Nolan Alexander Carroll II (born January 18, 1987) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

Early life Nolan Carroll II was born on January 18, 1987Nolan Carroll Stats, ESPN, retrieved August 30, 2009. in Green Cove Springs, Florida.Player Bio: Nolan Carroll , University of Maryland, retrieved August 30, 2009. His mother, Jennifer, is a former Lieutenant Governor of Florida and a former United States Navy lieutenant commander. His father, Nolan Carroll, was a Senior Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force.

He attended Clay High School in Green Cove Springs, where he was a one-year letterman in soccer and a three-year starting wide receiver for the football team. In his second football game as a senior, he broke his leg and was forced to sit out for the rest of the 2004 season. Nevertheless, The Florida Times-Union named him to its Super 11 and Super 24 teams. PrepStar named him an All-Southeast region and SuperPrep an All-Dixie region player.

Carroll received athletic scholarship offers from Central Florida, Colorado, Louisville, Maryland, and Mississippi.Nolan Carroll Profile, Scout.com, retrieved August 30, 2009. Scout.com rated him a two-star college prospect, while Rivals.com considered him a three-star prospect.Nolan Carroll, Rivals.com; retrieved August 30, 2009. He ultimately committed to attend the University of Maryland.

College career Carroll sat out the 2005 season on redshirt status, and was named the scout team player of the week for his performance in the practices in preparation for the Florida State game. In 2006, Carroll saw action in all 13 games as a reserve wide receiver and on special teams. He recorded five kickoff returns for 60 yards. Against West Virginia, he had two returns for 12 yards; against Boston College, he had two for 31 yards; and against Wake Forest, he had one for 17 yards.

In 2007, he was converted to the cornerback position, and saw action in all 13 games as a reserve. He recorded seven tackles on special teams, and returned five kickoffs for 84 yards. He saw action in the 2007 Emerald Bowl against Oregon State, but recorded no statistics. In 2008, he saw action in ten games including four starts as a cornerback. Carroll recorded 37 tackles. In the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl against Nevada, he tallied seven tackles including four solo, and broke up two passes.

Carroll entered the 2009 season as a starting cornerback, but broke his leg in a September 12 game against James Madison, and missed the rest of the season. Prior to the season, he was elected by his teammates as one of the team's four captains.Jeff Barker, Maryland elects football captains, The Baltimore Sun, August 29, 2009. Defensive coordinator Don Brown said of Carroll, "If you were going to clone a guy at that position that he plays, he'd be one of the prototypes."Patrick Stevens, Breaking down why Terrapins broke down, The Washington Times, November 28, 2009. The NFL Draft Scout, a CBS Sports affiliate, considered Carroll the 25th out of 225 ranked cornerback prospects for the 2010 NFL draft, and projected him as a sixth- or seventh-round selection.Nolan Carroll, Maryland, CB: 2010 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile, The NFL Draft Scout, retrieved August 30, 2009.

Professional career

NFL Draft Scout, a CBS Sports affiliate, considered Carroll the 24th out of 225 ranked cornerback prospects for the 2010 NFL draft, and projected him as a sixth- or seventh-round selection.

Miami Dolphins Carroll was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round (145th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft. The pick was received in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.Dolphins trade Ginn to 49ers, ESPN.com, April 16, 2010. He was considered one of the team's most promising rookies, and saw action on special teams during the preseason.Dolphins defensive back knows comeback route, The Washington Post, September 5, 2010. In Week 4, he handled kickoff return duties against the New England Patriots.Miami Dolphins special-teams coordinator John Bonamego figures to take plenty of heat this week, The Palm Beach Post, October 4, 2010. Carroll was part of an improved Miami special teams unit two weeks later against the Green Bay Packers, a game in which he averaged 26.0 yards per kickoff return.Wrap-up: Dolphins 23, Packers 20, ESPN, October 17, 2010.

On December 13, 2010, New York Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi extended his knee to trip Carroll as he was running out of bounds to avoid being blocked during a punt (it is illegal to block or tackle players out of bounds, non-players like Alosi are not permitted to be on the field during live play.)Jets coach Sal Alosi apologizes for trip, ESPN, December 13, 2010. Ex-Dolphin Zach Thomas later claimed that Alosi had ordered a wall formed on the edge of the coaching box in order to prevent the practice of players running out of bounds to avoid being blocked. Alosi was eventually suspended for the rest of the 2010 season.Ex-Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas: New York Jets put up wall on trip play, ESPN New York, December 15, 2010. In the same game, Carroll recorded his first career interception when he picked off Jets' quarterback Mark Sanchez.Jets coach admits tripping Carroll; NFL investigating; Sal Alosi apologizes for "total lapse in judgment", The Sun-Sentinel, December 13, 2010.

In 2012, after cornerback Richard Marshall was placed on IR, Carroll was elevated to the starting role for the majority of season.

Philadelphia Eagles On March 13, 2014, he signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. He started in the last game of the season against the New York Giants.

In 2015, he was named the starter at cornerback opposite Byron Maxwell. On September 20, during the home opener loss against the Dallas Cowboys, Carroll tackled a fan who ran on the field. On October 19, in the Monday Night Football game vs. the New York Giants Carroll intercepted Giant's quarterback Eli Manning and returned the interception for a touchdown giving his team a 14–7 lead (the Eagles won the game 27–7). On November 27, he was placed on injured reserve list with a broken right fibula he suffered against the Detroit Lions. He finished with 11 starts.

On March 15, 2016, Carroll re-signed a one-year, $2.36 million contract. He started 16 games, registering 4 tackles and one interception.

Dallas Cowboys On March 10, 2017, Carroll signed a three-year, $10 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys, to help replace cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne who left in free agency. On May 29, he was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Although he struggled in preseason, he was named the starter at right cornerback for the season opener. He suffered a concussion in the second game against the Denver Broncos and was declared inactive for the next three contests. On October 11, Carroll was released after playing less than six full quarters.

NFL career statistics Legend Bold Career high

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD 2010 MIA 13 1 3 3 0 0.0 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 2011 MIA 15 3 32 28 4 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2012 MIA 14 10 53 46 7 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 0 2013 MIA 16 12 47 43 4 2.0 2 3 24 0 24 11 0 0 0 0 2014 PHI 16 1 32 31 1 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 2015 PHI 11 11 57 42 15 0.0 0 2 18 1 17 10 0 0 0 0 2016 PHI 16 16 55 41 14 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 11 1 0 0 0 2017 DAL 2 2 5 5 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 103 56 284 239 45 3.0 5 8 43 1 24 48 2 1 0 0

References

External links

Maryland Terrapins bio