{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = CJ Verdell | image = CJ Verdell.jpg | currentteam = | number = | position = Running back | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|8|16}} | birth_place = Chula Vista, California, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 8 | weight_lb = 194 | high_school = Mater Dei {{nowrap|(Chula Vista)}} | college = Oregon (2017–2021) | undraftedyear = 2022 | pastteams = * Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2022}})* | status = | highlights = * Second-team All-Pac 12 (2019) }}
'''CJ Verdell''' (born August 16, 1999) is an American professional football running back. He played college football for the Oregon Ducks.
==Early years== Verdell attended Mater Dei High School in Chula Vista, California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Norcross |first=Don |date=September 22, 2016 |title=Mater Dei RB fast on field, but slow doing dishes at home |url=https://hs.utpreps.com/news_article/show/700902-mater-dei-rb-fast-on-field-but-slow-doing-dishes-at-home |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=San Diego U-T Preps |archive-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303200402/http://hs.utpreps.com/news_article/show/700902-mater-dei-rb-fast-on-field-but-slow-doing-dishes-at-home |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a senior, he rushed for 2,399 yards on 262 carries with 36 touchdowns. He committed to the University of Oregon to play college football.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nemec |first=Andrew |date=May 6, 2016 |title=Coveted California RB C.J. Verdell commits to Oregon Ducks |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/recruiting/2016/05/coveted_california_rb_cj_verde.html |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=OregonLive.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Norcross |first=Don |date=February 2, 2017 |title=Mater Dei Catholic running back sticks with Ducks |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/high-school-preps/sd-sp-preps-verdell-0202-story.html |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune}}</ref>
==College career== Verdell redshirted his first year at Oregon in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thorburn |first=Ryan |date=August 9, 2018 |title=Oregon Ducks RB CJ Verdell ready for bigger role after redshirt season |url=http://www.nrtoday.com/oregon-ducks-rb-cj-verdell-ready-for-bigger-role-after-redshirt-season/article_c08da4aa-d80c-5429-ba32-5a468efe9853.html |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=NRToday.com}}</ref>
As a Redshirt Freshman, Verdell ran the ball 202 times for 1,018 yards and 10 Touchdowns. He also caught 27 passes for 315 yards and 2 Touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mims |first=Steve |date=August 7, 2019 |title=Oregon football: Verdell healthy and ready to go for Ducks |url=https://www.gazettetimes.com/sports/community/oregon-football-verdell-healthy-and-ready-to-go-for-ducks/article_0e1bb9da-9752-5f3d-b89c-4dd9599601ee.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Corvallis Gazette Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2019 |title=CJ Verdell trained for a literal break through season |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/oregon-ducks/cj-verdell-trained-literal-break-through-season |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=RSN |language=en |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601171818/https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/oregon-ducks/cj-verdell-trained-literal-break-through-season |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Tom |date=August 28, 2019 |title=Unsung Oregon RB CJ Verdell has Auburn's attention |url=https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2019/08/oregon-running-back-cj-verdell-may-not-get-much-attention-but-he-has-auburns.html |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=AL.com}}</ref> He returned to Oregon as the starter in 2019 and ran 197 times for 1,220 yards and 8 Touchdowns while collecting 14 receptions for 125 yards. In the 2019 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, he rushed for 208 yards with three touchdowns and was named the game's MVP.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crepea |first=James |date=December 7, 2019 |title=CJ Verdell, Oregon Ducks run over Utah for Pac-12 Championship, earn Rose Bowl berth: Game at a glance |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/12/cj-verdell-oregon-ducks-run-over-utah-for-pac-12-championship-earn-rose-bowl-berth-game-at-a-glance.html |website=OregonLive.com}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 7 3/4 | weight = 194 | dash = 4.68 | ten split = 1.58 | twenty split = 2.60 | shuttle = 4.34 | vertical = 31.0 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 10 | bench = 11 | arm span = 29 1/4 | hand span = 9 1/2 | wingspan ft = 6 | wingspan in = 0 1/4 | wonderlic = | note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/cj-verdell/32005645-5207-8443-738b-40073bae59fe |title=CJ Verdell Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1022444&DraftYear=2022 |title=CJ Verdell, Oregon, RB, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=March 15, 2022}}</ref> }}
Verdell signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stankevitz |first=JJ |date=May 13, 2022 |title=Colts Sign Four 2022 NFL Draft Picks, 22 Undrafted Free Agents |url=https://www.colts.com/news/sign-four-draft-picks-22-undrafted-free-agents-jack-coan-eric-johnson |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Colts.com}}</ref> He was waived on August 23.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=Colts Waive C Alex Mollette, RB CJ Verdell |url=https://www.colts.com/news/alex-mollette-cj-verdell-waived-roster-cuts-training-camp |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Colts.com}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://goducks.com/sports/football/roster/cj-verdell/8522 Oregon Ducks bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Verdell, CJ}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Chula Vista, California Category:American football running backs Category:Oregon Ducks football players Category:Indianapolis Colts players