Carson Palmer

Carson Palmer was born on December 27, 1979, in Fresno, California. While attending Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Carson had a penchant for pigskin, setting twenty-seven records on his school football team. He also excelled in basketball, and made the 1998 Student Sports Grid-Hoops All-America second team, averaging eight points and eight rebounds per game.

In 1998, Carson enrolled in the University of Southern California. Majoring in public policy and management, Carson became the second freshman to ever start at quarterback for the USC Trojans. During his senior year, Carson excelled under the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who had previously spent twenty-seven seasons at Brigham Young University and one at North Carolina State University. Carson became the fifth Trojan to snag the prestigious Heisman Trophy Award, preceded by Mike Garrett (1965), OJ Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), and Marcus Allen (1981).

After setting impressive records with the Trojans and leading them to a 38-17 victory over the University of Iowa in the Orange Bowl, Carson had a relatively low-key rookie year with the Cincinnati Bengals when he was drafted to the NFL. Before the Bengals' 2004 training camp, Carson was chosen as starting quarterback over Jon Kitna, with whom has become good friends and golf partners. During the 2005-06 season, Carson became the first Bengals quarterback to finish with a 100+ passer rating, set a Bengals’ franchise record by throwing a league-leading thirty-two touchdown passes, and also set the franchise record for highest passer rating in one season.

In 2005, Carson and four other Bengals were voted to the 2006 Pro Bowl game. However, a severe knee injury prevented him from playing. In January 2006, he underwent reconstructive knee surgery in Houston, Texas. When his surgeon, Dr. Lonnie Paulos, described the injury to the media as “devastating and potentially career-ending,” Carson implied that Dr. Paulos was merely interested in generating publicity for himself. After his knee was surgically repaired, on August 28, 2006, Carson completed nine of fourteen passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns in less than two quarters during the Bengals' 48-17 pre-season victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Carson currently lives with his wife, Shaelyn. In addition to football, Carson enjoys golf, video games, and basketball. His younger brother, Jordan Palmer, who seems to have inherited Carson’s athletic abilities, is a highly ranked quarterback at the University of Texas-El Paso and entered his senior season in 2006.

In 2004, Carson founded the Carson Palmer Foundation Golf Classic, which raised funds for Hillview Acres shelter for abused and underprivileged children.

YUDDY