50 GREATEST GOLDEN BEARS - #25 - ANDRE CARTER

#25 - ANDRE CARTER - DEFENSIVE END (1997-2000)
The leader of the Hit Squad, one of the best defensive units in California football history, Carter finished his career in Berkeley as the school's all-time sack leader with 29. His play on defense was often the offensive highlight on Cal teams that went 15-29 over his career.

The son of former NFL All-Pro Rubin Carter, Andre surprised many experts by signing with Cal out of Oak Grove High in San Jose. He cracked the starting lineup in the fifth week, and showed immediate promise. As a sophomore Carter was a second-team All-Pac 10 performer, his season highlighted by two fumble recoveries against Oklahoma - one of which led to Cal's winning score in a 13-12 game.

As a junior Carter recorded 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss while Cal continued to struggle on offense. Against Nebraska he had his finest game of the season, with two sacks, six pressures and eight tackles. For his efforts Carter was named 1st team all-Pac 10 and 2nd team All-America by the Football News and CBS.

After much speculation that he would turn pro, Carter returned to Berkeley for his senior year and simply dominated opposing right tackles. Andre logged 13 sacks, 36 quarterback pressures and a career-high 59 tackles. He was Pac-10 Player of the Week in the opening victory over Utah with a sack, a fumble recovery and seven solo tackles (three for loss). In his best performance of the season, Carter had four pressures, 2.5 sacks, and four tackles for loss in a 28-16 upset of USC in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Carter was a rare unanimous All-America selection, the winner of the Morris Award as the Pac-10's top defensive lineman, and a finalist for the Nagurski Award. Over his career Carter recorded 55 tackles for loss, totaling 279 yards.

Andre was drafted in the 1st round by the San Francisco 49ers in 2001, and is currently playing for the Washington Redskins. Durable throughout his college career, he has been slowed by injury in the NFL, but still occasionally shows the quick burst off the edge that made him a legend in Cal football history.