page_title: Jahvid Best
section_title: 2009
hierarchical_section_title: Jahvid Best / College career / 2009
caption_attribution_description: Cal running back Jahvid Best signs autographs for fans prior to the start of the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl between the California Golden Bears and the Utah Utes. Best did not play in the game. The Utes won 37-27.
context_page_description: Jahvid Andre Best is an Olympic track and field athlete and a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at California, setting several school records, including most all-purpose yards in a single season and most rushing yards in a single game. Best also led the Pac-10 in total rushing yards in 2008. Best competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics, representing Saint Lucia in track and field.
context_section_description: On January 15, 2009 Best underwent surgery to tighten a ligament that had been injured when he dislocated his left elbow against Colorado State on September 27, 2008. This was followed up by foot surgery on January 23 to relieve irritation that was caused when Best bruised his foot halfway through the 2008 season. He missed spring football practice as a result. Best was named as the most explosive player in college football by Rivals.com in February 2009. In early June Best was able to participate in team summer workouts without pain. Entering his junior year, Best's breakout sophomore year caused early speculation of him being a future Heisman candidate and top running back prospect.
  In Cal's season opener against Maryland, Best rushed for 137 yards and had two rushing touchdowns in the Bears' 52-13 victory. On September 12 against Eastern Washington, he rushed for 144 yards and one touchdown, and had one 22 yard receiving touchdown. On September 19 against Minnesota he ran for 131 yards and all of Cal's five touchdowns in the victory, a personal best and a modern school record. He was named Pac-10 Player of the Week and Rivals.com National Player of the Week. However, the next week Best was held to 55 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 16 carries against the Oregon Ducks. The following week, he was held to 48 yards on 15 carries against the #7 Trojans, also unable to find the end zone. On October 17, Best recorded both his longest run and longest reception against UCLA in California's 45-26 victory over the Bruins.
  Best was injured during the second quarter of Cal's November 7 matchup against Oregon State. In the process of scoring a rushing touchdown, he hurdled a defender into the end zone and was pushed by a second Oregon State defender in mid-air, causing him to land on the back of his head with his helmet coming off.  The play resulted in a concussion for Best. After a 13-minute game delay, Best was taken off the field on a stretcher to the Highland General Hospital in Oakland. This was his second concussion in two weeks, following a mild concussion received the previous week against Arizona State. He was released the next day. and did not play the following week's game against Arizona, although he appeared as an honorary team captain. Best missed the rest of the regular season. On December 16, head coach Jeff Tedford announced that Best would not play in the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl, stating that "'to get him back in game-ready form I don't feel like that's something that we can get done to have him ready to play.'" Best announced on January 2, 2010 that he was foregoing his senior year and enter the NFL draft.
caption: Best at the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl.
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