Johnathan Cyprien

Johnathan Ken Cyprien (born July 29, 1990) is a former American football safety.

Cyprien received an athletic scholarship to attend Florida International University, where he played for the FIU Panthers football team from 2009 to 2012.

As a true freshman in 2009, he appeared in all 12 games and started seven.

He finished second on the team with 78 tackles, recorded one interception, three breakups and forced two fumbles, and earned all-conference honorable mention selection.

In 2010, he led the team with 113 tackles, the fourth-best single-season total in FIU history.

He also recorded three tackles for loss, one interception, six pass breakups, forced three fumbles, and recovered a fumble, and earned second-team all-conference honors.

As a junior in 2011, he started in all 13 games.

He recorded 81 tackles (third-highest on the team), along with 5.5 tackles for loss and a team-high eight passes broken up, which was tied for third all-time in a season in program history, and he earned second-team all-conference honors.

As a senior in 2012, he served as one of the team captains for 2012 and is widely regarded as the top safety to ever play at FIU.

Cyprien once again led the team in tackles in 2012 with 93, also recorded a team-high four interceptions, along with five pass breakups, 3.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble.

He started all 12 games in 2012, as well as every game the past three seasons (2010–12), and has started the most career games at safety at FIU (45), which is the third-most number of starts at any position for a Panther.

Set school record for total tackles (365), solo tackles (213) and fumbles forced (six).

He also ranks among the all-time best for pass breakups (second, 22), interceptions (fourth, 7), and fumbles recovered (fourth, 3).

Cyprien majored in physical therapy.

On December 14, 2012, it was announced that Cyprien had accepted an invitation to play in the 2013 Senior Bowl.

Throughout Senior Bowl practices, Cyprien impressed many scouts and analysts with his enthusiasm and aggressive style.

Cyprien became the fifth player drafted from FIU and the highest NFL draft pick in school history, a distinction previously held by T. Y. Hilton who was selected in the third round (92nd overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.

He played college football at FIU and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Cyprien has also played for the Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, and San Francisco 49ers.

Cyprien attended North Miami Beach High School in North Miami Beach, Florida.

He served as team captain as a senior and was also named to the Miami Herald All-Dade and District 12-6A first-team.

On January 26, 2013, Cyprien played in the Reese's Senior Bowl and recorded five combined tackles and was a part of Oakland Raiders' head coach Dennis Allen's North team that lost 21–16 to the South.

Cyprien was one of 60 collegiate defensive backs to attend the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.

He was unable to compete and perform any physical drills due to a shoulder and hamstring injury.

On March 7, 2013, he attended FIU's pro day and performed all of the combine and positional drills for scouts and team representatives from all 32 NFL teams.

His 18 reps in the bench press would've finished third among all defensive backs at the combine.

During the draft process, Cyprien had private workouts and meetings with over 12 NFL teams, including the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers, and Houston Texans.

At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Cyprien was projected by NFL draft experts and scouts to be a first or second round pick.

He was ranked the top strong safety prospect in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com, the second best safety by NFL draft analyst Josh Norris, the third best safety by Sports Illustrated, and was ranked the fourth best safety by NFL analyst Mike Mayock.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Cyprien in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft.

He was the fourth safety selected in 2013.

On June 18, 2013, the Jaguars signed Cyprien to a four-year, $5.46 million contract that includes $3.91 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.35 million.

Cyprien entered training camp slated as the starting strong safety after Dawan Landry departed for the New York Jets during free agency.

Although he suffered a hamstring injury, head coach Gus Bradley officially named him the starter to begin the regular season.

Cyprien made his first career start and professional regular-season debut in the season-opener against the Kansas City Chiefs and made three combined tackles during a 28–2 loss.

On September 22, 2013, Cyprien recorded seven combined tackles and made his first career sack on Seattle Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson as the Jaguars lost 45–17.

In Week 5, he collected a season-high 13 solo tackles in 34–20 loss at the St. Louis Rams.

On December 1, 2013, Cyprien collected ten combined tackles, deflected a pass, and made the first interception of his career off of Cleveland Browns' quarterback Brandon Weeden in a 32–28 victory.

His interception came in the second quarter as he picked off a pass intended for Jordan Cameron and returned it for 27 yards.

He missed a Week 15 matchup against the Buffalo Bills due to a hamstring injury.