Anthony Carter (American football)

Infobox NFLretired
name=Anthony Carter


caption=Anthony Carter signing autographs in 1993
position=Wide Receiver
number=81
birthdate=birth date and age|1960|9|17
Riviera Beach, Florida
debutyear=1985
finalyear=1995
draftyear=1983
draftround=12
draftpick=334
college=Michigan
teams=
* Minnesota Vikings (1985-1993)
* Detroit Lions (1994-1995)
stat1label=Receptions
stat1value=486
stat2label=Receiving Yards
stat2value=7,733
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=55
nfl=CAR612963
highlights=
* 3x Pro Bowl selection (1987, 1988, 1989)
* 2x All-Pro selection (1987, 1988)
CollegeHOF=80039

Anthony Carter (born September 17, 1960 in Riviera Beach, Florida) is a former American football wide receiver. He finished his college career as the University of Michigan's all-time leading receiver, and played professionally for thirteen years in the United States Football League and the National Football League. He was also known as 'AC'.

College career

Carter played for Michigan from 1979-1982. Although the Wolverines employed an offense that relied mostly on its running backs, he was one of the most productive receivers in the school's history. Standing five feet, eleven inches tall and weighing only 160 lbs., Carter relied on his speed to make plays, and provided an effective counterpoint to coach Bo Schembechler's slow-and-steady game plan. In addition to his duties as a receiver, he was also the team's kickoff and punt returner for most of his career.

During his freshman season Carter was used sparingly. He caught more than two passes in a game only once that season, but made the most it when the ball was thrown to him. Seven of his seventeen receptions were touchdowns, and he averaged 27.2 yards per catch. His 45-yard TD catch and run against Indiana as time ran out to give Michigan a 27-21 victory is considered one of the greatest plays in Michigan football history.

By his sophomore year he was the Wolverines primary option at receiver. That season he became the first second-year player to be voted Michigan team Most Valuable Player. A three-time All-American, he was named Big Ten Conference MVP his senior season, and finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

In 2001 Carter was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Records

When he graduated, Carter held nearly every Michigan career receiving and return record. He was the schools's all time leader in:

* touchdowns: 40 (now ranks fifth; record held by Anthony Thomas with 56)
* receptions: 161 (now ranks fourth; record held by Braylon Edwards with 252)
* receiving yards: 3,076 (now ranks second; record held by Braylon Edwards with 3,541)
* touchdown receptions: 37 (now ranks second; record held by Braylon Edwards with 39)
* punt returns: 79 (now ranks second; record held by Steve Breaston with 127)
* punt return yardage: 907 (now ranks second; record held by Steve Breaston with 1,599)
* kickoff returns: 63 (now ranks second; record held by Steve Breaston with 81)
* kickoff return yardage: 1,606 (now ranks second; record held by Steve Breaston with 1,993)

His average of 17.4 yards-per-play was an NCAA record.

Awards

*University of Michigan MVP: 1980, 1982
*Big Ten Conference MVP: 1982
*All-Big Ten: 1980, 1981, 1982
*All-American: 1980, 1981, 1982
*Heisman Trophy voting: 1980, 10th; 1981, 7th; 1982, 4th

Professional career

Upon graduating from college, Anthony Carter chose to play in the upstart USFL, rather than in the NFL. The league employed a territorial draft, aimed at sending players to teams whose fans were already familiar with them. Because of this unique system, the Michigan Panthers were allowed to select Carter prior to the league's traditional draft.

1983 was Carter's first season with the Panthers and one of his most successful as a professional. Although the team started 1-4, they finished the regular season 12-6 and went on to defeat the Philadelphia Stars to win the first USFL championship. With his team behind late in the fourth quarter, he scored the game-winning touchdown on a 48 yard pass from Bobby Hebert. He finished the game with nine receptions for 179 yards. For the season, he gained 1,081 yards on 60 catches, nine of them touchdowns.

Carter's 1984 season was cut short after only six games when his arm was broken in a game against the San Antonio Gunslingers. Before the 1985 season the Panthers merged with the Oakland Invaders. In his last USFL season, he led his team in receiving yards (1,323), receptions (70), and receiving touchdowns (14).

When the USFL folded after the 1985 season, Carter signed with the NFL's Miami Dolphins, who drafted Carter back in 1983 in order to secure his NFL rights. However, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings before playing a game with the team. He led the Vikings in receptions five of his first six seasons with the team, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1987 and 1988. In the 1987 season, Carter helped his team reach the NFC championship game by recording 10 receptions for an NFL playoff record 227 yards, along with 1 carry for 30 yards in the Vikings 36-24 upset win over the 13-2 San Francisco 49ers in the divisional playoff round. The following season, he caught 4 passes for 102 yards in a 28-17 divisional round win over the Los Angeles Rams. Although Cris Carter became the team's number one receiver in 1991, Anthony Carter remained an effective offensive weapon through 1993, his final season with the team.

The final two years of Carter's pro career were spent in the same state where it began, this time with the Detroit Lions. Most of his time with the Lions was spent attempting to come back from injury. He played in only four games in 1994, and failed to catch a pass in 1995.

Carter finished his 11 NFL seasons with 486 receptions for 7,733 yards and 55 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1289 yards and 2 touchdowns, returned 15 punts for 165 yards, and returned 4 kickoffs for 65 yards.

Awards

*1983 Sporting News All-USFL team (as a punt returner)
*NFL All-Pro - 1987, 1988

References

* [http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=80039 College Football Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.collegefootballnews.com/Top_100_Players/Top_100_Players_56_Anthony_Carter.htm CollegeFootballNews.com]
* [http://www.umich.edu/~bhl/athdept/football/fballam/aacarter.htm University of Michigan Athletics]
* [http://www.oursportscentral.com/usfl/index.php The USFL at oursportscentral.com]

External links

* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/CartAn00.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com] - NFL statistics