Hall of Fame
Position: Running Back
Years: 1991-94
Place of Birth: Westerville, Ohio
Date of Birth: Sept. 12, 1973
Jersey Number: 32
Height: 5 ft 10 in
Weight: 226 lb
High School: Westerville South HS (Ohio)
Ki-Jana Carter burst onto the national stage as one of the most dynamic and productive running backs in college football during the early 1990s with a unique blend of speed, power and playmaking ability. The Westerville, Ohio, native now becomes the 21st player from Penn State to enter the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.
A 1994 Unanimous First Team All-American and Heisman Trophy runner-up, Carter was among the nation's most feared offensive weapons. That season, he ranked second nationally in scoring (138 points), fourth in rushing (1,539 yards) and fifth in total yards (1,662), anchoring Penn State's march to the Big Ten title and a No. 2 final national ranking. He was also a finalist for both the Maxwell Player of the Year and the Doak Walker Award in 1994.
Playing for NFF College Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno and alongside 2018 inductee and quarterback Kerry Collins, Carter helped propel the Nittany Lions to a 40-9 record and four bowl appearances during his tenure. He earned MVP honors in the 1995 Rose Bowl as Penn State capped an undefeated season with a signature victory, while also starring in wins at the 1992 Fiesta Bowl and the 1994 Citrus Bowl, and appearing in the 1993 Blockbuster Bowl. Penn State finished with national rankings in each of his four seasons in Happy Valley, including three top 10 finishes and an undefeated 12-0 season in 1994.
In Big Ten play, Carter was a two-time All-Big Ten selection (Second Team in 1993, First Team in 1994) and led the league in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yardage as a junior. At Penn State, he was the team's MVP during the undefeated 1994 campaign and left with numerous school records: highest career rushing average (7.16), most rushing yards (1,539) and rushing touchdowns (23) by a junior, single-season record for 100-yard games (9), and the bowl game touchdown record (three in the 1995 Rose Bowl). Carter finished his Nittany Lion career with 395 carries for 2,829 yards and 34 touchdowns, ranking among the program's all-time leaders.
Selected first overall in the 1995 NFL Draft by the Bengals, Carter played in the league from 1995–2004 in the NFL with Cincinnati, Washington and New Orleans.
Carter is the owner of ByoGlobe, a branded promotional products company, in Plantation, Florida, and he is actively involved in community service throughout South Florida, including previous work with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2014.
