|
PRO: Perhaps the surprise in the Cowboys 2005 draft class was the quick emergence of defensive end Chris Canty. After entering his senior season as a potential first round draft choice, Canty fell into the fourth round because of a knee injury during his senior season as well as a detached retina in his left eye in the spring prior to the draft. After trading a fifth round pick in 2005 and a fourth rounder in 2006 to Philadelphia for the Eagles fourth round choice, the Cowboys landed Canty who came on to lead all Dallas defensive linemen with 43 tackles. With impressive size - 6-7, 300 pounds - and an innate quickness that allows him to get into opposing backfields off the edge, Canty should be a cornerstone on the Dallas front line for many years to come.
2005: After working throughout the spring and summer to rehabilitate his knee and recover from the retina injury, Canty was on the field one week into training camp. He split time with Greg Ellis at right defensive end and led all defensive linemen with 43 tackles. He was also second on the team with five tackles behind the line and tied for fourth on the club with 2.5 sacks. Canty took to the field in the season opener at San Diego (9/11) and recorded his first NFL tackle along with a quarterback pressure. Against Washington (9/19) he added his first career sack with a third-quarter take-down of Mark Brunell. He was third on the team, tops among linemen with a season-high six tackles at Oakland (10/2). He also added half a sack and a tackle for a loss. Canty had two tackles against Philadelphia (10/9) as the defense limited the Eagles to 129 total yards, including just 19 on the ground - the fourth lowest rushing total in club history. At Seattle (10/23) he recorded two tackles as the NFL's top ranked offense entering the game was limited to 289 total yards, 118 below their season average, and one touchdown. Shaun Alexander, the NFL leading rusher entering the game at 119 yards-per-game (5.5 avg.), was limited to 61 yards on 21 carries (2.9 avg.). Canty had a season-high two quarterback pressures against Arizona (10/30) as well as a tackle and a tackle behind the line as the defense limited the Cardinals to 213 total yards, including just 71 on the ground. At Philadelphia (11/14), he saw considerable playing time on first and second downs, recorded two tackles, a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble that the Eagles recovered. His play against Detroit (11/20) helped limit the Lions to 226 total yards, including just 29 yards on 12 carries (2.4 avg.) by Kevin Jones. Canty led all linemen with three tackles and added his second sack of the season against Denver (11/24). At the N.Y. Giants (12/4), Canty earned his first NFL start, replacing Ellis at right end, and recorded four tackles as the Giants were limited to 277 total yards and 10 offensive points. He started again the next week against Kansas City (12/11) and led all defensive linemen with five tackles despite suffering a sprained ankle during the game. He did not start but saw action at Washington (12/18) after missing two days of practice due to the ankle. He recorded two tackles and a tackle behind the line at Carolina (12/24) as the Dallas defense limited Carolina to 71 rushing yards on 24 carries (3.0 avg.) with a long of nine yards. In the season finale against St. Louis (1/1/06), Canty led all defensive linemen with five tackles and also had a tackle for a loss.
COLLEGE: A two-time second-team All-ACC selection, Canty led all conference defensive linemen in tackles as a sophomore and junior. Canty's senior campaign was cut short in the fourth game of the season when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. At the time of his injury, he had posted 30 tackles, seven stops for losses, a sack and a forced fumble. As a junior, Canty was named second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference, Lineman of the Year in Virginia and recipient of the Ned McDonald Award as UVa's Most Outstanding Defensive Player after registering a career-high 104 tackles, 12 stops for losses, 12 pressures and four sacks. He became only the second down lineman in school history to record more than 100 tackles in a season. His performance in the classroom also helped him earn All-ACC Academic honors. Despite missing three games due to injury, Canty finished his sophomore season with 86 tackles, four stops for losses, four pass deflections, three pressures, three fumble recoveries and two sacks while starting eight-of-11 games. Canty saw action in 12 games as a reserve defensive end in 2001 after redshirting his first year at Virginia. He started one game and recorded 23 tackles, three pressures, two passes defensed and a tackle for a loss.
PERSONAL: Despite not playing football until his junior season at Charlotte, N.C., Latin School, Christopher Lee Canty earned all-state honors as a senior tight end and defensive end after recording 20 catches for 400 yards on offense and 89 tackles and seven sacks on defense. He finished his prep career with 161 tackles, 12 sacks and two fumble recoveries. He was also a two-year letterman and all-conference honoree for the basketball team. He received his bachelor's degree in African-American studies in May of 2004 and took graduate course work in secondary education during his final football season at Virginia. As a rookie, Canty was a member of the Cowboys 2005 Rookie Club - a program designed to introduce rookie team members to community service in the Dallas area which included work with The Salvation Army, Children's Medical Center Dallas and Meals on Wheels. He also participated in the 2006 Stars of Texas?Racing Against the Odds event hosted by local newspaper columnist and radio personality Randy Galloway that raised over $300,000 for the American Diabetes Association. His mother, Shirley, is an ordained Methodist minister. | 