GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Former University of Florida standout and current Cleveland Browns’ defensive back Joe Haden (Ft. Washington, Md.) has been named the National Football League’s Defensive Rookie of the Month for November, the league announced on Thursday.
Haden, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, led the Browns to a 2-2 record last month, recording 15 tackles, seven pass breakups, a rookie-best three interceptions and one special teams’ tackle. The Gator great became the first Browns’ rookie in over 50 years (former UF two-sport athlete Bernie Parrish, 1959), to pick off a pass in three-consecutive games, while becoming the first Cleveland player overall to accomplish the feat since Eric Turner in 1994. The 2010 consensus first-team All-America selection and first-team All-SEC pick at Florida has registered a team-best four interceptions during the 2010 campaign (tied for seventh in the NFL), and is the first Brown since the award was created in 1996 to be selected as NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month.
A 2009 Jim Thorpe Award finalist, Haden helped the Gator football team become the first program in FBS college football history to notch 13 wins in consecutive seasons (2008 and 2009), finishing his final collegiate season with a team-best four interceptions, 68 tackles (five for loss), three sacks, 10 pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. In 2007, Haden became the first true freshman in school history to start at cornerback on opening day, going on to start every game for the Orange and Blue until declaring for the NFL Draft.
Haden was the first Gator to win NFL Rookie of the Month honors since reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and 2010 Pro Bowler Percy Harvin (Virginia Beach, Va.) garnered the offensive award in November of last year as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
