Derek Carr (American football)
Encyclopedia
Derek Dallas Carr is an American football
quarterback
for the Fresno State Bulldogs
. He is the younger brother of former number one overall pick
David Carr
.
, the youngest of three children, to Rodger and Sheryl Carr. He and his family relocated to Sugar Land
, Texas
in 2002 when his oldest brother, David Carr
, became the first overall draft pick of the then-expansion Houston Texans
.Carr and his family moved back to Bakersfield, California for his senior year and he attended Bakersfield Christian High School.
in Sugar Land
, Texas
. After playing on the freshman team his first year, he became a back-up quarterback on the varsity team as a sophomore. He didn't prepare himself to become the starting quarterback, but a preseason injury to another quarterback thrust him into the role.
Carr made gradual progress as a starter with Clements High School. He passed for 1,246 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore, and 1,622 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior. While a junior, Carr led his team to an undefeated 13-0 season (playoffs included) before losing in the quarterfinals of the 2007 Class 5A Division 2 State playoffs in Region 3 to the (also undefeated) Katy High School Tigers
, the eventual champions. Also during his junior year, Carr was heavily recruited. His college choices included Fresno State
, SMU
, Boise State, the University of Southern California
, UCLA, and Utah
. Of these schools, only Fresno State, SMU, and Utah made a scholarship offer towards Carr. Ultimately, he verbally committed to Fresno State on May 25, 2008, at the end of his junior year. Carr was the program's first recruit of the 2009 class.
Meanwhile, in February 2008, Bakersfield Christian High School
athletic director and ex-NFL player Doug Barnett
confirmed that Carr would transfer to BCHS, amid rumors that he would've gone to nearby Stockdale High School or Bakersfield High School
, two schools with historically good football programs. Ironically, Derek Carr passed on Stockdale High School, the same school where his older brother not only went to for four years, but was even voted "Most Likely to Become Famous".
As a senior, Carr lead the Eagles football team to a 12-1 record and the Division V championship; the only blemish came at home against Oaks Christian High School
, a national football powerhouse, during the team's season opener. On October 29, 2008, Carr was selected by ESPN RISE as the National Football Player of the Week after passing for 441 yards and three touchdowns in a game against Tehachapi High School
five days earlier. Carr would eventually set a Central Section
record by throwing an unprecedented 544 yards in a win against Arvin High School
on November 7, 2008. Carr was also selected by The Bakersfield Californian
as the 2008 All-Area Football Player of the Year. After his high school football career finished, Carr was named the National Player of the Year by the National Private Schools Athletic Association in 2009.
Fresno State head coach Pat Hill stated that Carr, a true freshman, was "in the mix" for the starting quarterback position as late as mid-July. However, days before the 2009 season began in September, Hill announced the junior Ryan Colburn would start over Carr. After red-shirting his 2010 season, Carr is ready to take over the starting QB position for Fresno State in the fall of 2011.
Carr wears the number 4 as an homage to his favorite NFL player, Brett Favre
.
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Fresno State Bulldogs
Fresno State Bulldogs
The Fresno State Bulldogs represent California State University, Fresno in 19 NCAA Division I sports. The teams have been members of the Western Athletic Conference since 1992. Before that, it had been a member of the Big West Conference since 1969...
. He is the younger brother of former number one overall pick
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
David Carr
David Carr
David Duke Carr is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans first overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
.
Biography
Carr was born in Fresno, CaliforniaFresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, the youngest of three children, to Rodger and Sheryl Carr. He and his family relocated to Sugar Land
Sugar Land, Texas
Sugar Land is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area and Fort Bend County. Sugar Land is one of the most affluent and fastest-growing cities in Texas, having grown more than 158 percent in the last decade. In the time period of 2000–2007, Sugar Land also enjoyed a...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 2002 when his oldest brother, David Carr
David Carr
David Duke Carr is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans first overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
, became the first overall draft pick of the then-expansion Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.Carr and his family moved back to Bakersfield, California for his senior year and he attended Bakersfield Christian High School.
High school
Carr's high school football career began at Clements High SchoolClements High School
William P. Clements High School, more commonly known as Clements High School, is a public high school in First Colony and in Sugar Land within the U.S. state of Texas that is named after former Texas governor Bill Clements, and is a part of the Fort Bend Independent School District...
in Sugar Land
Sugar Land, Texas
Sugar Land is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area and Fort Bend County. Sugar Land is one of the most affluent and fastest-growing cities in Texas, having grown more than 158 percent in the last decade. In the time period of 2000–2007, Sugar Land also enjoyed a...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. After playing on the freshman team his first year, he became a back-up quarterback on the varsity team as a sophomore. He didn't prepare himself to become the starting quarterback, but a preseason injury to another quarterback thrust him into the role.
Carr made gradual progress as a starter with Clements High School. He passed for 1,246 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore, and 1,622 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior. While a junior, Carr led his team to an undefeated 13-0 season (playoffs included) before losing in the quarterfinals of the 2007 Class 5A Division 2 State playoffs in Region 3 to the (also undefeated) Katy High School Tigers
Katy High School
Katy High School is a high school located in Katy, Texas, United States and serves grades 9 through 12. It is a part of the Katy Independent School District...
, the eventual champions. Also during his junior year, Carr was heavily recruited. His college choices included Fresno State
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
, SMU
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, Boise State, the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, UCLA, and Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. Of these schools, only Fresno State, SMU, and Utah made a scholarship offer towards Carr. Ultimately, he verbally committed to Fresno State on May 25, 2008, at the end of his junior year. Carr was the program's first recruit of the 2009 class.
Meanwhile, in February 2008, Bakersfield Christian High School
Bakersfield Christian High School
Bakersfield Christian High School is a private, non-denominational Christian senior high school located in Bakersfield, California. In the past several years, the school has grown...
athletic director and ex-NFL player Doug Barnett
Doug Barnett
Douglas Shirl Barnett, Jr. is a former American football center in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Azusa Pacific University.Currently, Barnett is the athletic director for Bakersfield Christian...
confirmed that Carr would transfer to BCHS, amid rumors that he would've gone to nearby Stockdale High School or Bakersfield High School
Bakersfield High School
]Bakersfield High School is a high school located in Bakersfield, California, USA.Institutional names and dates of operation:*Kern County High School 1893-1915*Kern County Union High School 1915-1945*Bakersfield High School 1945–present...
, two schools with historically good football programs. Ironically, Derek Carr passed on Stockdale High School, the same school where his older brother not only went to for four years, but was even voted "Most Likely to Become Famous".
As a senior, Carr lead the Eagles football team to a 12-1 record and the Division V championship; the only blemish came at home against Oaks Christian High School
Oaks Christian High School
Oaks Christian High School is a private non-denominational Christian college-preparatory school located on in Westlake Village, California. Oaks Christian is one of several high schools located within the city limits of Westlake Village. The school colors are Cardinal Red and Vegas Gold and the...
, a national football powerhouse, during the team's season opener. On October 29, 2008, Carr was selected by ESPN RISE as the National Football Player of the Week after passing for 441 yards and three touchdowns in a game against Tehachapi High School
Tehachapi High School
Tehachapi High School is the single comprehensive high school serving students in grades 9-12 in the Tehachapi, California area, a mountain pass region between Bakersfield in California's central valley and Lancaster/Palmdale in the high desert...
five days earlier. Carr would eventually set a Central Section
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
record by throwing an unprecedented 544 yards in a win against Arvin High School
Arvin High School
Arvin High School is located in Arvin, Kern County, California, USA and is part of the Kern High School District.Arvin High School was established in 1949, and is located in the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley. Arvin High serves approximately 2,650 students in grades 9-12. The School is...
on November 7, 2008. Carr was also selected by The Bakersfield Californian
The Bakersfield Californian
The Bakersfield Californian is the daily newspaper serving Bakersfield, California and surrounding Kern County in the state's San Joaquin Valley.-History:...
as the 2008 All-Area Football Player of the Year. After his high school football career finished, Carr was named the National Player of the Year by the National Private Schools Athletic Association in 2009.
College
Carr enrolled as an early-entry freshman for the spring semester at Fresno State in 2009 so he could participate in spring football with the Bulldogs.Fresno State head coach Pat Hill stated that Carr, a true freshman, was "in the mix" for the starting quarterback position as late as mid-July. However, days before the 2009 season began in September, Hill announced the junior Ryan Colburn would start over Carr. After red-shirting his 2010 season, Carr is ready to take over the starting QB position for Fresno State in the fall of 2011.
Carr wears the number 4 as an homage to his favorite NFL player, Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
.
High school
| Year | Team | |||||||||
| 2006 | Clements (TX) | |||||||||
| 2007 | Clements (TX) | |||||||||
| 2008 | Bakersfield Christian (CA) | |||||||||
| Career | ||||||||||
| 3 Years | ||||||||||