{{Short description|American football player (born 1989)}} {{BLP sources|date=August 2011}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = DeJon Gomes | image = DeJon Gomes.jpg | caption = Gomes with the Washington Redskins in 2011 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|11|17|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Hayward, California, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lbs = 201 | number = 24 | position = Safety | high_school = James Logan {{avoid wrap|(Union City, California)}} | college = Nebraska | draftyear = 2011 | draftround = 5 | draftpick = 146 | pastteams = * Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2011}}–{{NFL Year|2012}}) * Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2013}}) | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 84 | statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue2 = 1 | statlabel3 = Pass deflections | statvalue3 = 6 | statlabel4 = Interceptions | statvalue4 = 1 | pfr = G/GomeDe00 }}
'''DeJon''' "'''D.J.'''" '''Gomes''' (born November 17, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. Gomes played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
He was also a member of the Detroit Lions.
==Early life== Dejon Gomes attended high school at James Logan High School in Union City, California<ref>{{cite news|last1=Yanda|first1=Steve|title=DeJon Gomes savors first career interception, gets grief for not scoring TD|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/football-insider/wp/2012/09/12/dejon-gomes-savors-first-career-interception-gets-grief-for-not-scoring-td/|accessdate=June 8, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 12, 2012}}</ref> where he started for one year on the varsity football team, after sitting out the previous year with an injury. After graduating in 2007, he did not receive any top scholarship offers, so he decided to attend City College of San Francisco.
==College career== [[File:Dejon gomes nebraska.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Gomes making an interception against the Colorado Buffaloes in 2010.]] While at the City College of San Francisco, Gomes lead the state in interceptions, tackles, and fumble returns. Later on, Gomes transferred to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Once Gomes started his career with the Cornhuskers, he quickly became a starter for two years and lead the team in interceptions and tackles. He was billed as one of the top defensive back prospects for the 2011 NFL draft by many NFL Draft experts and analysts.
==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 0 | weight = 208 | dash = 4.53 | ten split = 1.58 | twenty split = 2.58 | shuttle = | cone drill = | vertical = 31 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 2 | bench = 13 | arm span = 31+3/8 | hand span = 9+5/8 | note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |title=DeJon Gomes Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/dejon-gomes/3200474f-4d20-6359-a866-9c75f90777ae |access-date=2026-03-14 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=90884&draftyear=2011&genpos=SS NFL Draft Scout]</ref>}}
===Washington Redskins===
====2011 season==== Gomes was selected by the Washington Redskins 146th overall in the 2011 NFL draft, joining college teammates, Roy Helu, who was selected earlier in the fourth round, and Niles Paul, who was drafted after him.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2011/draft.htm |title=2011 NFL Draft Listing |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=February 26, 2019}}</ref> Throughout the season, he played as the backup to both free safety, Oshiomogho Atogwe, and strong safety, LaRon Landry, splitting the responsibility with Reed Doughty.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/Roster-Review-Safeties/c99fd459-0f4f-4eaa-926b-86e5d4adfaea |title=Roster Review: Safeties |last=Tinsman |first=Brian |date=March 7, 2012 |website=Redskins.com |access-date=March 22, 2012 |archive-date=March 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311023905/http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/Roster-Review-Safeties/c99fd459-0f4f-4eaa-926b-86e5d4adfaea |url-status=dead }}</ref> Gomes made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the New York Giants. He then had his first career start as a free safety in Week 11 against the Dallas Cowboys, where he made 14 tackles. After Landry was put on injured reserve, Gomes became the starting strong safety for the rest of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/post/haslett-dejon-gomes-will-start-at-strong-safety-for-rest-of-season/2011/12/15/gIQAkge8vO_blog.html |title=Haslett: DeJon Gomes will start at strong safety for rest of season |last=Svrluga |first=Barry |date=December 15, 2011 |website=WashingtonPost.com |access-date=March 26, 2012}}</ref> On December 24, 2011, while playing against the Minnesota Vikings, Gomes tackled Adrian Peterson which resulted in Peterson tearing his ACL and MCL.<ref>{{cite web | work=NationalFootballPost.com | url=http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Vikings-term-Adrian-Petersons-surgery-successful.html | title=Vikings term Adrian Peterson's surgery 'successful' | accessdate=December 31, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120170349/http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Vikings-term-Adrian-Petersons-surgery-successful.html | archive-date=January 20, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Gomes finished the 2011 season playing 15 games, starting five of them, and recording 35 tackles and two pass breakups.<ref>{{cite web | work=Redskins.com | url=http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/In-Second-Year-Gomes-Faces-Key-Offseason/eecb90fc-99e4-42fc-8b78-a156e2f48c7a | last=Fitzgerald | first=Gary | title=In Second Year, Gomes Faces Key Offseason | date=March 28, 2012 | accessdate=March 29, 2012 | archive-date=March 31, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331164533/http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/In-Second-Year-Gomes-Faces-Key-Offseason/eecb90fc-99e4-42fc-8b78-a156e2f48c7a | url-status=dead }}</ref>
====2012 season==== By the start of the 2012 season, Gomes was made the starting strong safety in place of an injured Brandon Meriweather.<ref>{{cite news|work=WashingtonPost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2012/09/06/dejon-gomes-gets-first-team-work-as-redskins-scramble-for-backup-strong-safety/|title=DeJon Gomes gets first-team work as Redskins scramble for backup plan at strong safety|date=September 6, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2012|last=Jones|first=Mike}}</ref> In the season opener win against the New Orleans Saints, he recorded his first pass deflection and first interception on Drew Brees.<ref>{{cite news|work=WashingtonPost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2012/09/09/jim-haslett-praises-redskins-pass-coverage-vs-saints/|last=Jones|first=Mike|title=Jim Haslett praises Redskins' pass coverage vs. Saints|date=September 9, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Redskins.com|url=http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/Redskins-Saints-Post-Game-Notes/b8a548bb-8208-4375-a472-103528fdd3fb|title=Redskins-Saints Post-Game Notes|last=Tinsman|first=Brian|date=September 10, 2012|accessdate=September 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620061839/http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/Redskins-Saints-Post-Game-Notes/b8a548bb-8208-4375-a472-103528fdd3fb|archive-date=June 20, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> By Week 4 of the 2012 season, he lost the starting strong safety position to Reed Doughty. After Meriweather was placed on injured reserve, Gomes was made the starting strong safety again in the Week 12 win against the Dallas Cowboys,<ref>{{cite news|work=WashingtonTimes.com|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/21/dejon-gomes-could-get-2nd-chance-brandon-meriweath/|title=DeJon Gomes could get 2nd chance with Brandon Meriweather down|last=Whyno|first=Stephen|date=November 21, 2012|accessdate=November 23, 2012}}</ref> where he recovered a fumble after Josh Wilson stripped the ball and recorded six tackles.<ref>{{cite web|work=Redskins.com|url=http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/Friday-Morning-Stats-Pack-Redskins-Cowboys/d1c18d98-c729-4abd-a2a4-9c2e3f85c967|first=Brian|last=Tinsman|date=November 23, 2012|accessdate=November 23, 2012|title=Friday Morning Stats Pack: Redskins-Cowboys|archive-date=November 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128045631/http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/Friday-Morning-Stats-Pack-Redskins-Cowboys/d1c18d98-c729-4abd-a2a4-9c2e3f85c967|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Gomes was waived during the final roster cuts before the start of the 2013 season on August 31, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|work=WashingtonPost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2013/08/31/redskins-part-with-offensive-tackle-tony-pashos-others-as-cutdown-day-begins/|title=Redskins cuts: Tony Pashos, DeJon Gomes, Chase Minnifield among them|first=Mike|last=Jones|date=August 31, 2013|accessdate=August 31, 2013}}</ref>
===Detroit Lions=== Gomes was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on September 1, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|work=mlive.com|url=http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2013/09/detroit_lions_claim_safety_dej.html|title=Detroit Lions claim safety DeJon Gomes off waivers|first=Justin|last=Rogers|date=September 1, 2013|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=NBCSports.com|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/01/lions-claim-dejon-gomes-cut-rocky-mcintosh/|title=Lions claim DeJon Gomes, cut Rocky McIntosh|first=Josh|last=Alper|date=September 1, 2013|accessdate=September 2, 2013}}</ref>
On August 26, 2014, the Lions placed Gomes on injured reserve due to a neck and shoulder injury he suffered in the second preseason game against the Oakland Raiders when he took on a helmet-to-helmet collision with Raiders tight end Scott Simonson.<ref>{{cite web|work=DetroitNews.com |url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140826/SPORTS0101/308260100 |date=August 26, 2014 |title=Loss of DeJon Gomes a blow to Lions' secondary depth |first=Josh |last=Katzenstein |accessdate=August 31, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903103204/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140826/SPORTS0101/308260100 |archivedate=September 3, 2014 }}</ref> Three days later, the Lions released him off injured reserve with an injury settlement.<ref>{{cite web|work=DetroitNews.com |url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140829/SPORTS0101/308290112/1361/Lions-waive-safety-DeJon-Gomes-in-injury-related-agreement |date=August 29, 2014 |title=Lions waive safety DeJon Gomes in injury-related agreement |first=Josh |last=Katzenstein |accessdate=August 31, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903104710/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140829/SPORTS0101/308290112/1361/Lions-waive-safety-DeJon-Gomes-in-injury-related-agreement |archivedate=September 3, 2014 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{Football stats |nfl=2508122 |espn=14200 |pfr=G/GomeDe00}} * [http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=3662207 Nebraska Cornhuskers bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106081040/http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=3662207 |date=November 6, 2012 }}
{{Redskins2011DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gomes, Dejon}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:American football safeties Category:City College of San Francisco Rams football players Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football players Category:Washington Redskins players Category:Detroit Lions players Category:Players of American football from Hayward, California Category:Players of American football from Union City, California Category:James Logan High School alumni