J. C. Caroline: Difference between revisions

| name = J. C. Caroline

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| number = 25

| position = [[Cornerback]]

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|1|17}}

| birth_place = [[Warrenton, Georgia]], U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|11|17|1933|1|17}}

| death_place = [[Urbana, Illinois]], U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 185

| high_school = [[Booker T. Washington High School (Columbia, South Carolina)|Booker T. Washington]] <br> ([[Columbia, South Carolina]])

| college = [[Illinois Fighting Illini football|Illinois]] (1953–1954)

| draftyear = 1956

| draftround = 7

| draftpick = 82

| pastteams =

| highlights =

| statlabel1 = [[Interception]]s

| statvalue1 = 24

| statlabel2 = Interception yards

| statvalue2 = 405

| statlabel3 = [[Fumble]] recoveries

| statvalue3 = 6

| statlabel4 = Defensive [[touchdown]]s

| statvalue4 = 3

| pfr = C/CaroJ.00

| CollegeHOF = 1779

'''James C. Caroline''' (January 17, 1933 – November 17, 2017) was an American [[Gridiron football|football]] player in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Illinois Fighting Illini football|Illinois Fighting Illini]], where he played as a [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] and was a consensus [[1953 College Football All-America Team|All-American in 1953]]. After a year in the CFL with the [[Toronto Argonauts]] and the [[Montreal Alouettes]], Caroline played for ten10 seasons in the NFL with the [[Chicago Bears]]. He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1980.

Caroline played [[college football]] for the [[Illinois Fighting Illini football|Illinois Fighting Illini]] as a [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]], where he [[Varsity letter|lettered]] in 1953 and 1954. Caroline led the nation in rushing with 1,256 yards in 1953 as a sophomore, and was named [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]].<ref name=tribune>{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Shannon |title=Nevada's Jordan Caroline, the son and grandson of Illinois legends, never got a call from 'dream school' |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-loyola-nevada-jordan-caroline-20180321-story.html |access-date=June 13, 2018 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=March 21, 2018}}</ref> The next year, he was ruled ineligible to play due to academic reasons, so instead of returning to college his senior year, Caroline chose to play [[Canadian football]].

He initially signed with the [[Toronto Argonauts]]Signed for $15,000, andCaroline played with themthe throughToronto SeptemberArgonauts. TheyAfter thenbeing stunnedcut by the league when he was placed on waivers; head coach [[Bill Swiacki]]Argonauts, claimedCaroline hesigned wasn't good enough as a [[defensive back]]. The only team that could afford him waswith the division champion [[Montreal Alouettes]]., where Carolinehe rushed for 575 yards onin thehis first season. He played in the [[43rd Grey Cup|1955 Grey Cup game]]. FollowingIn that year1956, Caroline earned a physical education degree from [[Florida A&M University]] and was drafted by the [[Chicago Bears]] with the 82nd overall pick in the [[1956 NFL Draftdraft]].

Beginning in 1956, Caroline had a ten10-year career with the Bears.<ref name=tribune/> Playing primarily as a [[cornerback]], Caroline finished his career with 24 [[interception]]s and six total [[touchdown]]s—twos, two rushing, one receiving, one [[fumble]] recovery, and two on interceptions. Caroline intercepted [[Johnny Unitas]]'s first NFL career pass attempt and returned it for a touchdown. He was a two-way player for the Bears' 1956 Western Conference champions and a cornerback on the 1963 NFL championship team.

After his professional football career, Caroline moved to [[Urbana, Illinois]] and coached the [[Urbana High School (Illinois)|Urbana High School]] football team in 1982. andHe taught physical education at [[Urbana, Illinois#Urbana Middle School|Urbana Middle School]].

Caroline was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1980. He was portrayed by actor [[Bernie Casey]] in the 1971 [[biopic]] ''[[Brian's Song]]''.

[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeoplesportsmen]]

[[Category:21st-century African-American peoplesportsmen]]