In Play Magazine
In exchange for the Vikings' first round pick (30th overall) and fourth round pick (128th overall), Detroit gave Minnesota their 2010 second round pick (34th overall), fourth round pick (100th overall) and one of their seventh round picks (214th overall).
JAHVID BEST
Tailback/Return Specialist
University of California, Berkley Golden Bears
#4
5:10.1-199
Vallejo, California
Salesian High School
CAREER NOTES
-Best started 18-of-31 games at California, carrying the ball 364 times for 2,668 yards (7.33 ypc) and 29 touchdowns…
-Caught 62 passes for 533 yards (8.60 ypc) and six scores…Had 32 kickoff returns for 844 yards (26.38 avg)…
-Gained 4,045 all-purpose yards, an average of 130.48 yards per game…Leads all active NCAA players with a 7.33-yard rushing average…
-His 2,668 yards rushing rank seventh in school history behind Russell White (3,367, 1990-92), Marshawn Lynch (3,230, 2004-06), Justin Forsett (3,220, 2004-07), Joe Igber (3,124, 1999-02), Chuck Muncie (3,052, 1973-75), and Paul Jones (2,930, 1975, 77-79)…His 1,580 yards on the ground in 2008 rank second on Cal’s season-record chart, topped by J.J. Arrington (2,018 in 2004)…His 311 rushing yards vs. Washington in 2008 set a new school record, topping the previous mark of 283 yards by Jerry Drew vs. Oregon State in 1954…
-His 311 yards also rank fourth in Pac-10 Conference history…
-Best’s 29 touchdown runs tied Marshawn Lynch (2004-06) for third on the school’s career-record list, behind Russell White (35, 1990-92) and Chuck Muncie (32, 1973-75)…
-His fifteen touchdowns on the ground in 2008 tied the school season-record he shares with J.J. Arrington (2004) and Justin Forsett (2007)…
-His twelve touchdown runs in 2009 tied Jim Monachino (1949) for eighth on Cal’s annual record list…
-Ranks sixth in school annals with thirteen 100-yard rushing performances…His average of 8.14 yards per rushing attempt shattered the old school season-record…Best’s 4,045 all-purpose yards ranks fifth in school history behind Deltha O’Neal (4,998, 1996-99), Russell White (4,943, 1990-92), Marshawn Lynch (4,574, 2004-06), Chuck Muncie (4,194, 1973-75)…His 2,247 allpurpose yards in 2008 set a new school record…
-His career average of 26.38 yards per kickoff return topped the previous Cal all-time record of 25.3 yards per return by Isaac Curtis (1970-71).
2009 SEASON
-Honored by the College Football Performance Awards organization with the 2009 Elite Running Back Trophy…
-The award recognized Best as the top performer at the running back position based upon the 21 games in which he participated over the past two seasons…
-All-Pac-10Conference second-team selection by the league’s coaches and The NFL Draft Report…
-Named to the Watch Lists for the Doak Walker Award (top running back), Maxwell Award (player of the year), College Football Performance Awards Overall Performer of the Year and Running Back of the Year, and the Walter Camp Award (player of the year)…
-One of the top Heisman Trophy candidates entering the year according to Lindy’s, Phil Steele, National Champs.net, and Sports Network…
-Co-recipient of team’s Bear Backers Offensive MVP Award…Missed spring camp while recovering from left big toe and left elbow surgery performed in January…Started 8-of-9 games before being injured, carrying 141 times for 867 yards (6.15 ypc) and twelve touchdowns…
-His twelve scoring runs tied Jim Monachino (1949) for eighth on the school’s season-record list…Produced 36 first down runs on 141 attempts (25.53%), as he converted 3-of-11 third-down rushing attempts (27.27%)…Had 22 carries for at least ten yards (15.60%), including twelve for 20 yards or longer (8.51%)
-Produced fifteen positive runs inside the red zone, including twelve on goal line plays…
-Tackled for a loss twenty times and stopped for no gain on ten other carries…Had key rushed that set up sixteen touchdown drives…
-Caught 22 passes for 213 yards (9.68 ypc) and four touchdowns, adding 18 yards on one kickoff return…
-Seven of his 22 receptions (31.81%) produced first downs, including converting 2-of-6 third-down passes…
-Had eight receptions of at least ten yards, including three that went for 20 or more yards…
-Pulled down 22-of-33 passes thrown to him (66.67%)…
-Earned Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors vs. Minnesota and College Football Performance Awards Running Back of the Week honors vs. Maryland, Eastern Washington and Minnesota.
PERSONAL
General Studies major, with an emphasis towards Legal Studies…Son of Lisa and David Best…Full name is Jahvid Andre Best ...His name is a combination of Jah and the last syllable of his father's name, David…Born 1/30/89…Resides in Vallejo, California.
