Kevin Faulk

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Kevin Faulk
Date of birth June 5, 1976 (age 30)
Place of birth Flag of United States Lafayette, Louisiana
Position(s) Running Back
College LSU
NFL Draft 1999 / Round 2/ Pick 46
Statistics
Team(s)
1999–present New England Patriots

Kevin Tony Faulk (born June 5, 1976 in Lafayette, Louisiana) is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He played college football at LSU, is known as a third-down back and pass receiver out of the backfield.

He is a distant cousin to NFL running back Marshall Faulk.

[edit] High School Career

Faulk attended Carencro High School in Carencro, Louisiana, where he helped his team win the 1992 State Championship (Class 5A). In high school, Faulk rushed for 4,877 yards on 603 carries (8.1 yards per carry). He also had 7,612 all-purpose yards and 89 touchdowns. He was twice chosen as Louisiana's Most Valuable Player (Class 5A). He was also given All-American Honors by USA Today and Parade.

[edit] College career (1995-98)

In 1995, Faulk went to the Louisiana State University (LSU), where he immediately became the starting running back for LSU's football team.

At LSU, Faulk rushed for 4,557 yards in 41 games, which was 2nd best in SEC history behind the legendary Herschel Walker of Georgia (5,259 yards in 33 games). Faulk also finished his career with 6,833 career all-purpose yards and 53 total touchdowns, which ranked him 5th in NCAA history and 1st in SEC history.

In 1996, Faulk was voted to the College Football All-America Team by the AP.

Faulk holds the following school records at LSU:

LSU Career All-Purpose Records
  • Most career all-purpose yards (6,833)
LSU Career Scoring Records
  • Most points scored in a career (318 points)
LSU Career Rushing Records
  • Most career rushing yards (4,557 yards)
  • Best career yard-per-rush average (5.32 yards per rush)
  • Best career yard-per-game average (111.2 yards per game)
  • Most career rushing touchdowns (46)
  • Most career 100-yard-rushing games (22)
  • Most career 200-yard-rushing games (4)
  • Most career 1,000-yard seasons (3)

Faulk was also one of the best kick returners in LSU's history with 832 yards and 2 TDs on punt returns and 884 yards and 1 TD on kickoff returns.

[edit] NFL Career (1999-)

In 1999, Faulk was selected by the New England Patriots in the 2nd round (46th overall) of the 1999 NFL draft. During that same year, Faulk finished his rookie season with 1,358 all-purpose yards in only 11 games. He also returned a kickoff for 95 yards against the New York Jets on November 15.

In 2000, Faulk finished the regular season with 1,909 all-purpose yards in 16 games.

In 2001, Faulk helped the Patriots finish the regular season with an 11-5 record by compiling 1,070 all-purpose yards in 15 games.

In 2002, Faulk finished the regular season with 1,440 all-purpose yards in 15 games. He also finished 2nd in the NFL with a 27.9-yard kickoff return average (725 yards on 26 returns). That same year, he broke the Patriots' franchise record for total kickoff return yards, which had previously been held by David Meggett (who had 2,561 yards on kickoff returns). Also in 2002, Faulk returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, becoming only the 2nd player in Patriots history to return more than one kickoff for a touchdown in a season. One kickoff return was an 86-yard return against the Oakland Raiders on November 11, the other was an 87-yard kickoff return against the New York Jets on December 22.

In 2003, Faulk helped the Patriots finish the regular season with a 14-2 record by compiling 1,351 all-purpose yards in 15 games (including 1,078 yards from scrimmage). In Super Bowl XXXVIII, Faulk helped the Patriots to a 32-29 victory over the Carolina Panthers with 42 yards rushing and 19 yards receiving. His biggest plays were a 23-yard run in the 4th quarter and a two-point conversion score with 2:51 left in the fourth quarter.

He has the most receptions for a running back in Patriots franchise history.

Preceded by
Terry Allen
New England Patriots Starting Running Back
2000
Succeeded by
Antowain Smith