J . J . Arrington Johnathan Jerone Arrington ( born January 23 , 1983 ) is a former American football running back . He played college football at College of the Canyons and the University of California , Berkeley , and received All - American recognition . The Arizona Cardinals selected him in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft , and he is currently a free agent . He also played for the Denver Broncos , and had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL . Early years . Arrington was born in Nashville , North Carolina . He attended Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount , North Carolina , and was a letterman in football as a tailback . In football , he was a three - year varsity starter and a two - time All - Conference selection . He was also named his team ' s Most Valuable Player , and the Area Offensive Player of the Year as a senior . College career . Arrington was sent to College of the Canyons by East Carolina University with the intent that he would play for the Pirates in two years . As a sophomore at College of the Canyons , he won All Region III honors ( which is selected by the California Community College Football Coaches Association and the Junior College Athletic Bureau ) and had 135 rushing attempts for 769 yards ( 5 . 7 yards per rushing attempt average ) , and caught 30 passes for 320 yards ( 10 . 67 yards per reception average ) . His 19 touchdowns that season , and 29 career touchdowns , were both school records . Arrington transferred to University of California , Berkeley as a junior , and played for the California Golden Bears football team in 2003 and 2004 . Arrington would receive few carries for most of the 2003 season aside from his 114 yard performance against Southern Mississippi . A knee injury to then starting running back Adimchinobi Echemandu would thrust Arrington into the starting role against the Washington Huskies . This proved to be his breakout game as he mauled the Huskies defense for 185 yards and a touchdown . It took him only 14 carries to achieve this feat . In the first half managed to tally 157 yards on ten carries . He also caught a 30 - yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers giving him a total of 215 yards on the day . Despite his performance , he would receive limited carries the rest of the 2003 season . He did play a pivotal role in the Insight Bowl by catching five passes for 38 yards , including a 13 - yard touchdown pass that would reduce Virginia Tech ' s lead to only 28 - 21 at halftime . Cal would ultimately prevail 52 - 49 on a game - winning field goal . The 2004 season would see Arrington earn the starting tailback spot after the departure of Echemandu for the NFL . Arrington played a major role in the Cal Bears ' first 10 - win season since 1949 . He would rush for at least 100 yards in every single game that season . Arrington rushed for 169 yards or more in eight of his team ' s 12 games as well . Ultimately Arrington would have one of the greatest seasons of any running back in NCAA and Pac - 10 history , gaining 2 , 018 rushing yards that season . He became only the second Pac - 10 Tailback to gain over 2000 yards , joining USC tailback Marcus Allen . His mark is also the tenth best total in NCAA history . He would receive the honor of the Pop Warner Award , deeming him the best College Football player on the west coast . He would also earn All - American and All - Pacific Ten conference honors . Ultimately , the season would end in disappointment . Despite a stellar 10 - 1 record , they Bears were bypassed for a BCS Bowl bid by The University of Texas . As a result , they played in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl against a 7 - 4 Texas Tech squad , where Cal was upset by a score of 45 - 31 , a disappointing end to Arrington ' s college career . In addition , Arrington was not even invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony ( a distinction afforded the top three to five likely winners ) despite having a better statistical year ( 15 TDs , 2018 yards rushing , 6 . 98 yards per carry ) than the number 2 vote - getter , Adrian Peterson ( 15 TDs , 1925 yards rushing , 5 . 68 yards per carry ) . Professional career . Arizona Cardinals . After drafting him in the second round , the Cardinals placed him as the starting running back on the depth chart , with the intention of having him share carries with Marcel Shipp . He started the first game against the New York Giants gaining 5 yards on 8 carries ( 0 . 625 average ) . After this poor showing in his first game , he didn ' t play a snap the second game of the season against the St . Louis Rams . By the end of the season he had played 15 games with 5 starts , gaining 370 yards on 112 carries ( 3 . 3 average ) and 2 touchdowns . That following offseason the Cardinals signed Edgerrin James . The Cardinals ' drafting of Tim Hightower in 2008 resulted in Arrington being shifted to third place on the depth chart at running back . He became the team ' s principal kick returner and in Super Bowl XLIII caught 2 passes for 35 yards . Denver Broncos . Arrington signed with the Denver Broncos on March 4 , 2009 . He was released on May 27 , 2009 after failing his physical . It was determined that Arrington would need season - ending microfracture surgery on his right knee , following surgery to the same knee in February . He was re - signed on March 4 , 2010 . Philadelphia Eagles . Arrington was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for linebacker Joe Mays on July 30 , 2010 . He was waived on September 3 . Due to Arrington being released prior to the start of the season , the Eagles received a 2012 sixth - round draft pick from the Broncos . Las Vegas Locomotives . Before the 2011 season , Arrington signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League .