WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (May 10, 2014) – Former William and Mary standout safety Jerome Couplin III has agreed to terms on free agent contract with the Detroit Lions.

Couplin joins a group of six former Tribe standouts who are currently on NFL rosters: Derek Cox (Minnesota Vikings), Jonathan Grimes (Houston Texans), Mike Leach (Arizona Cardinals), Sean Lissemore (San Diego Chargers), Adrian Tracy (Arizona Cardinals) and B.W. Webb (Dallas Cowboys).

One of the nation's elite defensive backs, Couplin earned first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press, the Sports Network and the Walter Camp Football Foundation as a senior. Additionally, the first-team all-conference selection was chosen as a finalist for the Buchanan Award, which honors the nation's best Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) defensive player each season.

Couplin, a team captain, led the Colonial Athletic Association and ranked 10th nationally with 5.8 solo tackles per game last fall. Additionally, the Upper Marlboro, Md., native ranked third in the CAA with 9.4 tackles per game – a figure that led the league among defensive backs.

In addition to leading the team with 113 tackles (70 solo), the two-time All-CAA honoree recorded two forced fumbles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, six PBU's and two forced fumbles. Couplin also returned a fumble 51 yards for a touchdown in the win at Delaware en route to earning CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors.

A three-year starter, Couplin finished his career with 257 total tackles (158 solo), five interceptions, 21 passes defended, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 4.5 tackles for a loss.