The Official Website of Jay Ratliff

JAY RATLIFF           #90
DEFENSIVE END
6'4"      305      8/29/81
Auburn
D-7 for ’05 (224th overall)
NFL: 3rd Year                        Cowboys: 3rd Year

PRO: Lost in the hoopla of first-round picks DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears was the emergence of Ratliff, who was taken in the seventh round (224th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. A versatile athlete, Ratliff began his collegiate career as a tight end before playing two seasons as a defensive end and his final season as a defensive tackle. His strong work ethic helped him succeed at each position. He is a tough, aggressive lineman who can collapse the pocket and knife into the backfield to flush out the quarterback. His versatility could come in handy as he battles for a spot in the defensive line rotation.

2006: Ratliff played 16 games last season in the defensive line rotation. He made 17 tackles; four sacks, tied for third on the team; seven quarterback pressures, tied for the team lead; one pass breakup; and one forced fumble. He led the team with fumble recoveries, which tied for second in the NFL. Ratliff became the first Cowboy to recover three fumbles in a season since Deion Sanders and Broderick Thomas in 1996. In the season opener at Jacksonville (9/10), Ratliff made the club’s first sack of the season with a takedown of Byron Leftwich. Against Washington (9/17), he made his second sack with a fourth quarter takedown of Mark Brunell on fourth down. Ratliff made his first career tackle at Tennessee (10/1) before making three tackles and his third sack of the season at Philadelphia (10/8). Against Houston (10/15), he made two tackles, a quarterback pressure, and a pass breakup before making one tackle against the Giants (10/23). Ratliff recovered a Jake Delhomme fumble at Carolina (10/29) that led to the Cowboys’ final touchdown of the game. At Arizona (11/12), Ratliff made one tackle and recovered a fumble. In the win over the previously undefeated Colts (11/19), Ratliff recovered a fumble by Marvin Harrison on the Colts’ first possession – his third fumble recovery of the season – and on the Colts’ next possession he sacked Peyton Manning to force a fumble, which Manning recovered. He finished with two tackles and a quarterback pressure. Against Tampa Bay (11/23), he made one tackle before making a season-high four tackles against New Orleans (12/10). Against Philadelphia (12/25), Ratliff made one quarterback pressure before injuring his shoulder in the second quarter. He returned later in the game. He missed the regular-season finale against Detroit (12/31) because of the shoulder injury. He returned in the wild-card loss at Seattle (1/6/07) and made one tackle.

2005: Ratliff played his first NFL game at Oakland (10/2) as part of the rotation for the defensive line and shared a sack with linebacker Scott Shanle. He made his first start the next week against Philadelphia (10/9) when the Cowboys opened in their nickel package. He led all linemen with three tackles and shared a sack with defensive end Greg Ellis. He was inactive against the Giants (10/16) before making two tackles at Seattle (10/23). Against Arizona (10/30), he suffered a high right-ankle sprain and did not return. He was placed on injured reserve Nov. 1.

COLLEGE: After moving from defensive end to defensive tackle in his senior season, Ratliff started all 13 games and tied his career high with 37 tackles. He also made four tackles for a loss and a sack. He tied a career high with seven tackles at Alabama to earn SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He helped the Tigers finish 13-0 by defeating Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl, in which he made three tackles. Auburn finished 2004 second behind USC in the final Associated Press poll. Ratliff played in nine games as a junior reserve defensive end, making seven tackles, including one for a loss. Before his sophomore year, Ratliff moved from tight end to defensive end during spring drills. He started eight of 12 games and tied a career high with 37 tackles, including a career-high 10 tackles for a loss. He also had two forced fumbles and a sack. As a freshman tight end, Ratliff played in all 12 games, including one start, and made three receptions for 38 yards.

PERSONAL: Jeremiah J. Ratliff earned all-state and honorable mention all - USA Today honors after catching 46 passes for 701 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior at Lowndes County High School in Valdosta, Ga. He finished his prep career one of the top-rated tight ends in the southeast. He also lettered in track and basketball for Lowndes, averaging 18 points and 18 rebounds per game as a junior. He majored in health administration at Auburn. As a rookie in Dallas, Ratliff was a member of the Cowboys’ 2005 Rookie Club, a program designed to introduce rookies to community service in the Dallas area. The program worked with The Salvation Army, Children’s Medical Center Dallas, and Meals on Wheels.