PRO: The Dallas Cowboys added a versatile athlete with a knack for finding the ball when they selected Bruce Carter in the second round (40th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. Carter, who started 44 of the 49 games he played at outside linebacker for North Carolina, had his progress slowed as a rookie as he was on the Non-Football Injury list from the beginning of training camp through October rehabbing an injury suffered as a senior. After being activated from the list, Carter went on to play in 10 games learning the pro game from Dallas’ corps of veteran linebackers. He saw most of his time as a rookie on special teams but worked into the linebacker rotation.
PRO: The Dallas Cowboys added a versatile athlete with a knack for finding the ball when they selected Bruce Carter in the second round (40th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. Carter, who started 44 of the 49 games he played at outside linebacker for North Carolina, had his progress slowed as a rookie as he was on the Non-Football Injury list from the beginning of training camp through October rehabbing an injury suffered as a senior. After being activated from the list, Carter went on to play in 10 games learning the pro game from Dallas’ corps of veteran linebackers. He saw most of his time as a rookie on special teams but worked into the linebacker rotation.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY:
10/29/11: Activated from Reserve/NFI.
7/29/11: Placed on Active/NFI then on Reserve/NFI (8/30).
4/29/11: Drafted in the second round (40th overall) by Dallas.
2011:
• Missed the entire preseason while rehabbing his knee injury suffered in his final season at North Carolina.
• Was placed on Reserve/NFI on Aug. 30 and continued the rehab process.
• Activated on Oct. 29 and played in 10 games as a rookie, finishing seventh with eight special teams tackles and adding one tackle and a pass breakup on defense.
• Made his NFL debut on special teams at Philadelphia (10/30) and finished with one stop.
• Saw his first action on defense against Seattle (11/6) and had a pass breakup.
• Notched special teams tackles against Buffalo (11/13), at Washington (11/20) and at Arizona (12/4).
• Added his first career defensive tackle and deflected a fourth quarter punt leading to Dallas’ only touchdown against Philadelphia (12/24).
COLLEGE:
• Started the 11 games he played as a senior and was one-of-five finalists for the Dick Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker, before suffering a season-ending knee injury (ACL) on Nov. 20 against North Carolina State.
• Finished fifth on the team with 57 tackles along with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for losses, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Added two pass breakups with one interception and a blocked punt on special teams.
• Started all 13 games as a junior and earned second-team All-ACC honors, finishing third on the squad with 65 tackles, 7.5 stops for losses, two sacks, one interception, returned 41 yards for a touchdown, two breakups and four pressures.
• As a sophomore, his first full season as a starter, finished fourth on the team with 68 tackles while tallying a team-best 11 tackles for losses. Also had five sacks and an interception, and on special teams, led the nation with five blocked kicks.
• Blocked a punt at Miami, three more against Connecticut and a field goal attempt at Virginia.
• Established a single-game ACC record with three blocked punts - all in the second quarter - in the win over 24th ranked Connecticut. His third block was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown and was his fourth straight punt he blocked (Miami’s last punt and UConn’s first three).
• Registered his first two career sacks in the win over Notre Dame, then blocked a field goal attempt at Virginia.
• Had a then career-best 11 tackles, with two for losses at Maryland.
• Notched seven tackles with two sacks in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against West Virginia.
• Played in 12 games with seven starts as a freshman, tallying 25 tackles, with 18 coming in the final five games.
• Was one-of-eight true freshmen to see action in the first game of the year, a 37-14 win over James Madison.
PERSONAL:
• Was a SuperPrep All-America and ranked the eighth skill athlete in the country and the seventh overall player in North Carolina at Havelock, N.C., High School.
• Played quarterback, safety and running back and gained 1,063 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Also passed for 585 yards with five touchdowns as a senior.
• Earned his degree in African American studies at North Carolina.
COMMUNITY:
• 2011 Rookie Club presented by UnitedHealthcare.
• 2011 United Way Hometown Huddle.
• 2012 Dallas Cowboys U High School Camp.
• Annual Holiday Hospital Visits.
• Kick Off Luncheon and Dallas Cowboys Family Cookbook benefiting Happy Hill Farm.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas.
• Salvation Army Angel Tree Christmas Program.
