Rashard Jamal Mendenhall (born June 19, 1987) is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers 23rd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois. Contents 1 Early years 2 College career 2.1 Statistics 3 Professional career 3.1 Pre-draft 3.2 Pittsburgh Steelers 3.3 Career statistics 4 Osama bin Laden’s Death 5 Personal 6 References 7 External links [edit] Early years Mendenhall attended Niles West High School and Lincoln Jr. High School in Skokie, Illinois . As a five-star prospect, he was also rated the No. 1 recruit in the state of Illinois by Scout.com.[1] He recorded 1,300 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore. As a junior, he rushed for 1,832 yards and 19 touchdowns, while averaging 11.6 yards per carry. In his last year, he averaged 9.1 yards per carry, rushing for 1,453 yards on 160 attempts and 14 touchdowns. Following his high school career, Mendenhall played in the 2005 U.S . Army All-American Bowl. [edit] College career Mendenhall played for the University of Illinois football team. His first season was in 2005, during which he rushed for 218 yards on 48 carries, adding 82 yards receiving and two touchdowns. In 2006, Mendenhall nearly tripled his rushing total, gaining 640 yards and scoring five touchdowns. He added 164 yards receiving and a touchdown, with 12 receptions. Throughout his final season with the Illini, Mendenhall rushed for a then school record 1,681 yards and 17 touchdowns. Throughout the 13 game season, he also had 318 yards receiving and two touchdowns on 34 receptions. He majored in sports management.[2] Mendenhall was on the cover of Sporting News’ High School Football Magazine.[3] On April 24, 2008, Mendenhall made a guest appearance on The Best Damn Sports Show Period in a segment called Best Damn Rookie Hazing, along with former Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly.[4] [edit] Statistics Rushing Receiving Year G Att Yrds Avg TD Lg Rec Yrds Avg TD Lg 2005 10 48 218 4.5 0 18 13 82 6.3 2 16 2006 12 78 640 8.2 5 86 12 164 13.7 1 76 2007 13 262 1681 6.4 17 79 34 318 9.4 2 55 Totals 35 388 2539 6.5 22 86 59 564 9.6 5 76 [edit] Professional career [edit] Pre-draft At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on February 24, 2008, Mendenhall ran an unofficial 4.36 forty-yard dash. His run was officially timed at 4.45, which was sixth among all running backs at the NFL Scouting Combine.[5] Before the draft, Mendenhall had lunch with Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith.[6] [edit] Pittsburgh Steelers I’m not exactly sure how many yards, but whatever my role is, I plan on having success. — Rashard Mendenhall[7] Mendenhall was drafted 23rd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2008 NFL Draft.[8] Prior to his rookie season Mendenhall was ranked by ESPN as the 30th best running back in the league.[9] On July 25, 2008, Mendenhall agreed to a five-year contract worth US$12.55 million with the Steelers,[10] of which $7.125 million is guaranteed.[11] He was expected to be a compliment to Pro-Bowl running back Willie Parker,[12] in addition to returning kicks.[11] Mendenhall fumbled twice in Pittsburgh’s third pre-season game against Minnesota; they were attributed to adjusting to the faster pace of the NFL.[13] Days after the game, teammate Hines Ward placed a ball in Mendenhall’s locker with a note stating, “Take Mendenhall’s ball away and get $100 from him.”[14] Mendenhall was required to carry the ball everywhere he went until the team’s next game.[14] Mendenhall fumbled once more in the Steelers final pre-season game,[15][16] but worked with running backs coach Kirby Wilson to fix the problem.[17] Mendenhall entered the 2008 regular season as the Steelers’ youngest player.[18] He took on return duties in addition to his running back position.[18] Entering the fourth week of the 2008 season, Willie Parker suffered an injury which allowed Mendenhall to make his first NFL start.[19] Mendenhall rushed for 30 yards on 9 carries,[20][21] but was forced to leave the game with a fractured shoulder in the third quarter after a huge hit by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.[22] Mendenhall was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.[23] Mendenhall finished his rookie season with 58 rushing yards on 19 carries and 115 yards on six kick returns.[24][25] In week 4 of the 2009 season, Mendenhall started in place of an injured Willie Parker. Against the San Diego Chargers, he jump-started his NFL career by rushing for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Mendenhall enjoys reading and writing poetry in his spare time.[26] On May 5, 2008, while walking in Chicago, Mendenhall was robbed at gunpoint. He was not injured.[27] In September 2008, Mendenhall became the first professional athlete to sign an endorsement deal with Champion in ten years.[28] [edit] Career statistics Team Season G Rushing Receiving Att Yds Avg TD Long Rec Yds Avg TD Long Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 4 19 58 3.1 0 12 2 17 8.5 0 11 Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 16 242 1,108 4.6 7 60 25 261 10.4 1 26 Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 16 324 1,273 3.9 13 50T 23 167 7.3 0 24 Career Totals (3 seasons) 36 585 2,439 4.2 20 60 50 445 8.9 1 26 [29] [30] [edit] Osama bin Laden’s Death Mendenhall caused controversy following the death of Osama bin Laden with a series of tweets chastising Americans who were celebrating bin Laden’s death.[31]. What kind of person celebrates death? It’s amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We’ve only heard one side…[32] We’ll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style[33] For those of you who said you want to see Bin Laden burn in hell and piss on his ashes, I ask how would God feel about your heart?[34] Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II disavowed Mendenhall’s statements.[35] [edit] Personal Mendenhall’s brother, Walter Mendenhall, is a free agent running back. [edit] References ^ “Scout.com”. Press release. 2004-12-10. http://illinois.scout.com/a.z?s=169&p=8&c=1&nid=1046713. Retrieved 2008-03-15. ^ FightingIllini.com bio ^ [Sporting News' High School Football Magazine cover image "http://i.tsn.com/i/p/books/HSFB_cvr2_173.jpg"]. Press release. 2008-03-15. Sporting News’ High School Football Magazine cover image. Retrieved 2008-03-15. ^ Rashard Mendenhall & Malcolm Kelly on Best Damn Sports Show on YouTube ^ 2008 NFL Draft Scout Profile – The SportsXchange ^ “Top Performers”. Combine (NFL.com). 2008-03-15. http://www.nfl.com/combine/top-performers?tabIndex=0. Retrieved 2008-03-15. ^ Prisuta, Mike (2007-07-28). “Mendenhall doesn’t have clear-cut role”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_579744.html?source=rss&feed=3. Retrieved 2008-08-01. ^ Bouchette, Ed (2008-04-28). “Steelers draft RB from Illinois, WR from Texas to protect Big Ben”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08118/877010-66.stm. Retrieved 2008-04-27. ^ “James, Bush headline second tier of running backs”. ESPN.com. 2008-06-04. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/news/story?id=3424397&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2finsider%2fnews%2fstory%3fid%3d3424397. Retrieved 2008-06-06. ^ Bouchette, Ed (2008-07-26). “Mendenhall, Sweed sign with Steelers”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08208/899756-66.stm. Retrieved 2008-07-26. ^ a b Mandak, Joe (2008-07-25). “Steelers sign No. 1 pick to 5-year contract”. NFL (Yahoo! Sports). http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-steelers-mendenhall&prov=ap&type=lgns. Retrieved 2008-07-27. ^ Harris, John (2008-06-17). “Expect much from Mendenhall”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_573070.html. Retrieved 2008-06-17. ^ Brown, Scott (2008-08-25). “Mendenhall having trouble hanging onto ball”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_584695.html?source=rss&feed=3. Retrieved 2008-08-25. ^ a b Prisuta, Mike (2008-08-26). “Mendenhall gets gripping lessons”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_584853.html?source=rss&feed=9. Retrieved 2008-08-26. ^ Brown, Scott (2008-08-28). “Steelers nip Panthers with last second field goal”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_585465.html. Retrieved 2008-08-30. ^ Bouchette, Ed (2008-08-29). “It’s a Reed-thin margin again”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08242/907939-66.stm. Retrieved 2008-08-30. ^ Pompei, Dan (2008-08-30). “Gripping drama unfolds in AFC North”. Chicago Tribune. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-080830-afc-north-rashard-mendenhall-pompei,1,2493749.column?track=rss. Retrieved 2008-08-31. ^ a b Dulac, Gerry (2008-09-06). “Mendenhall gets fresh start from Tomlin”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08250/910002-66.stm. Retrieved 2008-09-06. ^ Associated Press (2008-09-23). “Steelers will be without RB Parker, DT Hampton against rival Ravens”. ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3604561. Retrieved 2008-09-23. ^ “Week Four GameCenter”. Play-by-Play. NFL.com. 2008-09-30. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/playbyplay?game_id=29588&displayPage=tab_play_by_play&season=2008&week=REG4&override=true. Retrieved 2008-09-30. ^ “National Football League Game Summary” (PDF). Baltimore Ravens At Pittsburgh Steelers. NFL.com. 2008-09-30. http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/29588/PIT_Gamebook.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-30. ^ Bouchette, Ed (2008-09-30). “Four Steelers hurt; Mendenhall, Simmons to
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