Kyle Dugger

Kyle Dugger was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (37th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Kyle Dugger was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (37th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2020

• Made his NFL debut, appearing as a reserve at safety and on special teams, in the season-opening win over Miami 9/13)
• Appeared as a reserve safety, making three tackles and assisting on two others in a loss at Seattle (9/20). He returned his first NFL kickoff 30 yards in the first quarter.
• Appeared as a reserve safety vs. Las Vegas (9/27) and played a major role in helping limit Raiders TE Darren Waller to two receptions for 9 yards. Made one tackle and returned a kickoff 17 yards in the fourth quarter.
• Appeared as a reserve at defensive back in a Week 4 loss at Kansas City. Recorded four total tackles. Combined to make five tackles, including four unassisted in a Week 6 loss vs. Denver (10/18). Denver QB Drew Lock was 0 of 7 on throws in the end zone, was in coverage for three of those attempts.
• Was inactive Week 7 vs. San Francisco (10/25) due to injury.

CAREER NOTES

• Appeared in just seven games as a senior in 2020 but was impactful enough to win the Cliff Harris Award, which is given to the best defensive player in NCAA Division II.
• Is the only player in school history to have two games with two punt returns for touchdowns.
• Finished as the school's all-time leader in punt-return yards.

COLLEGE

• Appeared in 42 games during his career at Lenoir-Rhyne and totaled 237 tackles, 10 interceptions, 36 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
• Also returned 67 punts for a school-record 929 yards and six touchdowns.
• Despite playing in just seven games due to injury as a senior in 2019, Dugger was impactful enough to win the Cliff Harris Award, given to the best defensive player in NCAA Division II. Was also named a D2Football.com First Team All-American while the AFCA and D2CCA awarded him Second Team All-American honors.
• Became the only player in Lenoir-Rhyne history to have two games with punt returns for touchdowns.
• Was named First Team All-South Atlantic Conference at both defensive back and return specialist as a junior in 2018.
• Named to the Second Team All-Conference as a redshirt sophomore in 2017.
• Earned a medical redshirt in 2016.
• Started 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2015 and led the team with six passes defensed, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Was named South Atlantic Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year.
• Redshirted as a freshman in 2014.

PERSONAL

• Attended Whitewater High School, where he lettered two years in both football and basketball.
• Recorded 80 tackles, three interceptions and five passes defensed. Earned First-Team All-County and All-County Honorable Mention honors in basketball.

EXTRA POINTS

• Kyle Dugger is the first Patriots player to be drafted out of Lenoir-Rhyne and with the 37th overall pick, he is also the highest drafted player ever from Lenoir Rhyne. He is also the highest drafted defensive back from a Division II school since S Danieal Manning was drafted by Chicago in 2006 in the second round out of Abilene Christian.
• Dugger won the 2019 Cliff Harris Award given to the best defensive player in NCAA Division II.