Tamarick Vanover
Encyclopedia
Tamarick Vanover is a former professional American football
player in the NFL
and CFL
.
Vanover spent two seasons at Florida State University
, where he was named a first-team All-American in 1992 as a freshman kick returner. He earned national recognition for his kick returns, returning 13 kickoffs for 523 yards and two touchdowns with a 40.2-yard average. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of Year in 1992. Vanover had off-field problems and chose to turn professional after his junior year. He finished his career at Florida State with 87 receptions for 1,123 yards in two seasons for Seminoles.
The Las Vegas Posse
, a CFL expansion franchise, signed Vanover as a marquee player in 1994. He played in 15 games, catching 23 passes for 385 yards with three TDs. He returned 31 kickoffs for 718 yards with a 90-yard TD return and added 36 punt returns for 341 yards with another (105-yard) TD return.
Vanover set his sights on the NFL for 1995, and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs
. He began a 5-year stint with the Chiefs, playing 70 games, where he caught 39 passes for 564 yards, rushed for 88 yards, returned 181 punts for 1930 yards (a 10.2 average) and 4 TDs, and returned 226 kickoffs for 5422 yards (a 24.0 average) and 4 TDs.
His last season in Kansas City (1999) was successful on the field (as the league leader in punt return yardage and touchdowns), but marred by a range of problems off the field. He pled guilty to a felony charge of aiding and abetting in the sale of a stolen vehicle after agreeing to cooperate with federal authorities in their continuing investigation of drug-trafficking and stolen-vehicle rings. He was in the news again in March when the Chiefs, faced with having to pay Vanover a $750,000 roster bonus
, renegotiated his contract. Finally, the Chiefs released him after federal authorities unsealed records showing he helped finance a marijuana trafficking ring that involved former Chiefs running back Bam Morris
. He served two months in prison .
He tried the NFL one last time in 2002, playing 7 games with the San Diego Chargers
, returning 16 punts and fumbling 3 of them.
As of 2007, he lives in Lake City, Florida
and is head coach of Lake City Christian Academy's football team. . Vanover has also returned to Florida State as a student, and worked as an assistant with the football team’s wide receivers in 2009.
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...
player in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Vanover spent two seasons at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, where he was named a first-team All-American in 1992 as a freshman kick returner. He earned national recognition for his kick returns, returning 13 kickoffs for 523 yards and two touchdowns with a 40.2-yard average. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of Year in 1992. Vanover had off-field problems and chose to turn professional after his junior year. He finished his career at Florida State with 87 receptions for 1,123 yards in two seasons for Seminoles.
The Las Vegas Posse
Las Vegas Posse
The Las Vegas Posse was a Canadian Football League team that played the 1994 season as part of the CFL's short-lived American expansion. The Posse was one of the least successful CFL teams, both on the field and off.-On the field:...
, a CFL expansion franchise, signed Vanover as a marquee player in 1994. He played in 15 games, catching 23 passes for 385 yards with three TDs. He returned 31 kickoffs for 718 yards with a 90-yard TD return and added 36 punt returns for 341 yards with another (105-yard) TD return.
Vanover set his sights on the NFL for 1995, and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. He began a 5-year stint with the Chiefs, playing 70 games, where he caught 39 passes for 564 yards, rushed for 88 yards, returned 181 punts for 1930 yards (a 10.2 average) and 4 TDs, and returned 226 kickoffs for 5422 yards (a 24.0 average) and 4 TDs.
His last season in Kansas City (1999) was successful on the field (as the league leader in punt return yardage and touchdowns), but marred by a range of problems off the field. He pled guilty to a felony charge of aiding and abetting in the sale of a stolen vehicle after agreeing to cooperate with federal authorities in their continuing investigation of drug-trafficking and stolen-vehicle rings. He was in the news again in March when the Chiefs, faced with having to pay Vanover a $750,000 roster bonus
Roster bonus
A roster bonus is a feature that may be included in a professional sports player contract.A roster bonus is conditional, unlike a signing bonus. The latter is received upon the initial signing of the contract and is generally the player's regardless of future events...
, renegotiated his contract. Finally, the Chiefs released him after federal authorities unsealed records showing he helped finance a marijuana trafficking ring that involved former Chiefs running back Bam Morris
Bam Morris
Byron "Bam" Morris is a former American football running back who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, and the Kansas City Chiefs.-Early life:...
. He served two months in prison .
He tried the NFL one last time in 2002, playing 7 games with the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, returning 16 punts and fumbling 3 of them.
As of 2007, he lives in Lake City, Florida
Lake City, Florida
Lake City is the county seat of Columbia County, Florida, in the United States. In 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 12,614. In addition, it is the Principal City of the Lake City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is composed of Columbia County, and had an...
and is head coach of Lake City Christian Academy's football team. . Vanover has also returned to Florida State as a student, and worked as an assistant with the football team’s wide receivers in 2009.