NFL Draft Vault: Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
He went first overall.
A distinct honor that the great Barry Sanders can’t relate to. Neither can other notable all-time greats such as Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, or Eric Dickerson.
To be drafted first overall, an immense amount of pressure, burden, and responsibility comes with it. For Ki-Jana Carter, coming out of Penn State in 1995 to go first overall in the draft that year seems as if it was right. Carter was a part of a deep 1994 Nittany Lions squad that went undefeated that season. Carter himself rushed for 1,539 yards and 23 touchdowns that season while also finishing second in the Heisman Voting.
Carter was so good in college that even former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno convinced Carter to leave school early and head for the pros. Something Paterno had never done up to that point in time.
The Cincinnati Bengals obtained the first overall pick in the ’95 Draft with a trade with the then-expansion team Carolina Panthers. A team in Cincinnati that was coming off a 3-13 season and in desperate need of a running back as the team totaled only 1,556 yards and a measly five touchdowns. A playmaker was desired. The Bengals decided to turn to Carter to provide that aspect.
Carter’s career started roughly to say the least as he tore a ligament in his knee in his very first preseason game. That untimely injury cost Carter the entire 1995 season. Off to a resounding start as you can tell.
His 1996 season got off to a blazing start with 27 rushing yards combined in his first two games en-route to a grand total of 264 rushing yards for the entire season. Playing in all 16 games, Carter had five games of six total rushing yards or less. The former first overall pick has raised more questions than hope at this point in his still brief career.
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Suddenly the 1997 season peaked over the horizon and finally provided SOME sort of hope for the Bengals coaching staff and front office. Carter produced 464 rushing yards to go along with seven touchdowns and while the running back did endure some injuries that season, Carter started 10 contests and participated in 15. The ’97 season gave some type of glimmer and that glimmer was bound to transform into consistent production. Right?
Injuries robbed Carter for both the 1998 and 1999 seasons as he played in only four games combined and rushed for only 19 yards. Nineteen. Yards.
At this juncture, the vision that was placed when drafting Carter first overall has now turn into a complete nightmare.
“To be drafted first overall, an immense amount of pressure, burden, and responsibility comes with it.”
Just from the perspective of the front office, from the eyes of Bruce Coslet and Mike Shula. Placing everything into the hands of Carter, only to have everything snatched away by the dreadful taste of reality which is the injury bug. Unfortunately, as stated, that is the cold taste of reality.
Even with the minor success (if you want to call it that) during his 2001 season in Washington when he rushed for 308 yards and three scores. Two seasons in New Orleans (2003, 2004) did his career no justice as he rushed for only 89 yards in both seasons.
The ‘bust’ label tossed around to certain players are due to certain circumstances: Injuries, awful production, team misfortunes, or in certain cases, a combination of all. When it comes to Carter, he simply couldn’t avoid injuries. They bit at the absolutely worst opportunity. In his first preseason game on his third carry as a professional? Sheesh.
Who would’ve known what would’ve been. An historic selection turned out to be another link on the chain of the Bengals ineptness in the 90s.