Big 12 Football: 50 best players of all-time
By Randy Gurzi
player. 823. . DB. Wildcats . Chris Canty. 37
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 37. Chris Canty, DB, Kansas State football
A two-time Consensus All-American (1995 and 1996), Chris Canty was a huge part of the rise to prominence for Kansas State. Before 1993, the Wildcats had never finished in the top-20 but then, they suddenly had a run of success for the next eight years.
Canty was a part of that as the 5-foot-9 defensive back was a stellar corner capable of guarding any wideout in the game despite being on the shorter side for the position. As a freshman, he had just one pick but then recorded 13 in the next two seasons, including eight as a sophomore. He also returned two of those for touchdowns — proving that he was a playmaker with the ball in his hands.
He was so good once he had the rock that Kansas State tried to get him involved on offense and special teams. He returned 26 punts for 269 yards and a touchdown as a junior and added 206 yards on seven kickoff returns as well. Canty even logged time as a wideout and had 78 yards on five receptions.
After his three seasons with the Wildcats, Canty entered the 1997 NFL Draft and was taken in the first round by the New England Patriots. His success didn’t follow him to the NFL as he ended up playing for three different teams in five seasons. He did have some flashes, including a three-interception campaign in 1999 for the Seattle Seahawks but he didn’t show out the way he did for K-State.