Correll Buckhalter
Encyclopedia
Correll Buckhalter is an American football
running back
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Nebraska
.
Buckhalter has also played for the Denver Broncos
. He is a cousin of Detroit Lions
cornerback Brandon McDonald
.
(Collins, Mississippi
) and was a letterman in football
. In football, he rushed for 3,024 yards over the last two years of his high school years. He was selected for the all-state team, and during his junior year when he rushed for 1,302 yards. During his senior year, he rushed for 1,722 yards and 12 touchdowns. Buckhalter graduated from Collins in 1997.
.
Buckhalter's NFL career has been marred by injuries. He missed the 2002 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament
in his left knee and both the 2004 and 2005 seasons due to a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.
In his rookie season of 2001, Buckhalter showed flashes of the potential the Eagles saw when he was drafted. Sharing the load with Duce Staley
, he rushed for 586 yards with 4.5 yards per carry average, breaking Keith Byars
team record for rushing yards by a rookie. He scored two touchdowns that season. Unfortunately, that season he was also suspended for a game after he and two teammates were stopped by police and arrested for possession of marijuana. Buckhalter was not charged in the case.
Buckhalter would not return to the field again until the 2003 season. Teaming with Staley and second year Brian Westbrook
, he led the team in rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns (eight) gaining 542 yards in the process. Again however, he was suspended by Coach Andy Reid
after missing a team meeting.
While still recovering, Buckhalter and Bryan Scott
made cameo appearances in the comedy movie, White Men Can't Rap.
The 2006 season marked his first action since the 2003 NFC Championship Game. He played in all 16 games, but started only once. His season totals included 345 rushing yards on 83 carries, 24 receptions, 256 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
After the season, Buckhalter was re-signed by the Eagles for two years.
In 2007, he saw action at running back as well as at kick returner. He had 313 yards rushing and a 21.6 yards per return average.
. The deal includes $1.8 million guaranteed. In 2009, his ninth season in the NFL, Buckhalter achieved career highs in rushing yardage (642), yards per carry (5.4), and receptions (31).
On July 28, 2011, he was released by Denver.
. In March 2009 prosecutors in a Philadelphia drug dealing case named Buckhalter as a celebrity client of the alleged dealer, Styles N. Beckles. Buckhalter has not been charged with any crime and strongly denied any link to Beckles.
Buckhalter owns a Quarter Horse stallion named 'Absolutely No Doubt,' who was the national high point Performance Halter Stallion of the American Quarter Horse Association in 2008.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
.
Buckhalter has also played for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He is a cousin of Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
cornerback Brandon McDonald
Brandon McDonald
Brandon McDonald is an American football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
.
Early years
Buckhalter attended Collins High SchoolCovington County School District (Mississippi)
The Covington County School District is a public school district based in Collins, Mississippi . The district’s boundaries parallel that of Covington County-Schools:*Collins High School *Carver Middle School...
(Collins, Mississippi
Collins, Mississippi
Collins is a city in Covington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,761 at the 2005 census. It is the county seat of Covington County....
) and was a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
. In football, he rushed for 3,024 yards over the last two years of his high school years. He was selected for the all-state team, and during his junior year when he rushed for 1,302 yards. During his senior year, he rushed for 1,722 yards and 12 touchdowns. Buckhalter graduated from Collins in 1997.
College career
At the University of Nebraska, Buckhalter played in 46 games and finished ranked eighth in school history for rushing yards (2,522). He had 11 100+ yard games in college while starting only nine times and scored 27 touchdowns at Nebraska. He majored in sociologySociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
.
Philadelphia Eagles
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his left knee and both the 2004 and 2005 seasons due to a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.
In his rookie season of 2001, Buckhalter showed flashes of the potential the Eagles saw when he was drafted. Sharing the load with Duce Staley
Duce Staley
Duce Staley is a former American football running back in the National Football League best known for his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at University of South Carolina...
, he rushed for 586 yards with 4.5 yards per carry average, breaking Keith Byars
Keith Byars
Keith Alan Byars is an American sports broadcaster and former American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.-Early life:...
team record for rushing yards by a rookie. He scored two touchdowns that season. Unfortunately, that season he was also suspended for a game after he and two teammates were stopped by police and arrested for possession of marijuana. Buckhalter was not charged in the case.
Buckhalter would not return to the field again until the 2003 season. Teaming with Staley and second year Brian Westbrook
Brian Westbrook
Brian Collins Westbrook is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft after playing college football at Villanova...
, he led the team in rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns (eight) gaining 542 yards in the process. Again however, he was suspended by Coach Andy Reid
Andy Reid
Andrew Walter "Andy" Reid is the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL, a post he has held since 1999. Since 2001, he has also been the team's executive vice president of football operations...
after missing a team meeting.
While still recovering, Buckhalter and Bryan Scott
Bryan Scott
Bryan Anderson Scott is an American football safety for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
made cameo appearances in the comedy movie, White Men Can't Rap.
The 2006 season marked his first action since the 2003 NFC Championship Game. He played in all 16 games, but started only once. His season totals included 345 rushing yards on 83 carries, 24 receptions, 256 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
After the season, Buckhalter was re-signed by the Eagles for two years.
In 2007, he saw action at running back as well as at kick returner. He had 313 yards rushing and a 21.6 yards per return average.
Denver Broncos
On February 27, 2009, Buckhalter signed a four-year, $10 million contract with the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The deal includes $1.8 million guaranteed. In 2009, his ninth season in the NFL, Buckhalter achieved career highs in rushing yardage (642), yards per carry (5.4), and receptions (31).
On July 28, 2011, he was released by Denver.
Personal
Buckhalter has had to deal with adversity over his career. His mother died when he was young and his brother Chris, who played on the Eagles practice squad in 1996, is serving a 20-year sentence for manslaughterManslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
. In March 2009 prosecutors in a Philadelphia drug dealing case named Buckhalter as a celebrity client of the alleged dealer, Styles N. Beckles. Buckhalter has not been charged with any crime and strongly denied any link to Beckles.
Buckhalter owns a Quarter Horse stallion named 'Absolutely No Doubt,' who was the national high point Performance Halter Stallion of the American Quarter Horse Association in 2008.
Stats
| Year | Games Played | Games Started | Attempts | Yards | Avg. | Receptions | Rec. Yards | Rec. Avg. | Fumbles Lost | Fumbles Recovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 15 | 6 | 129 | 586 | 4.5 | 13 | 130 | 10.0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 15 | 5 | 126 | 542 | 4.3 | 10 | 133 | 13.3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 16 | 1 | 83 | 345 | 4.2 | 24 | 256 | 10.7 | 1 | 2 |
| 2007 | 14 | 2 | 63 | 313 | 5.0 | 12 | 87 | 7.3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 14 | 2 | 76 | 369 | 4.9 | 26 | 324 | 12.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 74 | 16 | 477 | 2,155 | 4.58 | 85 | 930 | 10.76 | 6 | 4 |