Getting to Know the 2012 Steelers: WR Jerricho Cotchery

PRO (116-65/10-5): Signed a one-year contract with the Steelers on August 11, 2011…released by the New York Jets on August 4, 2011…re-signed with the Jets on March 1, 2007…originally drafted by the Jets in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft…has 358 receptions for 4,514 yards and 18 touchdowns…has 54 punt returns for 484 yards (9.0 avg.) and 23 kickoff returns for 538 yards (23.4 avg.)…has 79 career rushing yards…has 10 career 100-yard receiving games, two of which came in the postseason…has 29 career special teams tackles…postseason numbers include 30 receptions for 440 yards and two touchdowns…the 30 receptions are a Jets’ team record for most postseason receptions.

2011 (13-0/1-0): 9/11 at Baltimore: Was inactive due to a hamstring injury…9/18 vs. Seattle: Was inactive due to a hamstring injury…9/25 at Indianapolis: Was inactive…10/2 at Houston: Played in his first game of the season and as a member of the Steelers at WR…10/9 vs. Tennessee: Saw action at WR…played in his 105th career game…10/16 vs. Jacksonville: Saw action at WR and on special teams…10/23 at Arizona: Saw action at WR and on special teams…10/30/11 vs. New England: Saw action at WR and on special teams…caught his first pass as a Steeler, a 10-yarder from QB Ben Roethlisberger…11/6/11 vs. Baltimore: Saw action at WR and on special teams…caught a season-high three passes for a season-high 44 yards, both of which are career highs as a member of the Steelers…added one rush for three yards…11/13 at Cincinnati: Saw action at WR and on special teams in his 110th career game…finished with two receptions for 29 yards and one touchdown…hauled in a 16-yard touchdown from Roethlisberger on the Steelers’ opening drive, his first touchdown as a Steeler…11/27 at Kansas City: Saw action at WR and on special teams…12/4 vs. Cincinnati: Saw action at WR and on special teams…12/8 vs. Cleveland: Had two receptions for 33 yards and one touchdown, his second touchdown as a Steeler, and 20th of his career…12/19 at San Francisco: Totaled a team-high 93 yards on five receptions (18.6 avg.), the most receptions and receiving yards as a Steeler…recorded a 36-yard reception, his longest with the team…12/24 vs. St. Louis: Saw action at WR but did not record a catch…1/1 at Cleveland: Saw action at WR and on special teams…had three receptions for 28 yards…added one kickoff return for 19 yards…AFC Wild Card 1/8 at Denver: Had a 31-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter to tie the game 23-23.

2010 (14-5/3-1): Played in 14 games with five starts…had 41 receptions for 443 yards and two touchdowns…had 66 punt return yards…added 12 receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown in the postseason…became the Jets’ all-time leader in postseason receptions (30).

2009 (14-12/3-3): Saw action in 14 games with 12 starts…led the team in receptions (57) and receiving yards (821) for the third consecutive season…had three receiving touchdowns…added his first career rushing touchdown…added a career-best 236 punt return yards (10.3 avg.)…started all three postseason contests…led the team in receptions (14) and receiving yards (194).

2008 (16-16/0-0): Started all 16 games at WR…led the team in receptions (71) and receiving yards (858) for the second consecutive season…added five receiving touchdowns…posted his first career multi-touchdown game.

COLLEGE: Broke school records in career receptions (200) and 100-yard receiving games (15)…finished second in school history in receiving yards (3,119) and touchdown catches (21)…ranks second in school history for receptions in a season (86) and receiving yards in a season (1,369)…ranks second all-time in the ACC for career 100-yard receiving games and second in career receiving yards…one of only two receivers in ACC history to have 200+ receptions and more than 3,000 receiving yards…a two-time all-ACC first-team selection…majored in sport management.

PERSONAL: Attended Phillips High School (Birmingham, Ala.)…played both sides of the ball as a senior…caught 39 passes for 1,008 yards as a senior…added five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown as a senior…also lettered four times in basketball…established the Cotchery Foundation in 2007…the organization aims to “Inspire children to conceive and achieve goals by providing programs and services designed to enhance their futures.”…son of Bob and Katie Cotchery…Full name: Jerricho Cotchery.

His Role with the Steelers in 2012: It was a good move for the Steelers to bring back Cotchery, as it was a nothing to lose move with him back on the roster after a solid first season with the black and gold.  With Hines Ward retired, Cotchery could move into the role of the third-down possession WR, a spot that the Steelers will need in 2012.  Last season as the year went along, Cotchery and Ben Roethlisberger got on the same page, and it showed with the huge TD catch that tied the game in the AFC Wild Card game in Denver.  Expect solid numbers form Jerricho in 2012, not spectacular, but solid numbers.