Rock Cartwright continued to perform as a solid special teams player, kickoff return specialist and reserve running back in 2008. Entering his eighth season, he ranks second all-time in club history in kickoff return yards (4,464). His 2006 kickoff return yardage total of 1,541 bested Brian Mitchell’s previous team mark of 1,478 in 1994. Cartwright played in 16 regular-season games in 2008 and as the Redskins’ primary kickoff returner, he totaled 51 kickoff returns for 1,307 yards (25.6 average) and added 14 special teams tackles.
How Acquired: Selected by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round (257th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
Pro:
Played in 107 career games with three starts
Has 661 rushing yards on 151 carries (4.4 avg.) and six touchdowns
Has 32 receptions for 313 yards (9.8 avg.) and one touchdown
Totaled 4,464 yards on 183 kickoff returns (24.4 avg.)
Enters the season ranked second all-time in club history in kickoff return yards (4,464)
Posted the third-longest kickoff return in club history (100 yards) at Dallas (9/17/06)
2008 Season (WAS):
Played in all 16 regular season games
As the Redskins’ primary kickoff returner, totaled 51 kickoff returns for 1,307 yards (25.6 avg.)
Posted five carries for 14 yards and caught one pass for -7 yards
Finished fourth on the team in special teams tackles (14)
Had second-longest kickoff return of his career--an 87-yarder--at Cincinnati (12/14) to help set up a Redskins field goal
2007 Season (WAS):
Played in 15 regular season games, inactive at New England (10/28) and appeared in one postseason contest at Seattle (1/5)
As the Redskins’ primary kickoff returner, totaled 52 kickoff returns for 1,339 yards (25.8 avg.)
Finished second on the team in special teams tackles (36)
2006 Season (WAS):
Played in all 16 regular season games
Established a club record for kickoff return yards in a single season (1,541 yards), besting Brian Mitchell’s previous club record (1,478 yards in 1994)
Posted the third-longest kickoff return in club history (100-yard kickoff return) at Dallas (9/17) - the Cowboys had not given up a kickoff return for a touchdown since 1993
Tied a club record for most kickoff returns in a single season (59) - (Brian Mitchell had 59 kickoff returns in 1998)
2005 Season (WAS):
Played in all 16 regular season games and two postseason contests
Finished third in special teams tackles (22)
Had a career-high 118 rushing yards on just nine carries (13.1 avg.), including a 52-yard jaunt at St. Louis (12/4)
Also returned four kickoffs for 82 yards (20.5 avg.)
2004 Season (WAS):
Played in 13 regular season games and added 15 special team tackles
2003 Season (WAS):
Played in 15 regular season games with three starts (Dallas 12/14, at Chicago 12/21 and Philadelphia 12/27)
Established career-highs in rushing yards (411) and rushing attempts (107); receptions (18) and receiving yards (176)
Was crucial on short yardage situations, earning 11 first downs on 14 third-and-one attempts
Had two kickoff returns for 26 yards (13.0 avg.)
2002 Season (WAS):
Made his NFL debut against Arizona in Week 1 (9/8)
Played a strong role in special teams coverage and returns, finishing with three special teams tackles
Earned All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention from the league’s coaches as a senior in 2001 at Kansas State
Attended Trinity Valley (Athens, Tex.) Community College as a sophomore in 1999; earned honorable mention All-Conference in both his seasons there and led the Cardinals to a Southwest Junior College Conference title win
Attended Conroe (Tex.) High School and started all four seasons in football; was named Parade All-American and set a school season record with 2,060 yards as senior; finished his career with 5,231 rushing yards
Lettered four years in track & field and twice in baseball
Was a social science-education major at Kansas State
When he was young, his grandmother nicknamed him Rock Baby. As he grew older, his family dropped Baby but Rock has stuck with him ever since
Changed his number from 40 to 31 prior to the 2005 season to honor his mother who passed away
Helped kick off Score with Reading, a book distribution and reading motivational event in 2007; also participated in the Harris Teeter-Redskins Harvest Feast presented by Ryan Homes, helping distribute Thanksgiving food baskets at FedExField to Prince George’s County residents in need
In conjunction with the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and Dick’s Sporting Goods, Cartwright attended teammate Antwaan Randle El’s. Randle El Warms Up Washington’s Youth event and helped distribute coats to 300 underserved area children
