023, he was placed on injured reserve.[28]
References
[edit]- ^ "Rensselaer duo named J&C Small School Players of the Year".
- ^ "FOOTBALL: Marian's Dillon signs with Minnesota". Kokomo Tribune. April 27, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
- ^ Thomasson, Chris (July 25, 2019). "More than 5,000 will be a crowd for Vikings rookie tight end". The Dickinson Press. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
- ^ Chappell, Mike (April 13, 2019). "Colts' local Pro Day major audition for Marian's Brandon Dillon, Purdue's Jake Thieneman, others". Fox59.com. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
- ^ "Vikings 2019 undrafted free agent capsules". Fox Sports North. April 30, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
- ^ "2019 NFL Draft Scout Brandon Dillon College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ "Report: Vikings sign free agent TE Brandon Dillon". Vikings Wire. USA Today. April 27, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
- ^ Thomasson, Chris (September 7, 2019). "Undrafted rookie Brandon Dillon, the 'Marian Flash,' defies odds by making Vikings roster". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
- ^ Ekstrom, Sam (September 9, 2019). "Second Look: Vikings First Half Abounded in Explosive Outside Runs". ZoneCoverage.com.
- ^ "Vikings Re-Sign Brett Jones, Announce Additional Roster Moves". Vikings.com. September 10, 2019.
- ^ Ratke, Kyle (September 11, 2019). "Vikings sign TE Brandon Dillon to practice squad". Vikings Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Vikings Announce Seven Reserve/Future Free Agent Signings". Vikings.com. January 12, 2020.
- ^ Peters, Craig; Smith, Eric (September 5, 2020). "Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set Initial 53-Man Roster". Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "Vikings Claim LB Ryan Connelly, Add 13 Players To Practice Squad". Vikings.com. September 6, 2020.
- ^ "Vikings Elevate TE Brandon Dillon and C Brett Jones To Active Roster, Provide Game Status Updates For Players and Position Coach". Vikings.com. November 15, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ @Vikings (November 28, 2020). "The #Vikings have elevated practice squad LS @andrewdepaola and TE @B_Dillon44 to the active roster for tomorrow's game. @swervinirvin_ has been downgraded to out" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ White, Jack (December 5, 2020). "Vikings elevate DE Eddie Yarbrough, TE Brandon Dillon to active roster". USAToday.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Vikings Waive CB Holton Hill from Reserve/Injured; Announce Roster Moves". Vikings.com. December 8, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ "Brandon Dillon: Shifts to COVID-19 list". CBSSports.com. December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Vikings Sign 9 Players to Reserve/Future Deals". Vikings.com. January 5, 2021.
- ^ White, Jack (September 20, 2021). "Vikings sign TE Brandon Dillon to the practice squad". Vikings Wire. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^ Peters, Craig (December 28, 2021). "Vikings Sign T Rick Leonard to Practice Squad". Vikings.com. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^ Greenberg, Ethan (January 10, 2022). "Jets Sign 10 Players to Reserve/Future Contracts". NewYorkJets.com.
- ^ Greenberg, Ethan (May 9, 2022). "Jets Sign WR Calvin Jackson, OL Derrick Kelly". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- ^ Gould, Andrew (August 3, 2022). "Saints Release Tight End Following Veteran Signing". SI.com. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ "XFL Transactions". XFL.com. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- ^ Selby, Zach (May 30, 2023). "Commanders sign S Terrell Burgess and Brandon Dillon, place Andrew Norwell on PUP list". Commanders.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Selby, Zach (August 29, 2023). "Commanders release 20 players, place four on IR". Commanders.com. Retrieved August 29, 2023.