Introduction
Jeff Badet (born August 2, 1994) is an American football wide receiver for the Dallas Renegades of the XFL. He played college football at Kentucky before transferring to Oklahoma to finish his collegiate career, and was signed by the Minnesota Vikings after going undrafted in 2018. He was drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 XFL Draft by the Dallas Renegades.
High school career
Badet attended Freedom High School in his home town of Orlando, Florida, playing for the school's football team as a wide receiver. He was ranked as a three-star recruit and as the nation's 127th receiver prospect by 247sports, committing to the University of Kentucky, rejecting other offers from colleges closer to his home, such as South Florida and FIU.
College career
In 2013, his freshman year, he saw limited action, appearing in eight games, totalling 22 receptions for 285 yards and one touchdown. Following a serious injury, Badet was medically redshirted for his second year, the 2014 collegiate season. In his sophomore season the year after, Badet played in eleven of the team's twelve games and compiled 29 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns, as the team's third leading receiver. His junior season was his most productive of his college career, appearing in all 13 games, with 31 catches for 670 yards and 4 touchdowns, leading the team in receiving yards. In the seventh game of the season, Badet had best statistical game of his career, with 7 receptions for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 40-38 victory over Mississippi State, his sole multi-touchdown collegiate game. In the offseason, Badet declined to declare for the NFL Draft and instead transferred to Oklahoma, crossing conferences into the Big 12. Badet was less statistically productive, totalling 26 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns, but the Sooners enjoyed team success, finishing with a 12-2 record behind Heisman Trophy-winning and eventual first overall pick Baker Mayfield, culminating with a 54-48 defeat in the Rose Bowl against Georgia. He served as a influencing presence on the field and locker room, and ran a 4.27 40-yard dash at Oklahoma's Pro Day.
Professional career
NFL
Badet declared for the 2018 NFL Draft, but was not selected by any of the league's 32 teams, and later signed as an undrafted free agent for the Minnesota Vikings. He appeared in all four of the team's preseason games, totalling 5 receptions for 34 yards. He was placed on the team's concussion protocol after the Week 1 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but returned to continue for the team's next three games. He was placed on the team's practice squad before the start of the season. In June 2019, he participated in the 40 Yards of Gold contest to determine the fastest player in the NFL, and was given a $25,000 check he determined to be worthless.
Badet re-signed with the Vikings and was given a $75,000 bonus to keep him away from the New York Jets, who were also pursuing him. He appeared in the team's four 2019 preseason games, seeing limited snaps, touching the ball just twice for 17 yards. Badet was hampered by a groin injury that forced him to miss several practices. He was cut by the Vikings before the start of the 2019 NFL season. In October 2019, he tried out for the Green Bay Packers, but failed to make the team.
XFL
Badet declared for the 2020 XFL Draft, impressing team scouts at the various combines and was selected as the fourth pick of the skills position phase by the Dallas Renegades. Renegades general manager and head coach Bob Stoops, who coached at Oklahoma before Badet's arrival in 2017, drafted him. Badet received attention for his unique helmet that featured Allen Iverson, Michael Jackson, and SpongeBob SquarePants. In his second game against the Los Angeles Wildcats, Badet caught six passes for 53 yards. Badet finished the season with 16 receptions for 108 yards.