JEFF BACKUS

​​Jeff Backus returned to his native Norcross High School after spending his freshman year at Marist and was a standout in football and baseball for the Blue Devils. Backus dominated with his 6-foot-5 frame and started on the offensive and defensive lines. He earned First-Team All-Gwinnett County as a junior and recorded 74 tackles and five sacks. As a senior, he garnered 1995 USA Today All-American honors and was an AJC First-Team All-State selection and the Gwinnett County TD Club Lineman of the Year. Backus redshirted at Michigan and made All-Big Ten First-Team or Second-Team all four seasons with the Wolverines. He started 49 consecutive games at left tackle—including the school’s perfect 12-0 season in 1997 that crowned them national champions. After college, Backus was selected in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions with the No. 18 overall pick. In 2011, Backus broke Hall of Fame cornerback Dick LeBeau's team record when he made his 172nd consecutive start. Backus ultimately set a franchise-record with 186 consecutive starts at left tackle. He spent his entire 12-year professional career starting for the Lions—missing just one game with a hamstring injury. That was the 2012 Thanksgiving Day game against Houston and Backus returned to start the remaining five games that year before announcing his retirement after the season.