| CAREY IN 2003 |
| Outland Trophy Candidate Lombardi Award Candidate All-America Candidate All-BIG EAST Conference Candidate |
AT MIAMI: Rare talent who is reaching his vast potential as an offensive lineman… can play guard or tackle, and practiced extensively at both positions in the spring… has tremendous size and strength… a devastating run blocker who also has been excellent in pass protection… his lower body strength gives him good explosion off the ball… has exceptional leverage and flexibility.
2002 (JUNIOR): Took over the starting job at right tackle and became a dominant force… led the team in pancake blocks with 42… earned offensive most valuable player honors from the coaching staff for performances against Florida, Florida State, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech… only consensus All-America tailback Willis McGahee earned as many game MVP honors during the season… allowed only two quarterback sacks in his first season as a full-time starter… had a team-high six pancakes and six metrorails against Virginia Tech, as the Miami offense rushed for 256 yards and gained 556 total yards… had three pancakes and two metrorails at Syracuse while helping the Hurricanes rush for 173 yards and gain 565 yards total offense… had a team-high six metrorails and one pancake at Tennessee, leading the way for a 177-yard rushing effort as Miami gained 422 total yards… had five pancakes and two metrorails against West Virginia, helping Miami gain 102 yards rushing and 524 yards overall, including a 422-yard passing effort… had four pancakes and three metrorails in the comeback victory over Florida State, as Miami rushed for 115 yards and gained 477 yards total offense… had five metrorails and two pancake blocks in the win over Boston College, as the Hurricanes rushed for 182 yards and passed for 211… had a career-best seven pancakes against Temple, paving the way for a 112-yard rushing day and 477 total yards… produced a dominant outing with six pancakes and two metrorails in the 41-16 win over sixth-ranked Florida… was a major factor in an attack that amassed 508 total yards against the Gators, including 306 yards rushing… opened the season with three metrorails and two pancakes against Florida A&M, as Miami rushed for 312 yards and amassed 516 total yards.
2001 (SOPHOMORE): Became a prominent player in the offensive line rotation after approaching the 2001 season with renewed enthusiasm and inspiration… credited with 12 pancake blocks and 13 metrorails for the season… stepped in at tackle in the season finale at Virginia Tech when left tackle Bryant McKinnie went out with a knee injury… was graded at 84 percent for the Virginia Tech game… played right tackle after McKinnie’s departure when Joaquin Gonzalez switched over to the left tackle spot… played extensively in every game of Miami’s national championship season.
2000 (FRESHMAN): Saw action as the backup to Martin Bibla at right guard… played in eight games as a reserve… was a key reserve on an offensive line that emerged as one of the nation’s finest as the season progressed.
1999 (REDSHIRT): Spent the season as a member of the Hurricanes’ scout team.
HIGH SCHOOL: Northwestern… Parade All-American… USA Today first-team All-American… National Recruiting Advisor’s No. 1 prospect… No. 18 on SuperPrep National 50 and No. 3 in the state of Florida… rated SuperPrep’s No. 3 offensive lineman… No. 1 offensive lineman and No. 19 prospect overall by The Sporting News… No. 3 offensive lineman on PrepStar Dream Team Top 100… also selected to the Super 30 All-SEC Region by PrepStar and named the No. 2 offensive lineman in the region… selected to the Rivals.net Consensus High School All-America team… named to the Miami Herald Class 6-5A All-State first team… No. 18 on the Sun-Sentinel National Top 50… No. 8 on the Tampa Tribune national top 100… No. 4 on the Tampa Tribune Florida top 50… Tampa Tribune Blue Chip selection… Dallas Morning News National Top 100… Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100… Florida’s top-rated offensive lineman on the Florida Times-Union Super 75… a National and Dixie Blue Chip by Max Emfinger… Orlando Sentinel Super Southern honorable mention team… selected to the USA Today Super 25 preseason team… SuperPrep Preseason Elite 50 pick… Gridiron Greats Preseason Top 100… a National Recruiting Advisor Preseason Top 100 pick… did not allow a sack during his junior and senior seasons… had 32 pancake blocks, 11 knockdown blocks, as a senior… ºtimed at 5.0 in the 40-yard dash and bench pressed 410 pounds… had a best of 495 pounds in the squat, dead lifted 350 pounds and power cleaned 225 pounds… nicknamed “The Hulk”… helped guide Northwestern to the Florida Class 6A State Title in 1998… named to the Class 6A All-State first team… one of three UM signees in the Class of 1999 from state champion Northwestern… coached by Billy Rolle.
PERSONAL: Selected Miami over Florida, Ohio State and Kentucky… son of Andrea and Vincent Carey.
“Vernon has phenomenal athletic ability for a man his size and he continues to develop as a finisher. He’s an outstanding in-and-up gap blocker and is almost a finished product as a lineman.”
– Art Kehoe
U.M. Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach
CAREY’S 2002 GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS
| Opponent |
Metrorails |
Pancakes |
Sacks Allowed |
| Florida A&M |
3 |
2 |
0 |
| at Florida |
2 |
6 |
0 |
| at Temple |
1 |
7 |
0 |
| Boston College |
5 |
2 |
1 |
| Connecticut |
2 |
1 |
0 |
| Florida State |
3 |
4 |
0 |
| at West Virginia |
2 |
5 |
1 |
| at Rutgers |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| at Tennessee |
6 |
1 |
0 |
| Pittsburgh |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| at Syracuse |
2 |
3 |
0 |
| Virginia Tech |
6 |
6 |
0 |
| Ohio State (Fiesta Bowl) |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Totals |
37 |
42 |
2 |
Glossary:
Metrorail – Driving an opponent out of the play by holding a block for 5 seconds.
Pancake – Flattening an opponent.
