Ki-Jana Carter
Position(s): RB	Jersey #: N/A
Date of birth: September 12 1973 (1973--) (age 34)
Place of birth: Westerville, Ohio
Career information
NFL Draft: 1995 / Round: 1 / Pick 1
College: Penn State
Teams
1996-1999 2001 2003-2004	Cincinnati Bengals Washington Redskins New Orleans Saints
Stats at NFL.com

Kenneth "Ki-Jana" Carter (born September 12, 1973) is a former NFL running back who played for the Cincinnati Bengals and later the Washington Redskins and the New Orleans Saints. His nickname, "Ki-Jana", is from a character in the movie Shaft in Africa and Carter has gone by that name since his birth. After being selected as the number one overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament on his third carry of his first preseason NFL game of his rookie year. Carter never fully recovered from the injury, which robbed him of his speed. Carter is regarded as one of the biggest draft busts of all time, compiling only 1,144 rushing yards in 10 seasons. He was chosen ahead of Tony Boselli, Steve McNair, college teammate Kerry Collins, and Joey Galloway.

High School Career

At Westerville South High School in Westerville, Ohio, Carter starred in football, basketball, and track. In football, he was an All-American selection.

College career

Carter was a standout player at Penn State along with a strong group of offensive players including future NFL starters Jeff Hartings, Joe Jurevicius, Kerry Collins, OJ McDuffie, Bobby Engram and Kyle Brady. At Penn State Carter wore the number 32, which previously was worn by running backs Curt Warner and Blair Thomas. Although he left Penn State after his junior year, he is still in the top ten among Penn State running backs, having compiled 2,829 yards rushing on 341 attempts and scoring 38 touchdowns. His best single game came against Michigan State in 1994, when he rushed for 227 yards on 27 carries and scored 5 touchdowns. Carter helped lead the 1994 Penn State football team to an undefeated record and a berth in the Rose Bowl. He earned co-MVP honors during the Rose Bowl game, and his highlight from that game was an 83 yard touchdown run on the first offensive play of the game. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting for 1994.

Pro Career

Carter was drafted by the Bengals with the first overall pick in 1995. Carter tore up his knee on his third carry of his first pre-season game in his rookie year and after that a string of injuries never showed what true ability he had. His career on the Bengals can be attributed to a poor coaching staff and supporting cast. He played on the Washington Redskins from 2001-2002 and the New Orleans Saints from 2003-2004 contributing as a part-timer. He only had 1,144 yards in a single season as his career best. His number 32 is worn by current Bengals running back Rudi Johnson.

Quotes

• "They [Oregon] had him -- had him -- they thought -- and then he was gone" --Keith Jackson after Ki-Jana Carter's 83 yard touchdown in the Rose Bowl vs. Oregon. Source: NFL.com-Ki-Jana Carter
• "He reminds me of Emmitt Smith, Penn State is the Dallas Cowboys and he is running past the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl"--Broadcaster Dan Fouts on Ki-Jana Carter during the Rose Bowl.

External link

• "Carter won't wallow" Bengals.com, April 27, 2007

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