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Cecil Doggette

Cecil Doggette (born November 15, 1970 in Queens, New York) is a former Arena Football League defensive specialist for the Columbus Destroyers, the Detroit Drive, the Arizona Rattlers, the Grand Rapids Rampage, and various National Football League and NFL Europe teams. He played collegiately for the West Virginia Mountaineers and at Hudson Valley Community College.

High school years

Doggette attended Bayside High School in Queens, New York, and was a standout in football and track.

NCAA college career

At West Virginia University, Doggette was a two-year starter. Prior to attending West Virginia University, Doggette was a talented defensive back and all-around specialist at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York.

In 1990, Doggette's first season at West Virginia, he totaled 22 tackles. He also forced two fumbles and recovered another.

In his final season as a Mountaineer, 1991, Doggette broke the school single-season record of pass break-ups with nine in the first three games of the season. He finished the season with 29 tackles.

Professional career

San Diego Chargers

After being passed up in the 1992 NFL Draft, Doggette was signed by the San Diego Chargers for the 1992 season. He was cut shortly afterwards.

Detroit Drive

Doggette left the NFL after San Diego cut him, and soon turned to the Arena Football League. He joined the Detroit Drive, where he played five games for the 1993 season, recording 6.5 tackles and an interception. He also played a playoff game, recording 3.5 tackles.

New York Jets

After the 1993 season, Doggette left the Drive and returned to the NFL, signing a one-year deal with the New York Jets in 1994.

Frankfurt Galaxy

Doggette was eventually sent to the World League as a New York Jets player to the Frankfurt Galaxy. He helped Frankfurt win the World Bowl Championship that season as the special teams MVP.

Doggette then attended training camp with the Dallas Cowboys, but returned to the Galaxy for the 1996 season instead of returning to the NFL or AFL. Doggette finished the season with 40 tackles, 12 pass break-ups and four interceptions.

Doggette left the Galaxy after the 1997 season, when he was named All-World League for the consecutive season. He set a single-game record with six pass break-ups against the London Monarchs that season.

He finished his Galaxy career second on the all-time career list with 29 pass break-ups and single-season with 14 break-ups.

Arizona Rattlers

On June 28, 1995, Doggette signed with the Arizona Rattlers of the AFL, after the NFL Europe season ended. He played in only four games, in 1995 but recorded 17.5 tackles and three pass break-ups. He again only played in one playoff game, but totaled six tackles and two pass break-ups, and one interception. He left the Rattlers after the 1995 season to return to the NFL Europe for the 1996 season.

In week seven of the 1997 season, he shined in the playoffs however, recording 18.5 tackles and eight pass break-ups. In the ArenaBowl XI, Doggette recorded four tackles against the Iowa Blackhawks.

In 1998, Doggette played in all fourteen games of the season. He led the Rattlers with 50 tackles and 19 pass break-ups. He also had two interceptions and fumble recoveries. In the playoffs, Cecil recorded 3.5 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and four pass break-ups. After the season, Doggette signed with the Buffalo Bills practice squad, but was cut before the next NFL season.

In 1999, Doggette finished the season by being named All-Arena. He led the team with 54 tackles, 16 pass break-ups, and six interceptions on the season. His six interceptions were second in the AFL. In two playoff games, Doggette recorded 12.5 tackles and five pass break-ups.

In 2000, Doggette again led the team in tackles, with 66, pass break-ups, with 23, and interceptions, with 4. He also had four forced fumbles and one recovery. In three playoff games, Cecil totaled 16 tackles, two pass break-ups and an interception.

Grand Rapids Rampage

After the 2000 season with the Arizona Rattlers, his fourth with the team, Doggette signed with the Grand Rapids Rampage. For the 2001 season, he led the team with 61 tackles and 5 interceptions. He also had 13 pass break-ups, and nine tackles and three pass break-ups in the playoffs.

In the 2002 season, Doggette only played 10 games, but still earned second-team All-Arena honors after recording a team-highs 56 tackles, three interceptions, and 15 pass break-ups on the season. It would be the fifth consecutive season that Doggette led his respective team in tackles. He recorded 12 tackles, four pass break-ups, and an interception in the playoffs, up to the ArenaBowl XVI loss.

In 2003, Doggette led the team in tackles for the sixth consecutive season. His 64.5 tackles ranked as the third most in Rampage history. He also totaled four interceptions, returning one for his lone career touchdown, and 13 pass break-ups.

Doggette's 2004 season was his best statistical ever. He set career-highs with 76 tackles and 29 pass break-ups, leading the AFL in both categories. His season pass break-ups was the fourth most all-time in AFL single-season history. His tackles was also a Rampage record and became the franchise leader in tackles (141.5) and pass break-ups (43). Doggette also became the all-time AFL career leader in pass break-ups on May 22, against the Carolina Cobras with 136 pass break-ups in his career. He finished the season by being named All-Arena and being named Defensive Player of the Game four times throughout the season.

In 2005, Doggette's last season with the Rampage, he totaled 29 tackles and nine pass break-ups.

Columbus Destroyers

Cecil Doggette played his final Arena Football League season with the Columbus Destroyers. He announced his retirement on May 1, coming into effect at the conclusion of the 2006 season. He finished the season second on the team in tackles (63) and pass break-ups (10), also grabbing an interception. In Doggette's final home game of his career, he set a season-high 14 tackles against the Tampa Bay Storm. In the final game of his career, Doggette totaled 6 tackles, one pass break-up, and a fumble recovery.

Legacy

Doggette finished his career as the all-time career Arena Football League leader in pass break-ups with 151, and added another 490 career tackles. He also had 19 career interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, and 9 fumble recoveries.