Dennis Gardeck

NoteCARDS:

• Originally signed by the Cardinals as a rookie free agent out of Sioux Falls in 2018 and played 30 games in his first two NFL seasons. 
• A special teams standout in his first two seasons, was named a Pro Bowl alternate on teams in 2019 after posting a team-high 10 tackles and a fumble recovery. In his first two NFL seasons, has 18 special teams tackles, three punt deflections, a fumble recovery on a fake punt and scored a TD on a blocked punt. 
• Led all NFL rookies with 388 total snaps on special teams in 2018, trailing only Jets WR Terrence Brooks (395). One of four rookies to appear in all 16 games for Arizona in 2018, joining Mason Cole, Chase Edmonds and Ezekiel Turner.
• Finished the 2018 season with eight special teams tackles and scored his first career TD in the season finale at Seattle when he recovered a blocked punt in the endzone. It was his first TD since his senior year at Crystal Lake (IL) South High School when he returned a fumble 80 yards for a TD.
• Named the Arizona Cardinals 2019 Salute to Service Award nominee.

NoteCARDS:

• Originally signed by the Cardinals as a rookie free agent out of Sioux Falls in 2018 and played 30 games in his first two NFL seasons. 
• A special teams standout in his first two seasons, was named a Pro Bowl alternate on teams in 2019 after posting a team-high 10 tackles and a fumble recovery. In his first two NFL seasons, has 18 special teams tackles, three punt deflections, a fumble recovery on a fake punt and scored a TD on a blocked punt. 
• Led all NFL rookies with 388 total snaps on special teams in 2018, trailing only Jets WR Terrence Brooks (395). One of four rookies to appear in all 16 games for Arizona in 2018, joining Mason Cole, Chase Edmonds and Ezekiel Turner.
• Finished the 2018 season with eight special teams tackles and scored his first career TD in the season finale at Seattle when he recovered a blocked punt in the endzone. It was his first TD since his senior year at Crystal Lake (IL) South High School when he returned a fumble 80 yards for a TD.
• Named the Arizona Cardinals 2019 Salute to Service Award nominee.

PRO CAREER:

Signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted rookie free agent on 4/30/18 and played 30 games during his first two NFL seasons.

2019: Named a Pro Bowl alternate as a special teamer after posting a team-high 10 tackles and a fumble recovery on special teams in 14 games ... added two tackles on defense and was inactive (ankle) for two games ... deflected a Lions punt that traveled just 11 yards with less than three minutes remaining in regulation to set up the Cardinals game-tying TD drive vs. Det (9/8); also had a special teams tackle against the Lions ... tallied two special teams tackles, one on punt coverage and another on kickoff team @ Bal (9/15) ... registered a career-high three special teams tackles and deflected a punt in the third quarter @ NYG (10/20) ... notched one special teams tackle @ NO (10/27) ... tallied a special teams tackle in punt coverage vs. SF (10/31) ... recovered a fumble that was forced on a fake punt at the Steelers 32-yard line, leading to a Cardinals TD three plays later in the fourth quarter vs. Pit (12/8); also notched one tackle on defense and two tackles on special teams against the Steelers ... notched two tackles on punt coverage and stopped S Nick Scott short of the first down marker on a fake punt attempt, which led to a Cardinals TD two players later @ LAR (12/29).

2018: Saw action in all 16 games, collected eight special teams tackles and led all NFL rookies with 388 special teams snaps … made his NFL debut on special teams in the season-opener vs. Was (9/9) … notched his first-career special teams tackle @ LAR (9/16) … tackled Rashaad Penny on a kickoff return vs. Sea (9/30) … tackled Marcus Sherels after a five-yard punt return following the Cardinals first possession of the game @ Min (10/14) … tallied two special teams tackles vs. SF (10/28) … dropped Tyreek Hill for a two-yard loss at the Chiefs 18-yard line on punt coverage @ KC (11/11) … recovered a loose ball in the Seattle end zone for his first-career TD after Cameron Malveaux blocked a punt at the Seahawks 25-yard line with 21 seconds left in the third quarter @ Sea (12/30); also tackled Tyler Lockett on a kickoff and deflected a punt that led to an Arizona TD earlier in the game.

COLLEGE:

Recorded 345 tackles, 32 sacks, 57.5 tackles for loss, nine forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one INT in three seasons at West Virginia State and one at Sioux Falls … played three seasons at WVSU before transferring to Sioux Falls in 2017 as a graduate transfer ... named to five Division II All-America teams as a senior in 2017 after leading the Cougars with 14 sacks, 75 tackles and 21 tackles for loss to go along with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery … selected as a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award (Small College Defensive Player of the Year) and nominated for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the DII Player of the Year in 2017, while earning first-team All-NSIC and NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors … as a junior at West Virginia State in 2016, named second-team All-Mountain East after collecting 111 tackles, three sacks, four forced fumbles and seven tackles for loss … named first-team All-Mountain East as a sophomore in 2015 after posting 102 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, eight passes defensed, three forced fumbles, an INT and a fumble recovery.

PERSONAL:

Attended Crystal Lake (IL) South High School where he earned All-Fox Valley Conference and All-Area honors as a senior linebacker ... also earned second-team all-conference honors as a defenseman in lacrosse … earned his degree from West Virginia State and is currently studying for a Masters of Business Administration degree.