Team

6’2” • 285 lbs. • Born: 6.21.82 • Exp. (NFL/Titans): 5/1 • UFA (TB) – 2009 • Vanderbilt

2008 GP/GS: 15/14 (Playoffs 0/0) • Career GP/GS: 42/30 (Playoffs 1/0) • Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

PRO: Jovan Haye signed with the Titans as an unrestricted free agent on March 2, 2009 after spending the last three seasons with Tampa Bay. The former Vanderbilt standout enters 2009 as a key member of the Tennessee defensive tackle rotation. A high-effort defensive lineman and skilled pass rusher, Haye has played in 42 career games with 30 starts. His career totals include 162 tackles, six sacks, a forced fumble, four fumble recoveries, and four passes defensed. Prior to an injury-plagued 2008 campaign, Haye enjoyed a breakout season in 2007 with a career-best 97 tackles, the most by a Buccaneers defensive lineman since 1984, while also notching a career-high six sacks and tying for the NFL lead with four fumble recoveries. Haye entered the league as a sixth-round pick (189th overall) of the Carolina Panthers in the 2005 NFL Draft. After appearing in just two games as a rookie, he was released by Carolina in 2006 and signed with Cleveland. Following a short stint on the Browns practice squad, he was signed by the Buccaneers on October 25, 2006.

TITANS TIDBITS:

• Haye is a native of Jamaica. He moved to the United States when he was six years old and did not start playing football until his junior year in high school.

• Haye is a huge fan of singer Celin Dion. His mother is also a loyal supporter and Haye got her front row tickets for a concert during Super Bowl week in Tampa last year.

• Haye suffered from dyslexia when he was younger and fought through the disorder during middle school. He overcame the condition and was on the honor roll four straight years in high school on his way to earning a scholarship to Vanderbilt. He says graduating high school was “his winning moment.”

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

2008 (15/14, 0/0 – Tampa Bay): Saw action in 15 games with 14 starts and tallied 40 tackles, including two tackles for loss, and one pass defensed.

• At Chicago (9/21), started at defensive tackles and registered five tackles.

• Against Carolina (10/12), tallied three stops and one pass defensed.

• At Detroit (11/23), notched four tackles, including a tackle for loss.

• Against San Diego (12/21), returned to the starting lineup and posted five tackles, including a tackle for loss.

2007 (16/16, 1/1 – Tampa Bay): Started all 16 contests at defensive tackle and collected a career-high 97 tackles, ranking first among defensive linemen and fifth on the team. His 97 tackles were the most by a Buccaneers defensive lineman since 1984. Finished tied for second on the team with six sacks and led the squad and tied for first in the NFL with four fumble recoveries.

• At Seattle (9/9), made his first career NFL start at defensive tackle and posted three tackles.

• Against New Orleans (9/16), notched first career sack, dropping Drew Brees for a seven-yard loss. Also had five tackles and one pass defensed.

• Against Tennessee (10/14), collected a career-high 12 tackles to lead the defensive linemen. Notched one sack of Kerry Collins.

• At Detroit (10/21), finished with eight tackles and a sack of Jon Kitna.

• At New Orleans (12/2), finished with five tackles, a sack of Drew Brees, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

• At Houston (12/9), posted four tackles and two fumble recoveries.

• At San Francisco (12/23), led defensive linemen with eight tackles and also had a sack of Shaun Hill and a pass defensed.

• Against N.Y. Giants (1/6), had six tackles in playoff debut, including a tackle for loss, in NFC Wild Card game.

2006 (9/0 – Tampa Bay): Played as a reserve in nine games with Tampa Bay and totaled 25 tackles on the season. Released by Carolina on Sept. 2 before being signed to the Browns’ active roster on Sept. 3. Was inactive for Cleveland against New Orleans (9/10) and then released by Cleveland on Sept. 12 before being signed to the Browns’ practice squad on Sept. 14. Signed by Tampa Bay on Oct. 25 from Cleveland’s practice squad.

• Against New Orleans (11/5), made his Buccaneers debut against the Saints.

• Against Washington(11/19), played in a reserve role and collected his first two career tackles.

• At Pittsburgh (12/3), played along defensive line, totaling five tackles.

• Against Atlanta (12/10), saw significant action on defense, setting a then career-high with six tackles.

• Against Seattle (12/31), tied his career-high with six tackles.

2005 (2/0, 0/0 -- Carolina): Played in two games and inactive for 13 contests with the Panthers. Was inactive for all three playoff games.

• Against Green Bay (10/3), made NFL debut as a reserve at defensive tackle.

COLLEGE:

• Entered NFL Draft following junior season. Started 34 of 35 games at Vanderbilt and recorded 149 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and one interception.

• As a junior, started all 11 games at defensive end in 2004 and totaled 48 tackles and one sack. Part of squad that ranked third in the SEC with a plus-four turnover margin.

• Named second-team All-SEC as a sophomore and was elected team defensive captain. Started all 12 games at defensive end and was a conference co-leader with 8.5 sacks, the most by a Vanderbilt player since 1994. Also, tied for seventh in the conference with 12.5 tackles for loss and led the defensive line with 76 tackles, three forced fumbles, 10 quarterback hurries and three passes defensed.

• Recorded two or more sacks in three games in 2003 and amassed three sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception at TCU.

• Started 11 of 12 games at defensive end as a freshman in 2002 and contributed 25 tackles, one sack, three quarterback pressures and one forced fumble. Limited for much of the second half of the season with an injured foot, with the contest at Georgia representing the only missed start of his college career, but he played against the Bulldogs with an injured ankle.

• Redshirted as a true freshman in 2001.

• Majored in human and organizational development at Vanderbilt.

PERSONAL:

• Was a teammate of NFL players Chris Gamble and Stanley McClover at Dillard High School (Sunrise, Fla.).

• Earned first-team All-State honors at offensive guard as a junior and senior at Dillard. Also was a letterwinner in basketball, and threw shot put and discus.

• Graduated from high school with a 4.5 GPA and was a member of National Honor Society.

• Participated in Read Across America Day, where he made students laugh by reading tongue twisting Dr. Seuss books and was also a guest speaker at Harris Teeter/Kraft Kids Camp, where he spoke on the importance of education and team work, ran skill stations and signed autographs.

• Moved to the United States from Jamaica when he was six years old and did not start playing football until his junior year in high school.

• List of favorites: (movie) “Spiderman 1, 2 and 3”; (TV show) “Martin”; (actor) Martin Lawrence; (music artist or group) Celine Dion; (food) jerk chicken; (vacation spot) Nashville; (school subject) physical education; (car) Chevy Corvette; (video game) Call of Duty; (sports hero) Steve Young; and (book) “Who Moved My Cheese?”

• Born Jovan Haye on June 21, 1982 in Mandeville, Jamaica.