# Dwayne Levels > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dwayne_Levels > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dwayne_Levels.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Levels > Source revision: 1319954169 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Ernest Dwayne Levels** (born May 9, 1979) is an American former professional [football](/source/American_football) player who was a [linebacker](/source/Linebacker) for three seasons in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) for the [Cincinnati Bengals](/source/Cincinnati_Bengals). He also spent one season in the [Canadian Football League](/source/Canadian_Football_League) (CFL), but did not play. Levels played [college football](/source/College_football) for the [Oklahoma State Cowboys](/source/Oklahoma_State_Cowboys_football) and was signed by the Bengals as an [undrafted free agent](/source/Undrafted_free_agent) in . ## Early life and education Levels was born on May 9, 1979, in [Lubbock County, Texas](/source/Lubbock_County,_Texas). He attended [Richardson High School](/source/Richardson_High_School) in [Richardson, Texas](/source/Richardson,_Texas), before playing [college football](/source/College_football) for [Oklahoma State University](/source/Oklahoma_State_University). Upon joining the school in 1997, Levels was given a redshirt.[1] He joined the [varsity squad](/source/Oklahoma_State_Cowboys_football) the following year, and became a regular starter shortly afterwards. In [2000](/source/2000_Oklahoma_State_Cowboys_football_team), Levels was one of the best players on the roster, and made 16 tackles in one game.[2] Teammate Zac Akin said, "Oh, he played his heart and soul out. It's ridiculous. The last few games, he's been barely able to get off the field a couple of times. This game, he's throwing up on the sidelines, goes back in there, makes a couple plays. Finally, we get him talked into going off the field. He's just dying out there. It's amazing. Dwayne is amazing."[3] He returned for a final season in 2001, playing in all eleven games, and made a 57-yard interception return touchdown.[4] ## Professional career After going unselected in the [2002 NFL draft](/source/2002_NFL_draft), Levels signed with the [Cincinnati Bengals](/source/Cincinnati_Bengals) as an [undrafted free agent](/source/Undrafted_free_agent). He was released at roster cuts and subsequently signed to their practice squad, where he spent the remainder of the season.[5] He was sent to the [Barcelona Dragons](/source/Barcelona_Dragons_(NFL_Europe)) of [NFL Europe](/source/NFL_Europe) in early 2003, and "had an outstanding season", starting all ten games and making 57 tackles.[6][1] He made the Bengals final roster upon returning, and spent the season playing on special teams and as a backup linebacker. He made his first career start against the [Baltimore Ravens](/source/Baltimore_Ravens) in week seven, recording three tackles in the 34–26 win.[7] He finished the season with 15 combined tackles in 13 games.[8] He was waived by the Bengals in July .[9] After spending time out of football in 2005, Levels was signed by the [Ottawa Renegades](/source/Ottawa_Renegades) of the [Canadian Football League](/source/Canadian_Football_League) (CFL) in early , only to see them fold shortly afterwards. He was later selected in the [2006 CFL Dispersal Draft](/source/2006_CFL_Dispersal_Draft) by the [Montreal Alouettes](/source/Montreal_Alouettes), but was released in training camp.[10] ## References 1. ["Dwayne Levels Stats"](https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerl/leve00450.html). *Pro Football Archives* 1. Helsley, John (October 13, 2000). ["No quit in this Cowboy"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88625163/the-daily-oklahoman/). *[The Daily Oklahoman](/source/The_Daily_Oklahoman)*. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) 1. ["Levels a warrior"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88624914/the-daily-oklahoman/). *[The Daily Oklahoman](/source/The_Daily_Oklahoman)*. October 8, 2000. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) 1. ["Dwayne Levels College Stats"](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dwayne-levels-1.html). *[Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference)* 1. Ernst, Ryan (November 24, 2002). ["Hard-knocks opportunity"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88624939/the-cincinnati-enquirer/). *[The Cincinnati Enquirer](/source/The_Cincinnati_Enquirer)*. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) 1. ["Who made the team and why..."](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88625216/the-cincinnati-enquirer/). *[The Cincinnati Enquirer](/source/The_Cincinnati_Enquirer)*. September 1, 2003. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) 1. Lance, Dave (October 22, 2003). ["Rookie goes the distance"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88624976/dayton-daily-news/). *[Dayton Daily News](/source/Dayton_Daily_News)*. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) 1. ["Dwayne Levels Stats"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LeveDw20.htm). *Pro-Football-Reference.com* 1. ["Bengals waive LB Dwayne Levels"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88625242/chillicothe-gazette/). *[Chillicothe Gazette](/source/Chillicothe_Gazette)*. July 17, 2004. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) 1. Zurkowsky, Herb (June 10, 2006). ["Bittersweet 16: Alouettes make cuts"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88625360/the-gazette/). *[The Gazette](/source/Montreal_Gazette)*. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) ## External links - Helsley, John (August 3, 2001). ["Levels of success"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88625028/the-daily-oklahoman/). *[The Daily Oklahoman](/source/The_Daily_Oklahoman)*. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) - Helsley, John (November 20, 2001). ["Levels has no regrets about return to OSU"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88624957/the-daily-oklahoman/). *[The Daily Oklahoman](/source/The_Daily_Oklahoman)*. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dwayne Levels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Levels) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Levels?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.