Anthony Poindexter

Infobox NFL player


Color=LightSteelBlue
fontcolor=black
Name=Anthony Poindexter
Caption=
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1976|7|28
Birthplace= Forest, Virginia
DateOfDeath=
Deathplace=
Height_ft=6
Height_in=0
Weight_lbs=210
Position=S
College=University of Virginia
DraftedYear=1999
DraftedRound=7 / Pick 10
Career Highlights=Y
CFLAllStar=
ProBowls=
Awards=ACC best defensive player
All-American team
Honors=
Retired #s=
Records=
Stats=Y
PFR=
DatabaseFootball=
NFL=
CBS=
ESPN=
SportsIllustrated=4866
years=1999-2000
2000
teams=Baltimore Ravens
Cleveland Browns
CollegeHOF=
HOF=

Anthony Scott Poindexter (born 28 July 1976 in Forest, Virginia) is a former American football player for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. He is the current Assistant Special Teams Coordinator and Running Backs Coach for the University of Virginia where he graduated.

College career

Anthony Poindexter played safety for the University of Virginia Cavaliers with #3, and was compared to NFL players such as Ronnie Lott for his hard hitting style. As a redshirt freshman in 1995, Poindexter teamed with fellow defensive back Adrian Burnim in one of the most famous plays in Cavalier history as the two stopped Florida States' running back Warrick Dunn inches from the endzone on the last play of the game which preserved Virginia's 33-28 victory over the Seminoles. That was the first time Virginia or any other ACC team had defeated the Seminoles in conference play. In 1996 he made a school record with 98 tackles and as a junior in 1997 he had his first All-American season with 78 tackles. As a junior Poindexter had the choice between declaring himself for the 1998 NFL Draft or staying in college for his senior year. Draft experts projected that he would likely be drafted in the first round, but Poindexter stayed at Virginia for his senior season. The Cavaliers were expected to have a very strong team and were ranked as high as the top ten. In the first seven games of the season, Poindexter made 73 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions.

In a game against N.C. State in 1998, Poindexter made a tackle on wide receiver Charles Coleman but he twisted his left leg and tore his ACL and two other ligaments. His season was over at Virginia and possibly his professional career. He could not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine or the Virginia Pro Day.

NFL career

His chances of getting drafted were slim and depended on the teams' doctors' opinions. It was the Baltimore Ravens who dared to take a chance on Poindexter by drafting him in the seventh round with the 216th overall pick. In his rookie-season he was placed on the injured reserve list and he returned for the Ravens' championship season in 2000. He played in 10 games on special teams where he caused one forced fumble. He didn't play in Super Bowl XXXV however. Shortly after the game he was released, but was picked up by the Cleveland Browns in June. He was released again in September that same year and never played another NFL game.

Coaching career and aftermath

Currently Poindexter is the Assistant Special Teams Coordinator and Running Backs Coach for his old college, the University of Virginia. His story of waiting a year too long to enter for the NFL Draft has become legendary. When Michael Vick held a press conference telling that he was going to enter the NFL Draft, he said that he wouldn't want to end up like Anthony Poindexter did.