Not every former Hog in the NFL was born and raised an Arkansan and spent four years in Fayetteville. Some joined Razorback nation through a transfer whether from another Division I institution or even a junior college. Former Arkansas defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter arrived on campus via the latter route, spending two years in a Razorback uniform. Today, he’s a key contributor on the Detroit Lions’ defensive line.

Selected by the Lions with the 205th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Ledbetter agreed to a four-year, $2.54 million deal with a signing bonus of $144,160. He managed only two tackles and a pass deflection in preseason action. While he didn’t enjoy a breakout year, Ledbetter still managed to make an impact as a rookie, appearing in all 16 games and putting up 14 total tackles and half a sack.



The son and cousin of former NFL players, Ledbetter moved from Orlando (Fla.) to Gainesville (Ga.) High School. As the team’s nose guard, helped anchor a defense that led the school to a 12-2 record and a regional title. Not only skilled on the gridiron, Ledbetter played basketball and baseball as well in high school.



Taking the junior college route, Ledbetter started his collegiate career at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, redshirting his first season. As a redshirt freshman, he logged the second-most tackles on the team with 73, adding 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks. After receiving first team all-conference honors in 2013, Ledbetter built on his numbers, totaling 78 tackles and 24.5 tackles for loss as a senior, bringing his career JUCO stats to 144 tackles and 22.5 career sacks (second in Hutchinson history). A second team NJCAA All-American and first team all-conference nominee, Ledbetter received major offers from Florida, Georgia, Miami and Oklahoma State, as well as Arkansas. The No. 18 player in junior college and the No. 2 JUCO defensive tackle according to 247Sports, Ledbetter went with the Razorbacks.



Like all coaches hope, Ledbetter was an immediate impact player out of junior college, starting 12 of 13 games in his first year on the Hill. He tallied the fourth-most tackles (55), tackles for loss (7.5) and tied for third on Arkansas in sacks (2).



Ledbetter had a monster year as an Arkansas senior, leading the team in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (7.5). He recorded the highest number of tackles among Razorback defensive linemen with 49, while also notching two pass breakups and a forced fumble against TCU. In his final game against Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl, Ledbetter tied his career high for tackles for loss and sacks with 2.5 and 1.5, respectively. Starting every game but one, he finished his two years with 104 total tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, receiving an invite to both the East-West Shrine Game and the NFL Combine.



Currently, Ledbetter is under contract with Detroit through the 2020 season when he’ll become an unrestricted free agent. He sits at second string defensive tackle behind Sylvester Williams and former Alabama lineman A’Shawn Robinson. According to a previous article on 247Sports, other than the two starting spots, “what happens beyond that is anyone’s guess” and Ledbetter “could be expected to take a step forward.” Ledbetter and the Lions kick off the 2018 campaign against the New York Jets on Monday, September 10 at 6:10 pm (CT) on ESPN.

