Quan Sturdivant
Encyclopedia
Quan Sturdivant is an American football
linebacker
for the Arizona Cardinals
of the NFL
. He played as a middle linebacker
for the University of North Carolina
Tar Heels
. He was considered one of the top linebackers in the Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC). Sturdivant was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft
by the Arizona Cardinals at pick number 171.
, U.S. to Marcella Sturdivant. He attended West Stanly High School, where he played mostly as a quarterback
, but also as a safety. As a senior in 2006, he completed 99 out of 179 pass
attempts for 1,794 yards and 21 touchdown
s, and made 111 rushing
attempts for 745 yards. He also recorded 12 tackle
s, two broken-up passes, and one interception. He was a three-time all-conference and two-time all-state player, and was named the conference's 2006 offensive player of the year. In 2006, he was named a Charlotte Observer high school player of the week for recording 305 yards, four touchdowns, and 11 tackles in a game. Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming named Sturdivant to his All-Southeast Team. He participated in the 2006 Shrine Bowl as a quarterback. He received scholarship offers
from Duke
, Florida
, NC State
, North Carolina
, and South Carolina
. Sturdivant originally committed to Florida, but a week later reversed course and committed to North Carolina.
, Sturdivant saw action in all 12 games as a linebacker
including five start
s. He also played a role on special teams. Sturdivant also recorded 47 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, one quarterback sack
, one interception, and one blocked punt. In 2008
, Sturdivant played in all 13 games and recorded 122 tackles including 87 solo, two sacks, one forced fumble
, and two interceptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. Sports Illustrated
named him an honorable mention All-American. For the 2009 season
, Sturdivant was moved from weakside to middle linebacker, in order to replace Mark Paschal who graduated. He was moved back to the weakside, however, to recapture his success from the previous year. Scout.com
included him among its 120 Players You Need to Know feature series, and said of him, "In just two seasons ... he has developed into one of the top young linebackers in the ACC."
On July 10, 2010, Sturdivant was cited for simple possession of marijuana during a traffic stop.
During the 2010 season
, Sturdivant played in the first three games and amassed 27 tackles before suffering a hamstring injury at Rutgers
, which forced him to miss several games.
by the Arizona Cardinals
.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL
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 played as a middle linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
Tar Heels
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
. He was considered one of the top linebackers in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC). Sturdivant was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
by the Arizona Cardinals at pick number 171.
Early life
He was born on December 5, 1988 in Oakboro, North CarolinaOakboro, North Carolina
Oakboro is a town in Stanly County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,198 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Oakboro is located at ....
, U.S. to Marcella Sturdivant. He attended West Stanly High School, where he played mostly as a 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...
, but also as a safety. As a senior in 2006, he completed 99 out of 179 pass
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
attempts for 1,794 yards and 21 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 made 111 rushing
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
attempts for 745 yards. He also recorded 12 tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
s, two broken-up passes, and one interception. He was a three-time all-conference and two-time all-state player, and was named the conference's 2006 offensive player of the year. In 2006, he was named a Charlotte Observer high school player of the week for recording 305 yards, four touchdowns, and 11 tackles in a game. Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming named Sturdivant to his All-Southeast Team. He participated in the 2006 Shrine Bowl as a quarterback. He received scholarship offers
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
from Duke
Duke Blue Devils football
The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal...
, Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
, NC State
NC State Wolfpack football
The NC State Wolfpack football team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Wolfpack currently compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference....
, North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
, and South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
. Sturdivant originally committed to Florida, but a week later reversed course and committed to North Carolina.
College career
As a true freshman for the Tar Heels in 20072007 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
The 2007 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina in the 2007 college football season. The team was led by first year coach Butch Davis.-Previous season:...
, Sturdivant saw action in all 12 games as a linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
including five start
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
s. He also played a role on special teams. Sturdivant also recorded 47 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, one quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, one interception, and one blocked punt. In 2008
2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
The 2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football team began their season on August 30 against McNeese State at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The team originally went 4–4 in conference play and 8–5 overall, but in 2011, North Carolina vacated all its wins from the 2008 and 2009 seasons.-Recruiting:The Tar...
, Sturdivant played in all 13 games and recorded 122 tackles including 87 solo, two sacks, one forced fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
, and two interceptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
named him an honorable mention All-American. For the 2009 season
2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
The 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina during its 57th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels played in the Coastal Division of the conference. The Tar Heels finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in ACC play and lost in the Meineke Car...
, Sturdivant was moved from weakside to middle linebacker, in order to replace Mark Paschal who graduated. He was moved back to the weakside, however, to recapture his success from the previous year. Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
included him among its 120 Players You Need to Know feature series, and said of him, "In just two seasons ... he has developed into one of the top young linebackers in the ACC."
On July 10, 2010, Sturdivant was cited for simple possession of marijuana during a traffic stop.
During the 2010 season
2010 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
The 2010 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2010 college football season. The team was led by fourth year coach Butch Davis and played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium. They are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, Sturdivant played in the first three games and amassed 27 tackles before suffering a hamstring injury at Rutgers
2010 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
The 2010 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Scarlet Knights were led by head coach Greg Schiano in his 10th season. They played their home games at Rutgers Stadium and are members...
, which forced him to miss several games.
Arizona Cardinals
Sturdivant was drafted with the 171st pick in the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
External links
- Veterans strive to lead the way, Rivals.comRivals.comRivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, August 22, 2008.