Nolan Carroll

Nolan Alexander Carroll II (born January 18, 1987) is an American former professional football cornerback. He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

Nolan Carroll II was born on January 18, 1987 in Green Cove Springs, Florida. His mother, Jennifer, is a former Lieutenant Governor of Florida and a former United States Navy lieutenant commander. His father, Nolan Carroll, was a Senior Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force.

He attended Clay High School in Green Cove Springs, where he was a one-year letterman in soccer and a three-year starting wide receiver for the football team. In his second football game as a senior, he broke his leg and was forced to sit out for the rest of the 2004 season. Nevertheless, The Florida Times-Union named him to its Super 11 and Super 24 teams. PrepStar named him an All-Southeast region and SuperPrep an All-Dixie region player.

Carroll received athletic scholarship offers from Central Florida, Colorado, Louisville, Maryland, and Mississippi. Scout.com rated him a two-star college prospect, while Rivals.com considered him a three-star prospect. He ultimately committed to attend the University of Maryland.

Carroll sat out the 2005 season on redshirt status, and was named the scout team player of the week for his performance in the practices in preparation for the Florida State game. In 2006, Carroll saw action in all 13 games as a reserve wide receiver and on special teams. He recorded five kickoff returns for 60 yards. Against West Virginia, he had two returns for 12 yards; against Boston College, he had two for 31 yards; and against Wake Forest, he had one for 17 yards.

In 2007, he was converted to the cornerback position, and saw action in all 13 games as a reserve. He recorded seven tackles on special teams, and returned five kickoffs for 84 yards. He saw action in the 2007 Emerald Bowl against Oregon State, but recorded no statistics. In 2008, he saw action in ten games including four starts as a cornerback. Carroll recorded 37 tackles. In the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl against Nevada, he tallied seven tackles including four solo, and broke up two passes.

Carroll entered the 2009 season as a starting cornerback, but broke his leg in a September 12 game against James Madison, and missed the rest of the season. Prior to the season, he was elected by his teammates as one of the team's four captains. Defensive coordinator Don Brown said of Carroll, "If you were going to clone a guy at that position that he plays, he'd be one of the prototypes." The NFL Draft Scout, a CBS Sports affiliate, considered Carroll the 25th out of 225 ranked cornerback prospects for the 2010 NFL draft, and projected him as a sixth- or seventh-round selection.

NFL Draft Scout, a CBS Sports affiliate, considered Carroll the 24th out of 225 ranked cornerback prospects for the 2010 NFL draft, and projected him as a sixth- or seventh-round selection.