ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals sign five draft choices

Jul 29, 2011, 9:38 PM | Updated: 10:43 pm

Tempe – The Arizona Cardinals announced that the team has signed the following five draft choices to four-year contracts: Texas linebacker Sam Acho (4th round) Connecticut fullback Anthony Sherman (5th round), North Carolina linebacker Quan Sturdivant (6th round), UCLA defensive tackle David Carter (6th round) and San Diego State wide receiver Demarco Sampson (7th round).

Acho earned first-team All-Big 12 honors and was a third-team All-American selection by the Associated Press after collecting 59 tackles, nine sacks, five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries while starting all 12 games as a senior.

The Dallas, TX native finished his college career by appearing in 50 games with 148 tackles, 23.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, and eight passes defensed. He started all 26 games in his final two seasons at Texas.

Sherman served as the lead blocker at Connecticut for four different running backs who rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season, including 2010 Big East Offensive Player of the Year Jordan Todman.

He was a two-time team captain and a three-year starter at fullback. The North Attleboro, MA native concluded his colligate career with 45 receptions for 414 yards and one touchdown to go along with 17 carries for 61 yards.

He also had 63 tackles, recovered two fumbles and forced a fumble on special teams and 219 knockdown blocks and 38 TD-resulting blocks on offense.

Sturdivant led the Tar Heels in tackles in both his sophomore and junior seasons. He finished third on the team last season with 61 tackles, a career-best three sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss last in eight games.

He was a key part of a run defense that ranked 22nd in the nation in 2010. As a junior in 2009, Sturdivant became the first UNC linebacker to earn All-ACC first-team honors since 1997.

He finished his collegiate career with 309 tackles, seven sacks, 27.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, nine passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and seven quarterback pressures in 46 games.

Carter started all 12 games last season as a senior and was the defensive recipient of UCLA’s Kenneth S. Washington Award as the team’s most outstanding senior.

He ranked sixth on the team in 2010 with a career-high 41 tackles and added 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss.

Carter finished his collegiate career with 66 tackles, 6.5 sacks, five passes defensed and one forced fumble in 40 career games.

Sampson earned All-Mountain West Conference first-team honors last year after starting all 13 games and finishing with a career-high 67 receptions for 1,220 yards and eight touchdowns.

He finished second in the MWC in receptions and second in the conference and 10th nationally in receiving yards. He also posted six contests with more than 100 receiving yards last season.

The Chula Vista, CA native finished his San Diego State career with 146 receptions for 2,242 yards and 18 touchdowns in 48 career games.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

20 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

23 hours ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Cardinals sign five draft choices