Leonardo Carson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1977)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 96, 91
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|2|11|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 305
| high_school = Shaw (AL)
| college = Auburn
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 113
| draftyear = 2000
| pastteams =
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|2000}}–{{NFL Year|2003}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2003}}–{{NFL Year|2004}})
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 64
| statlabel2 = Total tackles
| statvalue2 = 129
| statlabel3 = Sacks
| statvalue3 = 8.5
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 5
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 7
| pfr = CarsLe20
}}
Leonardo Tremayne Carson (born February 11, 1977) is an American former professional football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Auburn University.
Early life
Carson attended Shaw High School in Mobile, Alabama. He played five different positions (linebacker, tight end, fullback, wide receiver and quarterback) and was the starting quarterback in his last 2 years.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1891&dat=19960812&id=hb0fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NdgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3214,1161806&hl=es | title=With His Second Chance, Carson Is Ready To Prove Doubters Wrong | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} As a senior, he recorded 934 passing yards for 7 touchdowns, 1,104 rushing yards for 12 touchdowns, receiving All-state and All-American honors.
College career
He accepted a football scholarship from Auburn University with the intention of playing tight end. In July 1996, he was sentenced to 60 days in jail, for his role in the break-in of a car in March, but was able to be placed on probation and serve only 6 days.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19960720&id=V14eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EskEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1561,2554150&hl=es | title=Status Of Tiger Signee In Doubt | accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
Carson was converted into a defensive tackle as a true freshman, before being moved to defensive end when Shannon Shuttle was lost for the year.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19961106&id=gHw0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=AckEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3879,963563&hl=es | title=Bowden tries to turn attention to Indians | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} He started the last 4 games of the season, while registering 32 tackles (2 for loss), 4.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=365&dat=19970828&id=364wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Kz8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4556,5616904&hl=es | title=Familiar Faces Return For Auburn | accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
As a sophomore, he started 13 games, tallying 59 tackles (9 for loss), 2 sacks, 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19981121&id=n04gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NccEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5572,3473811&hl=es | title=I'm King Of The World | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} As a junior, he posted 90 tackles (8 for loss), 8.5 sacks, one interception, 2 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
His stats were impacted in his last season when he was moved to defensive tackle, tallying 43 tackles (28 for loss), 2 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1891&dat=20000416&id=w8MfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=edgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5588,1897469&hl=es | title=Draft | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} He finished his career with 224 tackles (47 for loss), 17 sacks, 4 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries.
Professional career
=San Diego Chargers=
Carson was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round (113th overall) of the 2000 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2000 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2000/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} As a rookie, he appeared in 4 of the first 10 games, making 2 tackles. On November 17, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a tore right rotator cuff.
In 2001, he started 13 games at defensive tackle, after replacing Jamal Williams who tore the ACL in his left knee. He posted 33 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 passes defensed and 2 fumble recoveries.
In 2002, he began the season as a backup, but started the last 6 games after Williams suffered a season-ending ankle injury, posting 31 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 passes defensed and one fumble recovery.
On August 21, 2003, he was arrested for breaking into an apartment and was later sued on September 30.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=20031001&id=x4Q0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=wccEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1212,114444&hl=es | title=Former Auburn Star Accused Of Kidnapping | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} He appeared in 5 games as a backup defensive tackle, making 2 tackles and one pass defensed. He was waived on October 14.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=20031016&id=OVFWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qusDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6829,3972397&hl=es | title=Chargers cut tackle who is facing charges | accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
On October 18, 2003, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=20031020&id=PVFWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qusDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3012,5087916&hl=es | title=NFL Transactions | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} He was a backup defensive tackle, registering 21 tackles (1 for loss), 1.5 sacks and 2 quarterback pressures. He tore his right triceps muscle against the Washington Redskins and was placed on the injured reserve list on December 16.
Carson was re-signed for the 2004 season, although he served 8 days in jail in June and was suspended for the opening game by the NFL for his previous legal problems and the violation of the player conduct policy.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=20040906&id=_ggoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z9AEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5477,2497927&hl=es | title=Cowboys' Carson Suspended | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} He passed Willie Blade on the depth chart and started 15 games alongside Pro Bowler La'Roi Glover. He posted 55 tackles (seventh on the team), 5 tackles for loss (tied for the team lead), 8 quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery and a half sack.{{cite web| url=https://247sports.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/Article/Two-Cowboys-Get-New-Contracts-104178887/ | title=Two Cowboys Get New Contracts | accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
Although large and physically talented, his productivity as a player was often average, and head coach Bill Parcells, who initially lauded his arrival to the team, stated in several press conferences that he'd lost confidence in Carson.
He signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys for the 2005 season, but was released on September 1, after being passed on the depth chart by rookie Jay Ratliff.{{cite web| url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2005-09-02-campline_x.htm | title=Cowboys sign Price; F. Mitchell cut; Brees OK | accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2000 | SDG
| 4 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2001 | SDG
| 16 || 13 || 33 || 24 || 9 || 3.0 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2002 | SDG
| 16 || 7 || 31 || 22 || 9 || 3.5 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2003 | SDG
| 5 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2003 | DAL
| 8 || 0 || 18 || 13 || 5 || 1.5 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2004 | DAL
| 15 || 15 || 43 || 29 || 14 || 0.5 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 64 | 35 | 129 | 92 | 37 | 8.5 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Personal life
Beginning June 14, 2004, Carson began serving a 30-day sentence at the Mobile County Metro Jail on two misdemeanor counts of kidnapping and burglary relating to an August 2003 incident where he broke into the home of his ex-girlfriend's sister, Tasha Locke. He forced her to leave with him, but later that evening, Carson's car broke down, and Locke escaped.{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2004 |title=Carson pleads guilty, will serve 30 days |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1822463 |access-date=February 19, 2018 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}
In June 2010, Carson was sentenced to ten years in prison for selling drugs, while living in Mobile, Alabama.{{cite web|last=Kirby|first=Brendan|title=Ex-Auburn football star Leonardo Carson sentenced to 10 years and a month for drug dealing|url=http://blog.al.com/live/2010/06/ex-auburn_football_star_leonar.html|work=Online article|date=June 10, 2010 |publisher=al.com|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Chargers2000DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carson, Leonardo}}
Category:Players of American football from Mobile, Alabama
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Auburn Tigers football players
Category:San Diego Chargers players