Germaine Pratt

A third-round draft choice of the Bengals in 2019, Pratt played in all 16 games as a rookie and saw an increased role on defense as the season progressed ... Began season as a reserve, before moving into starting role for the final eight games ... Ranked fifth on team with 72 tackles, despite seeing action on just 40 percent (436 of 1070) of possible defensive snaps ... Spent five seasons at N.C. State (2014-18), with a redshirt year in '16, and saw action in 50 career games ... Began college career at safety, before moving to linebacker during redshirt season in 2016 ... Led team in tackles (104) and earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2018, his first season as a starting LB.

A third-round draft choice of the Bengals in 2019, Pratt played in all 16 games as a rookie and saw an increased role on defense as the season progressed ... Began season as a reserve, before moving into starting role for the final eight games ... Ranked fifth on team with 72 tackles, despite seeing action on just 40 percent (436 of 1070) of possible defensive snaps ... Spent five seasons at N.C. State (2014-18), with a redshirt year in '16, and saw action in 50 career games ... Began college career at safety, before moving to linebacker during redshirt season in 2016 ... Led team in tackles (104) and earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2018, his first season as a starting LB.

Career transactions: Selected by Cincinnati in third round of 2019 NFL Draft (72nd overall) ... Signed with Bengals on 6-27-19.

2019 highlights: Played in all 16 games (nine starts) ... Began season in reserve role, before moving into starting role for the final eight games ... Ranked fifth on team with 72 tackles, despite seeing action on just 40 percent (436 of 1070) of possible defensive snaps ... Also a contributor on special teams, with four tackles ... Made NFL debut in Game 1 at Seattle, and had one tackle ... Made his first career start in Game 6 at Baltimore, lining up as third LB, and totaled five tackles ... Led team in tackles (eight) for first time in Game 13 at Cleveland ... Hit double-digit tackles for first time in Game 14 vs. New England ... Notched 11 tackles in Game 15 at Miami ... Recorded five tackles in season finale vs. Cleveland, and was part of defensive effort that held Browns RB Nick Chubb, who entered the game as the NFL's leading rusher (5.0 yards per carry, 99.6 yards per game), to just a 3.2-yard average and 41 total rushing yards.

College: Spent five seasons (2014-18) at North Carolina State, with a redshirt year in '16 ... Played in 50 career games, with 12 starts ... Totaled 235 career tackles, including 17.5 for losses and six sacks, with three INTs, 10 PBUs, five FFs and three FRs ... Spent his first two seasons (2014-15) as a reserve safety, before switching to linebacker for his final two seasons (2017-18) ... In 2018, his first season as a full-time starting LB, led team in tackles (104) despite missing two games and earned first-team All-ACC honors ... Team captain in 2018.

Personal: Hometown is High Point, N.C. ... Attended Central High School in High Point, where he played S and WR ... All-state selection at DB as a high school senior, and was named the Piedmont Triad 4A Conference's Defensive Player of the Year ... Graduated from N.C. State with degree in parks, recreation and tourism management.