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| WR GREG JENNINGS #85 |
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| 5' 11" • 198 lbs. • Western Michigan |
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Exp: 3rd NFL Season, 3rd Packers Season
Age: 24
Acquired: Draft 2006 (2b)
Current Status: Active Roster
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- Named to the Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team
- Recorded 100-yard receiving efforts in two of his first five games in the NFL
- Led the nation in receptions per game (8.91) in his 2005 senior season at Western Michigan
- Became the first Mid-American Conference player to earn league MVP and offensive player of the year recognition in the same year since Randy Moss of Marshall did so in 1997
- Showed top-level return skills as a collegian, averaging 14.8 yards on 21 punt returns in 2004
- Attended the same high school (Kalamazoo Central) as N.Y. Yankees superstar Derek Jeter; joins Jeter and Detroit Lions RB T.J. Duckett as three of the top athletes ever to come out of Kalamazoo, Mich
- Is a first cousin of Denver Broncos LB Ian Gold; Jennings' mother and Gold's mother are sisters
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- Mature young receiver who made a strong first impression, earning a starting job as a rookie
- A natural athlete who makes everything look effortless, a reflection of his knowledge of the game and of having such polished skills for a young player
- Despite impressive rookie numbers (45 catches, 632 yards, 3 TDs), earning recognition on the Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team, likely would have been more productive if not slowed by an ankle injury sustained in his sixth game
- Missed one start and played at less than 100 percent most of the rest of the season, demonstrating a toughness and professionalism by not complaining but unable to be at his best
- Knows all the subtle ways to play the receiver position, how to get open and to connect with his quarterback that most don't learn until they're seasoned pro veterans
- Displayed his veteran awareness with two particularly memorable plays as a rookie, one when he lateraled to Donald Driver after a reception to pick up 30 extra yards at Minnesota (Nov. 12), and another when he signaled Brett Favre that Ruvell Martin was wide open down the far sideline, leading to a TD pass at San Francisco (Dec. 10).
Packers announcers Wayne Larrivee and Larry McCarren have often observed that he is "as fast as he needs to be," pointing out that while the second-round pick may not have track-star speed, he can outrun defenders when it counts - Displays strong hands with top-level run-after-the-catch skills, particularly on a 75-yard TD play at Detroit that gave him his first 100-yard effort in the NFL in just his third game
- Possesses the ability to fight for the ball in traffic and, though smaller in stature, the requisite toughness to go across the middle
- Also is capable of returning punts and kickoffs, having demonstrated that knack as a collegian and getting a brief taste as a first-year pro
- Was the second of two second-round draft choices by Green Bay in the 2006 draft (52nd overall), the Packers using a pick obtained in a draft-day trade down of 16 spots with the Patriots
- Was the fourth wide receiver selected, behind Santonio Holmes (25th by Pittsburgh), Chad Jackson (36th by New England) and Sinorice Moss (44th by the N.Y. Giants)
- Finished his Western Michigan career ranked first in school history in receptions (238), touchdown catches (39) and all-purpose yards (5,093) while finishing second in career receiving yards (3,539), just 60 behind record-holder Steve Neal
- Became just the 11th player in NCAA Division I history to record three career 1,000-yard receiving seasons (2003-05)
- Really burst onto the national scene with his record-breaking senior year, when he set school records for receptions (98), receiving yards (1,259) and receiving touchdowns (14-tie), along with leading the country in most receptions per game (8.91)
- Also became the first MAC player to garner league MVP and offensive player of the year recognition in the same year since Randy Moss of Marshall in 1997
- Received All-America recognition as well
- Though playing at a mid-major school, he enjoyed some of his best performances against schools from bigger conferences, including a career-high 16 receptions in the 2005 opener at Virginia
- Made eight catches in 2004 meeting with Virginia Tech when he lined up across from Hokies All-America CB Jimmy Williams, and posted a season-best 10 receptions with a pair of TDs in 2003 opener at Michigan State
- Was the first Western Michigan athlete to be chosen in the NFL Draft since DE Jason Babin went late in the first round to Houston in 2004; he joins Babin, DL Bob Rowe (1967 second round to Cardinals) and LB John Offerdahl (1986 second round to Dolphins) as the school's only players to go in the first two rounds
- Also was the first wide receiver drafted in the first 100 seasons (1906-2005) of the WMU program
- Played in 14 games with 11 starts and was inactive twice, a late scratch on both occasions
- Ranked third on the team with 45 catches, for 632 receiving yards (14.0 avg.), and finished second with three touchdown receptions
- Was in on 709 offensive plays (63.5 percent) as a rookie
- Also returned five punts for 29 yards (5.8 avg.) and made three stops on special teams
- An attention-grabber since his arrival in Green Bay, got better each week during the first half of the season, then saw his numbers decline after a Week 6 ankle injury
- For his 101-yard day at Detroit (Sept. 24) - which included a 75-yard score - earned Diet Pepsi NFL Offensive Rookie of the Week honors
- Named to the prestigious Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team
- Led the NFL in the preseason with 328 receiving yards, on 12 catches, with one touchdown
- Entered the regular season as a starter but made his NFL debut, vs. Chicago (Sept. 10), as a reserve when the Packers opened with two tight ends; notched his first reception on the second-to-last play of the game, for 5 yards
- Made his first career start, vs. New Orleans (Sept. 17), and on the Packers' fifth play from scrimmage, a third-and-7, juked CB Mike McKenzie at the line of scrimmage and sprinted down the right sideline, catching a 22-yard Favre pass in stride for the rookie's first NFL score
- At Detroit (Sept. 24), had his first 100-yard game, catching three passes for 101 yards, which marked the most by a Packers rookie since Sterling Sharpe had 137 (on seven catches), Sept. 25, 1988, vs. Chicago at Lambeau Field
- In the first quarter of Lions contest, caught a short pass and took off for a 75-yard score, stiff-arming CB Dré Bly for the final yards on Favre's 400th career TD pass; topped 100 yards with a 10-yard grab on a third-and-5 in the second quarter
- With the long TD play, became only the third NFL player since 1990 to make a TD reception of at least 75 yards within the first three games of his NFL career, joining Derrick Alexander (Cleveland, 81 yards, Sept. 18, 1994) and Braylon Edwards (Cleveland, 80 yards, Sept. 18, 2005)
- At Philadelphia (Oct. 2), had a game-high 86 yards on five catches, including a hard-earned, 30-yard grab in the second half that converted a third-and-2
- Recorded his second 100-yard day in three games with 105 on five catches vs. St. Louis (Oct. 8); put the Packers back in the game, narrowing the Rams' fourth-quarter lead to 23-20, with a 46-yard touchdown up the right sideline
- At Miami (Oct. 22), made one catch, a tough,14-yard grab, but suffered an ankle injury on the play and was out the duration of the contest and the next game vs. Arizona (Oct. 29)
- Returned at Buffalo (Nov. 5), and caught five passes for 69 yards, including a team-long 25-yarder in the second quarter; left in the fourth quarter, however, after aggravating his ankle injury
- In statement 23-17 win at Minnesota (Nov. 12), caught a pass for 12 yards on third-and-10, then lateraled the ball to Driver, who tacked on 30 more to set up a field goal that gave the Packers a 20-14 lead
- At Seattle (Nov. 27), had a game-high six receptions for 50 yards, including a 7-yard, third-quarter gain on third-and-5; Driver scored on the following play
- Also at Qwest Field, had his first career punt return (for 10 yards), the Packers' lone punt return of the contest
- The next week vs. the New York Jets (Dec. 3), also had the team's only punt return, brought back for 9 yards
- At San Francisco (Dec. 10), made five catches for 50 yards; on the Packers' third scoring drive, caught passes of 5 and 7 yards in the red zone, setting up a 1-yard Ahman Green TD
- The primary target on a passing play early in 49ers contest, provided a unique assist to Favre when he gestured toward a wide-open Ruvell Martin on the other side of the field; Favre hit Martin for a 36-yard TD
- In 9-7 home finale vs. Minnesota (Dec. 21), had two punt returns in the second half, resting Charles Woodson (aggravated shoulder) for his defensive duties
- Missed the rematch at Chicago (Dec. 31) to be with his wife, who gave birth to their first child earlier that day
- Finished his career at Western Michigan as the school's all-time leading receiver with 238 career catches, surpassing the 235 of the prior record-holder, Neal (1997-2000)
- Was second to Neal (3,599) in career receiving yards with 3,539
- Also ranked as the WMU career leader in touchdown receptions with 39, having passed Neal (27) early in his senior campaign, and all-purpose yards with 5,093
- Became just the 11th player in NCAA Division I history to record three career 1,000-yard receiving seasons (2003-05)
- His 238 career receptions tied him with Ball State's Dante Ridgeway for third on the all-time list of the Mid-American Conference, behind only the 306 of Josh Davis and 272 of Darius Watts, both of Marshall
- His 3,539 yards receiving ranked fourth in conference history and his 39 TD receptions stood second in the MAC record books, exceeded only by the 47 of Watts
- Recorded 18 career 100-yard receiving games
- Also returned 41 kickoffs for 921 yards (22.5 avg.) and 49 punts for 541 yards (11.0) with two TDs
- Enjoyed a record-breaking senior year, leading the nation with an average of 8.91 receptions per game, while also ranking second in the country in yards receiving per game (114.45), trailing only Oregon State's Mike Hass (139.27)
- Shattered the WMU single-season mark for receptions with 98 catches - 21 better than the prior record, 77 by Kendrick Mosley in 2003
- Also established a new school record for receiving yards (1,259) and tied his own mark for touchdown receptions (14, also done in 2003)
- Additionally, rushed 10 times for 50 yards, returned 20 punts for 172 yards (8.6 avg.), ran back two kickoffs for 20 yards and threw a touchdown pass
- Was a third-team All-America pick of the Associated Press, while also garnering second-team recognition from Sports Illustrated
- Received the Mid-American Conference's 'Vern Smith Leadership Award,' given annually to the league's most valuable player, and was named MAC 'Offensive Player of the Year'
- Became the first conference player to receive both honors in the same season since Moss in '97
- Led the MAC in both receptions (98) and receiving yards (1,259), while tying two others for the league lead in TD catches (14)
- Posted a career-best seven 100-yard receiving games, and for the second consecutive year had a TD reception in six straight contests
- Started all 11 games in 2005, having at least six catches in all but one contest (four vs. Kent State on Oct. 29)
- Opened the year explosively, making a career-best 16 receptions (for 156 yards) at Virginia (Sept. 3) to tie the WMU single-game record (Jamie Hence, 1987 vs. Ohio)
- Became the WMU career receiving touchdowns leader when one of his 11 catches, a 17-yard TD pass from Ryan Cubit on fourth-and-1, gave the Broncos a 16-13 lead late in the second quarter of their eventual 19-16 victory at Temple (Sept. 24)
- Also made 11 receptions in 60-57, five-overtime loss to Ball State (Oct. 8) - the longest game in MAC history - but this time for a career-high 244 yards and a school-record four touchdowns (breaking the prior mark of three, done on five other occasions including once by himself in 2003)
- Had a 40-yard TD grab for the initial WMU points in epic game with the Cardinals, then caught scoring passes of 50 and 27 yards in the third quarter, before pulling in a 25-yard touchdown in the third overtime
- Followed that game up with eight receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns in 45-14 victory at Bowling Green (Oct. 22), including an 89-yard scoring strike from Tim Hiller for the second-longest pass play in school history (94 yards by himself in 2003)
- Had nine catches for 171 yards (eight for 164 in the first half) as the Broncos scored 31 unanswered points to overcome an early 14-0 deficit in 31-24 triumph over Central Michigan (Nov. 12)
- Made TD receptions on the first play of two different drives, including a nifty, 76-yard catch-and-run for the first WMU points of the afternoon
- Also broke Neal's single-season school mark for receiving yardage in victory over CMU
- Caught two touchdown passes and threw for another in 31-21 win against Buffalo (Oct. 1)
- Had a 32-yard punt return into Buffalo territory to set up his first TD pass as a collegian, 22 yards to Joe Chapple early in the second quarter
- Set a new WMU career record for receptions when he caught a 6-yard pass from Robbie Haas on the final play of the third quarter in season finale at Northern Illinois (Nov. 23)
- In junior season of 2004, led the Broncos in receiving for the first time, with 74 catches, while becoming only the second player in school history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons (1,092), joining Neal (1998-99)
- Earned first-team All-MAC accolades
- Also was chosen as 'Most Valuable Player and 'Offensive MVP' at Western Michigan
- Average of 99.3 yards per game receiving ranked eighth in the nation
- Also was a punt returner of note, averaging 14.8 yards per runback (21-311) and scoring twice, including a 93-yarder vs. Northern Illinois (Oct. 23) - the second-longest PR TD in WMU history
- Had a touchdown catch in six straight games and recorded five contests of eight-or-more receptions
- Posted five 100-yard receiving efforts while starting all 11 games
- Made a season-high 11 catches (for 142 yards and a pair of touchdowns) vs. Eastern Michigan (Oct. 16)
- Turned in a season-best 167 yards receiving (and TD, on eight grabs) in game at Central Michigan (Oct. 30)
- His score in CMU contest was a spectacular, one-handed catch where he then reversed field en route to a 79-yard touchdown
- Also surpassed the century mark Oct. 9 against Toledo (4 receptions for 129 yards and 2 TDs), in NIU contest (8-127-1) and Nov. 13 vs. Miami of Ohio (8-155-2)
- Made 8 receptions for 64 yards in head-to-head competition with Williams, Virginia Tech's All-America CB (Sept. 11)
- Had a 53-yard punt return touchdown in season opener with Tennessee-Martin (Sept. 2)
- During sophomore year, posted his first career 1,000-yard receiving season, making 56 catches for 1,050 yards and 14 touchdowns
- Averaged a career-best 18.8 yards per reception
- Saw action in all 12 of the Broncos' games, making four starts
- Was a second-team All-MAC selection, in addition to being named as WMU's 'Offensive MVP'
- Set single-season school record with his 14 TD receptions while becoming just the second player in Western Michigan annals to record a 1,000-yard receiving season (Neal)
- Amassed (at the time) the second-most all-purpose yards (1,734) in one season in school history, including 669 on 31 kickoff returns
- Enjoyed six 100-yard receiving days
- Had a season-high 204 yards and three TDs (tying a school record he subsequently broke in 2005) among eight catches vs. Central Michigan (Nov. 15)
- Made a season-best 10 receptions (for 107 yards and two touchdowns) at Michigan State to open the year (Aug. 30)
- Also turned in 100-yard efforts Sept. 6 vs. William & Mary (3 receptions for 126 yards and 2 TDs), Sept. 27 at Ohio University (2-103-1), Oct. 4 at Eastern Michigan (6-117-2) and Nov. 1 at Connecticut (7-164-1)
- Hooked up with QB Jon Drach to produce 94-yard touchdown against CMU that became the longest pass play in school history
- Earlier had 70- and 61-yard scores in UConn and William & Mary contests, respectively
- Saw action in eight games as a reserve wide receiver and return man during his redshirt freshman season
- Playing in eight games (three starts), he made 10 receptions for 138 yards
- Finished second on the team in both punt and kickoff returns, returning eight punts for 58 yards (7.3 avg.) and eight kickoffs for 232 yards (29.0 avg.)
- Also had one rush for 15 yards
- Suffered an ankle injury in the fourth game of the year, vs. No. 5 Virginia Tech (Sept. 28), that caused him to miss the ensuing four contests before returning to action at Ball State (Nov. 2)
- Was first in the MAC - and seventh in the nation - in kickoff return average (33.7) at the time of his injury
- Enjoyed a career-long 76-yard kickoff runback among 149 all-purpose yards at Purdue (Sept. 14)
- Had posted 141 all-purpose yards a week earlier at Michigan (Sept. 7), including 91 returning kickoffs
- Also posted a season-best three receptions (for 50 yards) against the Wolverines
- Sat out redshirt season
- Earned 'Offensive Stallion of the Year' award for his outstanding play as a member of the scout team
- Given name Gregory Jennings Jr
- .Nicknamed 'Superman' in high school because of his personality on the field
- Born in Kalamazoo, Mich.
- Married his wife, the former Nicole Lindsey, in June 2005; the two had known each other since the fifth grade, they did not begin to date regularly until after high school
- The couple has an infant daughter, Amya
- Father, Greg, is a pastor at Progressive Deliverance Ministries in Kalamazoo, Mich., while his mother, Gwen, is a church missionary
- Is a first cousin of Denver Broncos LB Ian Gold; Jennings' mother and Gold's mother are sisters
- Younger brother, Cortney, played basketball at Wayne State University
- Was all-conference in three sports - football, basketball and track - at Kalamazoo (Mich.) Central High School
- Played WR, RB, outside LB and DB as a three-time letterman in football
- Was a second-team all-state selection his junior year, when he had 28 catches for 648 yards and eight TDs
- Listed 11th on the 'Fab 50' rankings of the Detroit Free Press as a senior in 2000
- That year, along with Jerome Harrison (Cleveland Browns), helped Kalamazoo Central to a 7-3 record, its best since 1975, and its first Big Eight Conference title
- Also earned three letters in basketball, helping school to a 24-4 record and a berth in the Class A (highest class) state finals as a senior and earning second-team all-state honors
- Scored 32 points in the state quarterfinals against Lansing Sexton and scored a school-record 50 points in a 96-92 loss to Benton Harbor
- In track, won the state long jump title as a senior (21 feet, 9 inches), and ran a leg on the state championship 4x100-meter relay team as a junior
- Attended the same high school as New York Yankees superstar Derek Jeter
- Joins Jeter and Detroit Lions RB T.J. Duckett as three of the top athletes ever to come out of Kalamazoo, Mich.
- For the past holiday season, taped a PSA encouraging donations to the local Toys For Tots program and rang bells for the Salvation Army's annual Red Kettle campaign
- Has served as a mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters in Kalamazoo, Mich.
- Majored in organizational communications in college
- Upon retirement from football, would like to be heavily involved in the church ministry
- Plays the bass
- Hobbies include playing basketball, bowling and golf as well as spending time with his wife and child
- Also enjoys attending church services
- Residence: Kalamazoo, Mich.
|
| Receiving | Rushing |
| Year |
GP |
GS |
No |
Yds |
Avg |
Lg |
TD |
Att |
Yds |
Avg |
Lg |
TD |
| 2006 Green Bay |
14 |
11 |
45 |
632 |
14.0 |
75t |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Additional statistics: Punt returns - 5 for 29 yards, 5.8 avg., 10 long in 2006. Miscellaneous tackles - 3 in 2006. Fumbles-Lost - 1-0 in 2006.
SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS
Receiving
Receptions: 6, twice: vs. NO (9/17/06) & at Sea. (11/27/06)
Yards: 105, vs. StL (10/8/06)
Long: 75t, at Det. (9/24/06)
Touchdowns: 1, three times
NFL debut: vs. Chicago, 9/10/06
First start: vs. New Orleans, 9/17/06
First touchdown: vs. New Orleans, 9/17/06
CAREER TRANSACTIONS
2006: Selected by Green Bay Packers as second of two second-round choices (52nd overall) in '06 NFL Draft, April 29 (pick obtained from New England with third-round 2006 choice for Packers' second-round selection)...Signed first contract, July 24.
CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRATION: After 2009 |
| ELIAS Game By Game Packers Stats |
| Game Date |
Opp | Receiving | Punt Returns |
| No | Yds | Avg | TD | No | Yds | Avg | TD |
| Sep 10, 2006 |
CHI | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Sep 17, 2006 |
NO | 6 | 67 | 11.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2006 |
@DET | 3 | 101 | 33.7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Oct 2, 2006 |
@PHI | 5 | 86 | 17.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Oct 8, 2006 |
STL | 5 | 105 | 21.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Oct 22, 2006 |
@MIA | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Oct 29, 2006 |
ARI | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Nov 5, 2006 |
@BUF | 5 | 69 | 13.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Nov 12, 2006 |
@MIN | 3 | 38 | 12.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Nov 19, 2006 |
NE | 1 | 26 | 26.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Nov 27, 2006 |
@SEA | 6 | 50 | 8.3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 0 |
| Dec 3, 2006 |
NYJ | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 |
| Dec 10, 2006 |
@SF | 5 | 50 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Dec 17, 2006 |
DET | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | 0 |
| Dec 21, 2006 |
MIN | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 0 |
| Dec 31, 2006 |
@CHI | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2006 Totals | 45 | 632 | 14.0 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 5.8 | 0 |
| Sep 9, 2007 |
PHI | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Sep 16, 2007 |
@NYG | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Sep 23, 2007 |
SD | 4 | 82 | 20.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Sep 30, 2007 |
@MIN | 3 | 43 | 14.3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Oct 7, 2007 |
CHI | 4 | 83 | 20.8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Oct 14, 2007 |
WAS | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Oct 29, 2007 |
@DEN | 6 | 141 | 23.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Nov 4, 2007 |
@KC | 3 | 85 | 28.3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Nov 11, 2007 |
MIN | 4 | 63 | 15.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Nov 18, 2007 |
CAR | 7 | 48 | 6.9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Nov 22, 2007 |
@DET | 5 | 60 | 12.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Nov 29, 2007 |
@DAL | 5 | 87 | 17.4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Dec 9, 2007 |
OAK | 2 | 100 | 50.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Dec 16, 2007 |
@STL | 4 | 66 | 16.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Dec 23, 2007 |
@CHI | 3 | 42 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Dec 30, 2007 |
DET | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2007 Totals | 53 | 920 | 17.4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Packers Totals | 98 | 1552 | 15.8 | 15 | 5 | 29 | 5.8 | 0 |
| Statistics provided by Elias Sports Bureau |
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