Corey Lynch

Corey Lynch (born May 7, 1985) is an American football safety for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Appalachian State.

High school
Corey graduated from Evangelical Christian School in Fort Myers, Florida. Lynch's father, Brian was his coach at this school. As of 2012, Brian Lynch is still the football coach at Evangelical.

College career
Lynch played collegiate ball at Appalachian State University from 2003 to 2007, helping his Mountaineers win 3 back-to-back national championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He is a three-time All-American and is perhaps best known for blocking Jason Gingell's field goal attempt in the waning seconds of Appalachian State's 2007 game against Michigan, in which the FCS Mountaineers upset the No. 5 nationally ranked Michigan Wolverines on September 1, 2007.

He currently holds the NCAA FCS record for passes defended at 52 (28 pass deflections, 24 interceptions) and finished his collegiate level play with 358 career tackles.

Professional career
The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Lynch in the sixth round (177th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.

On October 12, 2008 against the New York Jets, Lynch recorded his first career interception by picking off quarterback Brett Favre. Lynch was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a knee injury on October 27. He finished his rookie season with nine tackles, an interception and a pass deflection in seven games.

Lynch was featured in a segment on the HBO show Hard Knocks for saving a woman's life who was in a car accident.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lynch was signed off the Bengals practice squad on September 23, 2009.

San Diego Chargers
Lynch signed with the San Diego Chargers.

Personal
Corey Lynch is married to Cissie Graham Lynch, a grandchild of evangelist Billy Graham and 2007 Queen of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. He told reporters he thinks the Bengals, which has seen many players in legal trouble off the field, drafted him because of his character as well as for his playing skills.

On June 21, 2009, while driving on a Kentucky interstate, Lynch saw a car go off the road and down an embankment. He stopped, ran down to the car, and freed an injured woman's neck. It was written that he saved her life.

Corey is known on the Buccaneers by the nickname "HBO", a reference to his appearance on HBO's Hard Knocks television series.

Corey's brother, Colton, is currently a defensive back on the Harvard Crimson football team.