.gif)
Anthony Carter (football)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Carter 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 is also known as 'AC'.
s, 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 running 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 of it when the ball was thrown to him. Seven of his seventeen receptions were touchdown
s, 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, and the radio call by the legendary Bob Ufer
is also considered a classic. In that game, Lee Corso
's Indiana Hoosiers had tied it up with about a minute to go. At that time, college games could end in a tie, and Michigan had a 6-1 overall record, 4-0 in the Big Ten. While a tie was essentially as good as a win from Indiana's perspective, a tie was as good as a loss from Michigan's perspective. On the ensuing drive, Michigan was only able to get to the Indiana 45-yard line with time fast running out. Things looked grim, but with six seconds remaining, Carter told quarterback John Wangler in the huddle, "Hey, Johnny. Throw the ball to me. I'm going to be open." On the next play, Carter, sprinting left to right, met Wangler's pass in a seam over the middle at the Hoosier 25. He made a one-step cutback to his left to avoid one tackle and slipped another tackle at the 5-yard line before bounding into the endzone after time had expired.
By his sophomore year, Carter 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
. He was the third NCAA Division I FBS athlete to total 1000 career yards on both kick returns and punt returns. He holds the NCAA career record for highest average gain per play (Min. 5,000 yards, 275-374 plays, 5,197 on 298).
In 2001 Carter was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
.
His average of 17.4 yards-per-play was an NCAA
record.
, 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).
After the 1985 USFL 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 a then 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 642 all purpose yards he gained in the 1987 playoffs remain a single postseason record.
The following season, he caught 4 passes for 102 yards in a 28-17 wild card 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 289 yards and 2 touchdowns, returned 15 punts for 165 yards, and returned 4 kickoffs for 65 yards.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
. He finished his college career as the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
's all-time leading receiver, and played professionally for thirteen years in the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
and the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He is also known as 'AC'.
College career
Anthony "Snake" Carter played for Michigan from 1979-1982. Although the Wolverines employed an offense that relied mostly on its running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
s, 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
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
's running 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 of it when the ball was thrown to him. Seven of his seventeen receptions were touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, 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
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
history, and the radio call by the legendary Bob Ufer
Bob Ufer
Bob Ufer was the lead broadcaster for the Michigan Wolverines football team for 37 years, starting in 1944. He has been inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor.-Early years:...
is also considered a classic. In that game, Lee Corso
Lee Corso
Leland "Lee" Corso is a sports broadcaster and football analyst for ESPN. He has been featured on ESPN's College GameDay program since its inception and he appeared annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football through NCAA Football 11...
's Indiana Hoosiers had tied it up with about a minute to go. At that time, college games could end in a tie, and Michigan had a 6-1 overall record, 4-0 in the Big Ten. While a tie was essentially as good as a win from Indiana's perspective, a tie was as good as a loss from Michigan's perspective. On the ensuing drive, Michigan was only able to get to the Indiana 45-yard line with time fast running out. Things looked grim, but with six seconds remaining, Carter told quarterback John Wangler in the huddle, "Hey, Johnny. Throw the ball to me. I'm going to be open." On the next play, Carter, sprinting left to right, met Wangler's pass in a seam over the middle at the Hoosier 25. He made a one-step cutback to his left to avoid one tackle and slipped another tackle at the 5-yard line before bounding into the endzone after time had expired.
By his sophomore year, Carter was the Wolverines primary option at receiver. That season he became the first second-year player to be voted Michigan team Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. A three-time All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
, he was named Big Ten Conference MVP
Chicago Tribune Silver Football
The Chicago Tribune Silver Football is awarded by the Chicago Tribune to the college football player determined to be the best player from the Big Ten Conference. The award has been presented annually since 1924, when Red Grange of Illinois was the award's first recipient.The winner of the Silver...
his senior season, and finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
. He was the third NCAA Division I FBS athlete to total 1000 career yards on both kick returns and punt returns. He holds the NCAA career record for highest average gain per play (Min. 5,000 yards, 275-374 plays, 5,197 on 298).
In 2001 Carter was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
.
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 ThomasAnthony Thomas (American football)Anthony Jermaine Thomas is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the running backs coach at at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Thomas was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
with 55) - receptions: 161 (now ranks fourth; record held by Braylon EdwardsBraylon Edwards-Cleveland Browns:-2005:Edwards began his rookie season as Cleveland's third wide receiver – he would have started higher, but a hold-out caused him to miss the beginning of training camp. Early in the season Edwards revealed that he had a staph infection, and missed a few weeks as a result of it....
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 BreastonSteve BreastonSteven William Breaston is an American football wide receiver and punt returner for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
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
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
record.
Awards
- University of Michigan MVP: 1980, 1982
- Big Ten Conference MVPChicago Tribune Silver FootballThe Chicago Tribune Silver Football is awarded by the Chicago Tribune to the college football player determined to be the best player from the Big Ten Conference. The award has been presented annually since 1924, when Red Grange of Illinois was the award's first recipient.The winner of the Silver...
: 1982 - All-Big Ten: 1980, 1981, 1982
- All-American: 19801980 College Football All-America TeamThe 1980 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,...
, 19811981 College Football All-America TeamThe 1981 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,...
, 19821982 College Football All-America TeamThe 1982 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,... - Heisman Trophy voting: 1980—10th; 1981—7th; 1982—4th
Professional career
Upon graduating from college, Anthony Carter chose to play in the upstart USFLUnited States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
, 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
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982....
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
Bobby Hebert
Bobby Joseph Hebert Jr., is an American sportscaster who is best known as a retired Pro bowl American football quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. He played professionally in the USFL and NFL from 1983 to 1996 for the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons...
. 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
San Antonio Gunslingers
The San Antonio Gunslingers were a professional American football team based in San Antonio, Texas that played in the USFL in 1984 and 1985. Rick Neuheisel was the team's quarterback and only recognizable name. The team played in Alamo Stadium...
. Before the 1985 season the Panthers merged with the Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders was a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League from 1983 through 1985.-In reaction to the Raiders relocating to Los Angeles:...
. In his last USFL season, he led his team in receiving yards (1,323), receptions (70), and receiving touchdowns (14).
After the 1985 USFL season, Carter signed with the NFL's Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who drafted Carter back in 1983 in order to secure his NFL rights. However, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
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
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
in 1987 and 1988. In the 1987 season, Carter helped his team reach the NFC championship game by recording 10 receptions for a then 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
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the divisional playoff round. The 642 all purpose yards he gained in the 1987 playoffs remain a single postseason record.
The following season, he caught 4 passes for 102 yards in a 28-17 wild card round win over the Los Angeles Rams. Although Cris Carter
Cris Carter
Cristopher D. Carter is a former American football player in the National Football League. He played wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles , the Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins ....
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
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. 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 289 yards and 2 touchdowns, returned 15 punts for 165 yards, and returned 4 kickoffs for 65 yards.
Achievements and records
- Carter scored a touchdown in NFL games played on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday
- Carter holds the record for most all-purpose yards in a single postseason (1987): 642
- Carter holds the record for most punt return yards in a single postseason (1987): 221
Awards
- 1983 Sporting News All-USFL team (as a punt returner)
- 1985 Sporting News All-USFL team
- 1987 Second-team All-NFC
- 1988 Second-team All-NFC