Tulsa loses starting safety

Harry · August 15, 2005

TULSA, Okla. -- Tulsa safety Shannon Carter aggravated a nerve injury during spring drills and will be forced to quit football, coach Steve Kragthorpe said Friday.

Carter started 17 games over the past two seasons, but missed five games last season after repeatedly injuring the brachial plexus nerves in his neck and right shoulder.

He had been projected as the Golden Hurricane's starter at free safety.

"I haven't really had time to swallow not being able to play again," Carter said in a statement. "Obviously, every athlete knows his day is coming, and for me I'm still going to remain in sports. It's always been such a vital part of my life. I've always looked forward to this part of my life anyway, but I just didn't know that this time would come now."

Kragthorpe said Carter will serve as a student assistant coach for the Golden Hurricane.

"Coaching is always something that's been close to my heart," Carter said. "Unfortunately, my health doesn't allow me to contribute on the field any more, so I'm going to do everything I can to use the gifts I've been given, to communicate an understanding of the game of football to help this team."

Carter, a 26-year-old junior from El Reno, had 121 tackles and three interceptions in 19 career games for Tulsa.

He left the Toronto Blue Jays' Class A affiliate Dunedin, Fla., to take a football scholarship at Tulsa. He had been drafted out of high school in 1997 by the Baltimore Orioles.