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NO. 39 Ka'Deem CareyPosition, years at Arizona: Running back, 2011-2014
Honors, accomplishments at UA: Earned consensus All-American honors in 2012, the 11th UA player to earn such recognition and the first at an offensive position. ... Led the nation in rushing with 148.4 yards per game.
Why he made our list: If he replicates his 2012 season, or comes reasonably close, Carey would vault into the top 10 on the list of best UA football players ever, perhaps the top five. As it is, his sophomore season stands as one of the finest in school history — 303 carries for a school-record 1,929 yards and a UA-best 23 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 36 passes for 303 yards and a score.
His 1,929 yards were the fifth-best rushing total in Pac-12 history.
With great vision, Carey excelled in Rich Rodriguez's spread offense by following the blocks to the line of scrimmage and then making a quick cut into open space. As Rodriguez often said last season, Carey "ran angry" — determined, decisive and downhill. He had more rushes of 10-plus yards (58) and 20-plus yards (23) than any player in the country.
Carey, from Tucson's Canyon del Oro High, vaulted into 2012 postseason honors with 914 rushing yards in the final four games, including a stunning 366-yard performance vs. Colorado, setting school and conference single-game records.
Carey has 2,354 rushing yards in two seasons, needing 1,471 yards to pass Trung Canidate's school record of 3,824. Carey already is second on the school list for rushing touchdowns with 29, needing 16 to pass Art Luppino's career mark at UA.
Life after college: Carey was drafted by the Bears in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Carey remains with the team entering his fourth season. coach John Fox has always liked Carey's abilities between the tackles, and he's shown value on special teams, but he had only 32 carries last season. He'll be battling Cunningham, who had only 21 carries in 2016 but is going to be involved in the kickoff-return competition, giving him an edge to make the roster.
Courtesy of Anthony Gimino
Tucsoncitizen.com