{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1994)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Jeff Badet | image = Jeff Badet (52823455739) (cropped).jpg | caption = Badet with the Vegas Vipers in 2023 | current_team = | number = 84, 13 | position = Wide receiver | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|8|2}} | birth_place = Orlando, Florida, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11 | weight_lbs = 183 | high_school = Freedom (Orlando) | college = {{ubl|Kentucky (2013–2016)|Oklahoma (2017)}} | undraftedyear = 2018 | pastteams = * Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2018|2019}})* * Dallas Renegades ({{XFL Year|2020}}) * Washington Football Team ({{NFL Year|2020}}) * Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2021}})* * Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2021}})* * Michigan Panthers ({{USFL Year|2022}}) * Vegas Vipers ({{XFL Year|2023}}) * Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2024}})* | highlights = | statleague = XFL | statlabel1 = Receptions | statvalue1 = 50 | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = 557 | statlabel3 = Yards per reception | statvalue3 = 11.1 | statlabel4 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue4 = 5 }} '''Jeff Badet''' (born August 2, 1994) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats before transferring to the Oklahoma Sooners to finish his collegiate career, and signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He was also a member of the Dallas Renegades, Washington Football Team, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, Michigan Panthers, Vegas Vipers, and Toronto Argonauts. In the 2020 XFL draft, he was selected fourth overall by the Renegades.
== Early life == Badet attended Freedom High School in Orlando, Florida, playing for the school's football team as a wide receiver.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://247sports.com/Player/Jeff-Badet-22017/TimelineEvents/|title=Jeff Badet Timeline Events|website=247sports.com|access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref> He was ranked as a three-star recruit and as the nation's 127th receiver prospect by 247sports, committing to the University of Kentucky, rejecting other offers from colleges closer to his home, such as South Florida and FIU.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Tylor |title=Jeff Badet is a Cat |url=https://kentuckysportsradio.com/1/jeff-badet-is-a-cat/ |access-date=February 10, 2020 |work=Kentucky Sports Radio |date=February 1, 2013}}</ref>
==College career == In 2013, his freshman year, he saw limited action, appearing in eight games, totalling 22 receptions for 285 yards and one touchdown. Following a serious injury, Badet was medically redshirted for his second year, the 2014 collegiate season. In his sophomore season the year after, Badet played in eleven of the team's twelve games and compiled 29 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns, as the team's third leading receiver. His junior season was his most productive of his college career, appearing in all 13 games, with 31 catches for 670 yards and 4 touchdowns, leading the team in receiving yards. In the seventh game of the season, Badet had best statistical game of his career, with 7 receptions for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 40–38 victory over Mississippi State, his sole multi-touchdown collegiate game. In the offseason, Badet declined to declare for the NFL draft and instead transferred to Oklahoma, crossing conferences into the Big 12.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trotter |first1=Jake |title=WR Jeff Badet transfers to Oklahoma |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/19023889/wr-jeff-badet-transfers-kentucky-wildcats-oklahoma-sooners |access-date=February 10, 2020 |work=ESPN |date=March 28, 2017}}</ref> Badet was less statistically productive, totalling 26 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns, but the Sooners enjoyed team success, finishing with a 12–2 record behind Heisman Trophy-winning and eventual first overall pick Baker Mayfield, culminating with a 54–48 defeat in the Rose Bowl against Georgia.<ref name=ainsworth/> He served as an influencing presence on the field and locker room, and ran a 4.27 40-yard dash at Oklahoma's Pro Day.<ref name="kennedy">{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Collin |title=Former OU receiver Jeff Badet carries impactful presence in XFL |url=https://247sports.com/college/oklahoma/Article/Jeff-Badet-OU-Football-Oklahoma-Sooners-Dallas-Renegades-XFL-Season-143515049/ |access-date=February 10, 2020 |work=247 Sports |date=February 8, 2020}}</ref>
===College statistics=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="6"| Receiving |- ! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Ypg !! Lg !! TD |- ! 2013 !! Kentucky | 10 || 5 || 22 || 285 || 13.0 || 28.5 || 56 || 1 |- ! 2014 !! Kentucky | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2015 !! Kentucky | 12 || 10 || 29 || 430 || 14.8 || 35.8 || 45 || 2 |- ! 2016 !! Kentucky | '''13'''|| '''13'''|| '''31'''|| '''670'''|| '''21.6'''|| '''51.5'''|| '''72'''|| '''4''' |- ! 2017 !! Oklahoma | '''13'''|| 2 || 26 || 400 || 15.4 || 30.8 || 54 || 3 |- ! colspan="2"|[https://www.footballdb.com/players/jeff-badet-badetje01 Career] !! 49!! 30!! 108!! 1,785!! 16.5!! 36.4!! 72!! 10 |}
== Professional career == {{NFL predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 11 1/8 | weight = 182 | dash = 4.34 | ten split = 1.57 | twenty split = 2.59 | shuttle = 4.54 | cone drill = 7.24 | vertical = 39.5 | broad ft = 10 | broad in = 11 | bench = 16 | arm span = 31 | hand span = 9 1/4 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=2018 NFL Draft Scout Jeff Badet College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=126604&DraftYear=2018 |access-date=August 23, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref> }}
===Minnesota Vikings=== Badet declared for the 2018 NFL draft but went undrafted and later signed as an undrafted free agent for the Minnesota Vikings.<ref name=ainsworth>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oudaily.com/sports/nfl-draft-oklahoma-s-jeff-badet-signs-to-the-minnesota/article_81450894-48e2-11e8-b7bb-cbc8a1c2564b.html|title=NFL Draft 2018: Oklahoma's Jeff Badet signs to the Minnesota Vikings|last=Ainsworth|first=Charlene|website=OU Daily|date=April 28, 2018 |language=en|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> He was placed in the team's concussion protocol after the first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but returned for the team's next three preseason games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24411188/minnesota-vikings-lose-6-players-injury-preseason-game|title=Six Vikings exit preseason game with injuries, some season-ending|website=ESPN|date=August 18, 2018 |access-date=February 10, 2020}}</ref> He appeared in all four of the team's preseason games, totalling 5 receptions for 34 yards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/jeffbadet/2560038/gamelogs|title=Jeff Badet: Game Logs at NFL.com|website=www.nfl.com|access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref> He was placed on the team's practice squad before the start of the season. In June 2019 he participated in the 40 Yards of Gold contest to determine the fastest player in the NFL and he was supposed to earn $25,000, but only received a check for his participation and performance.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomasson |first1=Chris |title=Vikings' Jeff Badet hasn't been paid for 40 Yards of Gold, calls it 'one big scam' |url=https://www.twincities.com/2019/07/23/vikings-jeff-badet-hasnt-been-paid-for-40-yards-of-gold-calls-it-one-big-scam/ |access-date=February 10, 2020 |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=July 23, 2019}}</ref>
Badet re-signed with the Vikings and was given a $75,000 bonus to keep him away from the New York Jets, who were also pursuing him.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomasson |first1=Chris |title=Vikings gave WR Jeff Badet $75,000 signing bonus to keep him away from Jets |url=https://www.twincities.com/2019/05/04/vikings-gave-wr-jeff-badet-75000-signing-bonus-to-keep-him-away-from-jets/ |access-date=February 10, 2020 |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=May 4, 2019}}</ref> He appeared in the team's four 2019 preseason games, seeing limited snaps, touching the ball just twice for 17 yards. Badet was hampered by a groin injury that forced him to miss several practices.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vikings' Jeff Badet: Still nursing groin injury |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/vikings-jeff-badet-still-nursing-groin-injury/ |access-date=February 11, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=July 27, 2019}}</ref> He was cut by the Vikings before the start of the 2019 NFL season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jeff Badet: Fails to make roster |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/jeff-badet-fails-to-make-roster/ |access-date=February 10, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=September 1, 2019}}</ref>
===Dallas Renegades=== Badet declared for the 2020 XFL draft, impressing team scouts at the various combines and was selected as the fourth pick of the skills position phase by the Dallas Renegades.<ref name="kennedy" /> Renegades general manager and head coach Bob Stoops, who coached at Oklahoma before Badet's arrival in 2017, drafted him.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sigler |first1=John |title=XFL's Dallas Renegades draft ex-Saints WR Tommylee Lewis |url=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/2019/10/15/saints-tommylee-lewis-xfl-renegades-draft-bob-stoops-oklahoma-landry-jones-news/ |access-date=February 10, 2020 |work=Saints Wire |date=October 15, 2019}}</ref> Badet had a unique helmet that featured Allen Iverson, Michael Jackson, and SpongeBob SquarePants.<ref>{{cite news |title=XFL wide receiver Jeff Badet has a helmet worth keeping an eye on |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/28648715/xfl-wide-receiver-jeff-badet-helmet-worth-keeping-eye-on |access-date=February 11, 2020 |work=ESPN |date=February 6, 2020}}</ref> In his second game against the Los Angeles Wildcats, Badet caught six passes for 53 yards.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reneau |first1=Kegan |title=Landry Jones, Bob Stoops win first XFL game 25-18 over Los Angeles Wildcats |url=https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/2020/02/16/landry-jones-bob-stoops-win-first-xfl-game-25-18-over-los-angeles-wildcats/ |access-date=February 16, 2020 |work=Sooners Wire |date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> Badet finished the season with 16 receptions for 108 yards.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jeff Badet |url=https://stats.xfl.com/Player/10026 |website=XFL |access-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322162419/https://stats.xfl.com/Player/10026 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |author=Condotta, Bob |title=XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/xfl-suspends-operations-terminates-all-employees/ |website=SeattleTimes.com |date=April 10, 2020 |access-date=July 17, 2020}}</ref>
===Washington Football Team=== On September 17, 2020, Badet signed with the Washington Football Team's practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Washington Football Team Signs Two Players To The Practice Squad|url=https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/washington-football-team-signs-two-players-practice-squad|website=WashingtonFootball.com|date=September 17, 2020}}</ref> He was elevated to the active roster on October 24 and November 7 for the team's Weeks 7 and 9 games against the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.<ref>{{cite news |author=Wormeli, Ryan |title=Washington places Charles, AGG on IR |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/football-team/washington-places-draft-picks-saahdiq-charles-and-antonio-gandy-golden-ir |website=NBCSports.com |date=October 24, 2020 |access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Stackpole, Kyle |title=Washington Activates WR Steven Sims Off Injured Reserve |url=https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/washington-activates-steven-sims-off-injured-reserve |website=WashingtonFootball.com |date=November 7, 2020 |access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref> Badet was promoted to the active roster on November 9.<ref>{{cite web |title=Monday's NFL injury and roster news for Week 10 |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/monday-s-nfl-injury-and-roster-news-for-week-10 |website=NFL.com |access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> He was waived on December 19,<ref>{{cite web|website=WashingtonFootball.com|url=https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/washington-signs-qb-taylor-heinicke-releases-wr-jeff-badet|title=Washington Signs QB Taylor Heinicke From Practice Squad, Releases WR Jeff Badet|date=December 19, 2020|access-date=December 19, 2020}}</ref> and re-signed to the practice squad three days later.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=WashingtonNFL |author=Washington Football Team |title=We have signed WR Jeff Badet to the practice squad. |number=1341496431719419906 |date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=February 5, 2021}}</ref>
Badet signed a reserve/futures contract with the team on January 11, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Washington Signs 13 Players To Reserve/Future Contracts |url=https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/washington-signs-players-reserve-future-contracts-2021 |website=WashingtonFootball.com |access-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref> Badet was waived by the Football Team on May 3.<ref>{{cite news |title=Washington Releases WRs Jeff Badet, Trevor Davis |url=https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/washington-releases-jeff-badet-trevor-davis |website=WashingtonFootball.com |date=May 3, 2021 |access-date=May 3, 2021}}</ref>
===Atlanta Falcons=== On June 17, 2021, Badet signed with the Atlanta Falcons.<ref>{{cite web|title=Falcons sign four free agents|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-sign-four-free-agents|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=June 17, 2021}}</ref> He was waived/injured on August 6, and placed on injured reserve. Badet was released by the Falcons on August 17 with an injury settlement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Urben |first1=Matt |title=Falcons release WR Jeff Badet from IR with injury settlement |url=https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/2021/08/17/atlanta-falcons-jeff-badet-nfl-news/ |access-date=November 25, 2021 |work=Falcons Wire |date=August 17, 2021}}</ref>
===Las Vegas Raiders=== On November 10, 2021, Badet was signed to the Las Vegas Raiders' practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Raiders promote DT Kendal Vickers|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-promote-dt-kendal-vickers|website=Raiders.com|date=November 10, 2021}}</ref> He was released by the Raiders on December 4.<ref>{{cite web |title=Raiders promote FB Sutton Smith to active roster |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-promote-fb-sutton-smith-to-active-roster-nfl-week-13-2021 |website=Raiders.com |access-date=December 5, 2021 |date=December 4, 2021}}</ref>
===Michigan Panthers=== On February 23, 2022, Badet was selected with the sixth pick of the 15th round of the 2022 USFL draft by the Michigan Panthers.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Callaway |first1=Josh |title=Former Oklahoma WR Jeff Badet Selected in USFL Draft |url=https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/former-oklahoma-wr-jeff-badet-selected-in-usfl-draft |access-date=February 24, 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=February 23, 2022}}</ref> He was transferred to the team's inactive roster on April 22,<ref>{{cite tweet |user=USFLPanthers |title=Roster Updates |number=1517407883364737024 |date=April 22, 2022 |access-date=April 23, 2022}}</ref> due to a hamstring injury.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=USFLPanthers |title=Jeff Badet, WR: Questionable (Hamstring) |number=1517414500495872001 |date=April 22, 2022 |access-date=April 23, 2022}}</ref> Badet was released by the Panthers on May 10.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=USFLPanthers |title=Roster Updates |number=1523917802892980225 |date=May 10, 2022 |access-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref>
===Vegas Vipers=== Badet was selected by the Vegas Vipers of the XFL in the 2023 XFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2023 |title=Top XFL Wide Receivers 2023: Josh Gordon and Martavis Bryant Look for Redemption |url=https://www.profootballnetwork.com/top-xfl-wide-receivers/ |access-date=February 18, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In his debut with the team he caught six passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns, including the first touchdown of the season from Luis Perez in the team's 20–22 loss.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vipers vs. Renegades final score, results: Arlington defense, Drew Plitt lead team to win in first XFL 2023 game |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/xfl-vipers-renegades-live-score-updates-highlights/hpp93g4arlmjeorlkmlbf6jy |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=www.sportingnews.com |date=February 18, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Forness |first=Tyler |date=February 18, 2023 |title=Former Vikings WR Jeff Badet scores first XFL touchdown |url=https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/2023/02/18/vikings-xfl-arlington-renegades-las-vegas-vipers-luis-perez-jeff-badet/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322152749/https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/2023/02/18/vikings-xfl-arlington-renegades-las-vegas-vipers-luis-perez-jeff-badet/ |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Vikings Wire |language=en-US }}</ref> The Vipers folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seifert |first=Kevin |date=January 1, 2024 |title=Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/39222541/newly-formed-united-football-league-sets-8-markets-tabs-coaches |access-date=January 15, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
===Toronto Argonauts=== On February 8, 2024, it was announced that Badet had been signed by the Toronto Argonauts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.argonauts.ca/2024/02/08/double-blue-ink-american-wr-jeff-badet/ |title=Double Blue Ink American WR Jeff Badet |publisher=Toronto Argonauts |date=February 8, 2024}}</ref> He was placed on the retired list on May 12.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transactions - Football Player Trades and Signings |url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}}</ref>
==Professional statistics== ===Regular season=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| League ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="6"| Receiving |- ! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|GS|Games started}} !! {{abbr|Rec|Receptions}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Yards}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Yards per reception}} !! {{abbr|YPG|Yard per game}} !! {{abbr|Lg|Longest reception}} !! {{abbr|TD|Receiving touchdowns}} |- ! 2018!! MIN!! rowspan="2" | NFL | colspan="8" rowspan="2" | {{Abbr|DNP|Did not play}} |- !2019 !MIN |- ! 2020!! DAL!! XFL | 5 || 4 || 16 || 108 || 6.7 || 21.6 || 16 || 0 |- !2020 !WAS ! rowspan="3" |NFL |3 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |- ! rowspan="2" |2021 !ATL | colspan="8" rowspan="2" |{{Abbr|DNP|Did not play}} |- !LV |- ! 2022 !! MIC !! USFL | 1 || 0 || 1 || 12 || 12.0 || 12.0 || 12 || 0 |- !2023 !VGS !XFL |9 |8 |34 |449 |13.2 |49.9 |56 |5 |- ! colspan="3" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BadeJe00.htm Career] !! 24 !! 13 !! 51!! 569 !! 11.2 !! 23.7 !! 56 !! 5 |} ''Source'':<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/b/bade00400.html | title=Jeff Badet | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=14 August 2024}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{commonscatinline}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Badet, Jeff}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:American football wide receivers Category:Canadian football wide receivers Category:Players of American football from Orlando, Florida Category:Players of Canadian football from Orlando, Florida Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players Category:Oklahoma Sooners football players Category:Atlanta Falcons players Category:Minnesota Vikings players Category:Dallas Renegades players Category:Washington Football Team players Category:Las Vegas Raiders players Category:Michigan Panthers (2022) players Category:Vegas Vipers players Category:Toronto Argonauts players