[InmanRoshi]

OVERVIEW

Regarded as one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's premier players, Canty saw his 2004 season and collegiate career come to an end when he suffered a left knee injury in the fourth game vs. Syracuse when outside linebacker Jermaine Dias fell on his leg after a play. He had surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., shortly thereafter, but is expected to be ready for NFL training camp next summer.

Canty was an all-state tight end and defensive end at Charlotte (N.C.) Latin School, where he recorded 89 tackles with seven sacks and caught 20 passes for 400 yards as a senior. He did not participate in football until his junior year, but finished his two-year career with 161 tackles, 12 quarterback sacks and two fumble recoveries. Canty also lettered twice in basketball, earning all-conference honors.

He redshirted as a freshman for Virginia and played in every game as a reserve in 2001, totaling 23 tackles (19 solos) and three quarterback pressures. He started eight of 11 games in 2002, missing the first two games of the season with a broken right tibia and the West Virginia clash with a fractured left ulna. He still managed to lead the Atlantic Coast Conference down linemen with 86 tackles (52 solos) that year, adding a pair of sacks, four stops behind the line of scrimmage, four pass deflections and three fumble recoveries.

In 2003, Canty earned All-ACC second-team honors, as he again led the league's down linemen with a career-high 104 tackles (53 solos), including four sacks, 12 stops for losses and a dozen quarterback pressures. It marked only the second time in school history that a down lineman made over 100 tackles in a season, joining Stuart Anderson (106 in 1981).

Prior to injuring his knee, Canty was voted one of four team captains in 2004. He collected 30 tackles (21 solos) with a sack, seven stops behind the line of scrimmage and two quarterback pressures. Canty finished his career with 243 tackles (145 solos), seven sacks for minus-43 yards, 24 stops for losses of 79 yards, 20 quarterback pressures, four fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and six pass deflections. He started 26 of 40 games he played in.

ANALYSIS

Canty is a responsible character, from a supportive family. His mother serves as a pastor and everyone you talk to cites his maturity and accountability. NFL teams are concerned about a recent injury that he suffered. On Jan. 20 2005, he was in a Scottsdale, Ariz. nightclub when he was hit in the face with a beer bottle, causing injuries to his eye. He was kept in the hospital overnight and doctors say that he should not have any permanent vision loss.

He is a wide-body type who might be better suited for defensive tackle in a conventional 4-3 defensive alignment, or operating as an end in a 3-4 formation (played mostly this position in college). He has long arms and good lower-body strength, but fails to get good arm extension to keep blockers off his body. He has excellent size and athletic ability, but lacks the sudden explosion needed to string plays out. While he has adequate power, he can be stonewalled at the line due to marginal hand usage in attempts to shed and disengage.

He plays with a calculated attitude as he is best when the play is directed at him rather than pursuing the ball. When he stays low in his pads, he can stalk, wrap and secure the ballcarrier. But, he will get too high in his stance, resulting in offensive tackles locking on and pushing him back as he struggles to disengage. He lacks an array of moves to escape blockers and will get frustrated when he fails to shed, shutting down his motor on the play.

His huge wing span allows him to reach and engulf runners, but he is prone to making too many arm tackles, causing the backs to slip off him due to marginal power. He needs to improve his hand usage and placement, as a player with his reach should be dragging down ballcarriers from behind rather than trying to chase them down. Canty loses leverage at times due to his height. He has adequate lateral agility and change-of-direction skills, making him suspect in attempts to work outside the box. He just does not make many plays from across the field or from the backside.

He has outstanding leaping ability, as he will hurdle over blockers to make the play or bat down passes at the line of scrimmage. Canty is not the type that will generate much penetration into the backfield, as he is slow to shed, stays blocked too long and lacks explosion needed to shoot the gaps. As a pass rusher, he shows a decent swim move and can put some pressure on the quarterback in the short area. But, he is better off attempting the bull rush due to his lateness getting off the snap.

His knee injury early in the 2004 season will sideline him until training camp opens next summer and his recent eye injury will need further medical evaluation before his draft stock can be determined. Along with a fractured left ulna and right tibia in 2002 and shoulder problems as a freshman, durability issues are sure to arise. This could be an opportune time for him to bulk up, add strength and work on better hand technique for a possible move to tackle. The knee surgery and eye injury might scare off more than a few teams, but he still has qualities that make it worth giving him a look in the late rounds.

INJURY REPORT

2002 -- Missed the first two games of the season vs. Colorado State and Florida State after breaking his right tibia during spring drills (Apr. 6) … Sat out vs. West Virginia (Continental Tire Bowl) after be broke his left ulna in the Virginia Tech contest (Nov. 2).

2004 -- Missed the final seven games of the season after suffering a torn ligament in his left knee during the fourth quarter of the Syracuse game (Sept. 25). The injury occurred when Syracuse offensive guard Jason Greene pushed Cavalier linebacker Jermaine Dias, who then fell on the back of his legs after the two Virginia players combined to tackle tailback Damien Rhodes after a 2-yard run. He underwent surgery five days later, but doctors feel that he will be fully recovered by the time NFL camp opens in 2005.

2005 -- Suffered an eye injury on Jan. 30. He was in a nightclub in Scottsdale, Ariz., when he was attacked and hit by a beer bottle in his face. He was taken to a local hospital and released the following day. Doctors feel that he will not suffer permanent vision loss from this injury.

AGILITY

5.0 in the 40-yard dash … 335-pound bench press … 500-pound squat … 319-pound power clean … 31-inch vertical jump … 33¾-inch arm length … 10¼-inch hands … Right-handed.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Charlotte (N.C.) Latin School, playing football for coach Larry McNulty … Played tight end and defensive end as a junior and senior … Did not participate in football during his first two years at the school … Named all-state at both tight end and defensive end and all-conference as a tight end … As a senior he caught 20 receptions for 400 yards … Longest play of his career was a 66-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass … Defensively, he recorded 89 tackles and seven sacks as a senior … For his career, he had 161 tackles, 12 sacks and two fumble recoveries … Also lettered for two seasons in basketball, earning all-conference honors.

PERSONAL

Graduated in May, 2004 with a degree in African-American Studies … Presently enrolled in graduate school … Son of Joseph and Shirley Canty … Father played basketball at Claflin College … Brother, Sekou, played college football and presently is a high school football assistant coach in Rock Hill, S.C. … Brother, Joseph, played college football and basketball … Born Christopher Lee Canty on Nov. 10, 1982 in Bronx, N.Y. … Resides in Charlotte, N.C.