NFF National Scholar-Athletes
A two-time All-America and All-Pac-10 Conference selection, UCLA linebacker Carnell Lake was the Bruins leader in sacks in 1987 (13) and 1988 (5.5), and his 13 sacks led the Pac-10 in 1987. A four-year letterman under College Football Hall of Fame coach Terry Donahue, he helped UCLA to a 37-9-2 record, two Pac-10 titles and victories in the 1986 Rose Bowl, 1986 Freedom Bowl, 1987 Aloha Bowl and 1989 Cotton Bowl. Lake recorded 11 tackles in the 31-10 win over BYU in the Freedom Bowl. A co-captain in 1988, Lake ranks third in school history in single-season sacks (13); fourth in career sacks (25.5); eighth in single-season tackles for loss (19); and 17th in career total tackles (284). Selected to play in the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game, he holds the school record for career tackles for loss (45.5). Boasting a 3.15 GPA in political science, Lake frequently made speeches to young children about the importance of education.
Lake was selected in the second round (34th overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and started 15 games at defensive back as a rookie in 1989, leading the team with five fumble recoveries and earning team Rookie of the Year honors. He played 10 seasons with the Steelers, starting in all 154 games and intercepting 16 passes with three returned for touchdowns. He accumulated 677 total tackles, forced 15 fumbles, recovered 16 fumbles and recorded 21.5 sacks. Lake finished his career with one season each with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Baltimore Ravens. A five-time Pro Bowler and a First Team All-Pro selection in 1997, he received one vote for league MVP. Lake also earned Second Team All-Pro Honors three times. He is a member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade team, the Steelers All-Time team, the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame and the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. Lake served as the secondary coach for his alma mater in 2009 and has been the cornerbacks coach for the Steelers since 2011. Pittsburgh led the league in total defense in 2011 and 2012, and they ranked second in 2014.
