Craig Keith
{{Short description|American football player (born 1971)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Craig Keith
| image =
| number = 85, 87, 88
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|4|27}}
| birth_place = Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 262
| high_school = Millbrook (Raleigh)
| college = Lenoir–Rhyne (1989–1992)
| draftyear = 1993
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 189
| pastteams =
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|1993}}–{{NFL Year|1994}})
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|1995}})
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1996}})*
- San Francisco 49ers (1996)*
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 4
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 22
| statlabel3 = Receiving TDs
| statvalue3 = 0
| pfr = K/KeitCr20
}}
Craig Carlton Keith (born April 27, 1971) is an American former professional football tight end who played three seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL draft after playing college football at Lenoir–Rhyne College.
Early life
Craig Carlton Keith was born on April 27, 1971, in Raleigh, North Carolina.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/k/keit00200.html | title=Craig Keith | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=6 January 2025}} He attended Millbrook High School in Raleigh.
College career
Keith was a member of the Lenoir–Rhyne Bears of Lenoir–Rhyne College from 1989 to 1992. He caught 62 passes for 723 yards and four touchdowns during his college career.{{cite web | url=https://lrbears.com/honors/hall-of-fame/craig-keith/3 | title=Craig Keith | publisher=lrbears.com | accessdate=6 January 2025}} He earned All-South Atlantic Conference honors in 1991 and 1992 and was also an NAIA Division I honorable mention All-American in 1992. Keith graduated from Lenoir–Rhyne with a bachelor's in 1995 and an MBA in 2000. He was inducted into the school's athletics hall of fame in 2016.
Professional career
Keith was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round, with the 189th overall pick, of the 1993 NFL draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KeitCr20.htm | title=Craig Keith | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=6 January 2025}} He officially signed with the team on June 3.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/k/keit00200.html | title=Craig Keith NFL Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=6 January 2025}} He played in one game for the Steelers during the 1993 season. Keith appeared in all 16 games, starting one, in 1994, catching one pass for two yards on two targets. He also played in one playoff game that year. He was used on special teams and as a backup tight end during his stint with the Steelers.
On August 24, 1995, the Steelers traded Keith to the Jacksonville Jaguars for an undisclosed 1996 draft pick.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-american/162445231/ | title=Jaguars-Steelers trade | work=The Daily American | date=August 25, 1995 | accessdate=6 January 2025}} He played in 11 games, starting two, for the Jaguars during the team's inaugural 1995 season, recording three receptions for 20 yards on three targets. He became a free agent after the season.
Keith signed with the Miami Dolphins on April 26, 1996. He was released on July 25, 1996.
He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers on July 29, 1996, but was released two days later.
Personal life
Keith served as the special assistant to the athletics director at Lenoir–Rhyne from 1998 to 2000 and as the associate director for the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics and Public Service at North Carolina State University from 2000 to 2002. He later started a carwash company called Bull City Carwash.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Steelers1993DraftPicks}}
{{1995 Jacksonville Jaguars}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keith, Craig}}
Category:Players of American football from Raleigh, North Carolina
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football players
Category:Millbrook High School (North Carolina) alumni
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:San Francisco 49ers players