Jason Pierre-Paul

Jason Andrew Pierre-Paul (born January 1, 1989), nicknamed JPP, is an American football defensive end for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). The son of Haitian immigrants, Pierre-Paul grew up in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He played college football for the University of South Florida and was picked by the Giants in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Early life
Pierre-Paul was born in Deerfield Beach, Florida to parents who emigrated from Haiti in 1983. At Deerfield Beach High School, Pierre-Paul lettered in basketball for four years. After a serious leg injury while playing basketball, he took up football his junior year.

College career
He amassed 49 tackles, 14 sacks, 19 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery as a freshman at College of the Canyons (California) and earned First-team All-WSC and All-America honors. In 2008 Pierre-Paul played at Fort Scott Community College (Kansas), where his 70 tackles, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries earned him First-Team Little All-American honors.

He transferred to the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. In 2009, he played thirteen games for the Bulls with seven starts and totaled 45 tackles (16½ for losses), 6½ sacks, one interception (returned 18 yards for a touchdown), broke up three passes, and forced two fumbles. He was named First-team All-America by Pro Football Weekly for his efforts, and was also first team All Big East. He earned the nickname Haitian Sensation. In the fourth week of the season, he was named the Defensive Lineman Performer of the Week in the College Performance Awards. After his junior year, he decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2010 NFL Draft.

2010 season
Pierre-Paul was drafted by the New York Giants with the 15th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. On July 31, 2010, Pierre-Paul and the Giants agreed to a five-year, $20.05 million deal with $11.629 million guaranteed. He made his NFL debut on September 12, 2010 in the New York Giants' season opener, and recorded 2 tackles. He finished the season playing a total of 16 games, totaling 24 solo tackles and recording 4.5 sacks.

2011 season
With injuries plaguing the Giants' starting defensive ends, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, Pierre-Paul received a significant amount of playing time, including 12 starts. He led the team with 16.5 sacks, and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. Pierre-Paul was also named a First-team All-Pro.

He recorded 65 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 1 safety, and 2 forced fumbles during the 2011 season. On December 11, 2011, after already compiling two sacks (one for a safety) and a forced fumble, Pierre-Paul blocked Dan Bailey's 47-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of the Giants' game against the Dallas Cowboys, and the Giants won 37–34. Giants coach Tom Coughlin called a time-out prior to Bailey's first attempt at the field goal. Pierre-Paul became the first player in NFL history to record a sack, forced fumble, and blocked field goal in the same game. On December 13, 2011, he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. On December 27, 2011 it was announced that Pierre-Paul was voted to his first Pro Bowl, despite not being on the ballot.

He played a big role in the Giants playoff run where they competed against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI and won 21-17.

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