Four-year NFL veteran Brandon Copeland, a stud defensive lineman on the Penn football team from 2009-12, recently signed with the New York Jets.
Copeland, a 6’3” 263-pound linebacker, last played for the Detroit Lions during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. He missed the 2017 season with a torn pectoral muscle.
“Too many different levels of excitement to put into words,” Copeland said after signing his contract. “Coming off of injured reserve, having to sit every Sunday, Monday, and Thursday and watching other people play, I’m first and foremost excited to get back to the game that I love.”
A three-time First-Team All-Ivy selection and Ivy League champion, Copeland finished his career at Penn with 160 tackles, 11 sacks, 26.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, a blocked kick, an interception, a safety, and a touchdown. During his senior year, he became the first solo captain of the Quakers since 1997.
Undrafted in 2012, Copland signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He was a player on the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad and for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League before joining the Lions. In 32 games with Detroit, he recorded 30 tackles, a half a sack, and one forced fumble.
Copeland is projected to have a prominent role on the Jets’ special teams.
