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Overview
Darrius Heyward-Bey is a wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders, who selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. After his redshirt junior season at the University of Maryland, Heyward-Bey declared himself eligible for the 2009 NFL Draft. Heyward-Bey is 6-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 206 pounds.
Prep Career
Coming out of McDonogh High School (MD), Heyward-Bey was rated the No. 12 wide receiver prospect in the country by Rivals.com. In high school, Heyward-Bey played outside linebacker in addition to his duties as a receiver. As a senior, Heyward-Bey caught 47 balls for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns and was a first team all-state selection. He committed to Maryland in August of 2004.
Freshman Year
After redshirting in 2005, Heyward-Bey took the field for the first time for the Terps in 2006. Heyward-Bey made 10 starts during his redshirt freshman season, posting two 100-yard games and was selected to the Rivals.com freshman All-America team.
Sophomore Year
As a redshirt sophomore in 2007 Heyward-Bey started all 13 games and led Maryland in receptions (51) and receiving yards (786). Perhaps his biggest game of the season came in the Emerald Bowl where he had three receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Junior Year
Entering his junior year Heyward-Bey was named a preseason honorable mention All-American by the Sporting News, but failed to live up to expectations. He recorded just one 100-yard receiving game and caught only 42 passes for 601 yards. He did, however, emerge as a threat running the football. Heyward-Bey carried the ball 15 times for 202 yards including a 76-yard run against Clemson.
Heyward-Bey closed out his career at Maryland with 2,089 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns (13 receiving, two rushing).
Heyward-Bey closed out his career at Maryland with 2,089 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns (13 receiving, two rushing).
NFL Career
Heyward-Bey was selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He was the first wide receiver selected, while All-Americans Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin were still available. One day after the start of training camp, Heyward-Bey signed a five-year/$38.25M contract with Oakland. The contract included $23.5M in guaranteed money.
Heyward-Bey struggled to break into the Raiders starting lineup as a rookie. He had just two total receptions in the Raiders first six games of the season, and didn't have more than two receptions in a game through Week 12. He missed the final five games of the 2009 season due to a foot injury, finishing his rookie season with 9 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.
Heyward-Bey struggled to break into the Raiders starting lineup as a rookie. He had just two total receptions in the Raiders first six games of the season, and didn't have more than two receptions in a game through Week 12. He missed the final five games of the 2009 season due to a foot injury, finishing his rookie season with 9 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.
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