Larry Centers

Larry Eugene Centers (born June 1, 1968) is an American former football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, mostly the Phoenix / Arizona Cardinals (1990–1998).

In 1989, with Centers as their starting running back, the Lumberjacks advanced to the 1989 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game where they lost by a field goal to the Georgia Southern Eagles.

After graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University, Centers was drafted by the Phoenix Cardinals in the fifth round of the 1990 NFL Draft.

He saw limited playing time in his first two seasons, as head coach Joe Bugel had doubts on his ability to carry the ball and thought of him as a third-down running back.

According to his coaches, Centers particularly needed work on his pass protection skills and he spent an entire off-season mastering the capability.

The role of the fullback as a ball carrier was starting to diminish as the NFL game evolved during the 1990s.

Yet, Centers's offensive numbers only increased as the years went by, especially his receptions and his leadership ability.

He caught 66 passes in his fourth NFL season.

His playing time started to increase and by 1992, Centers rushed for 139 yards and caught 50 passes for 417 yards.

On October 4, 1992, Centers scored the winning touchdown against the Washington Redskins with less than a minute remaining to break an 11-game Cardinals losing streak.

The game-winning touchdown was the first of Centers' NFL career.

In 1994, Bugel was fired and replaced by Buddy Ryan.

Ryan allowed Centers more opportunity to run with the ball, carrying the ball a career-high 115 times while catching 77 receptions.

One of the most prolific pass catching running backs in NFL history, he topped 100 receptions in 1995 and had 99 receptions in 1996.

He owns the NFL record for most passes caught by a running back during a career.

He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1995, 1996, and 2001.

Centers was born in Tyler, Texas and grew up in Longview.

He began playing little league football for the Bramlette Bears as a running back and quarterback during his elementary school years and went on to play in middle school for the Forest Park Eagles and high school for the Longview Lobos until his junior year.

He played on both sides of the ball as a defensive back and runnningback and wide receiver.

Centers did not play football at all his junior year of high school.

After his family moved to nearby Tatum, where his mother was an administrator in education, Centers decided to play football again after being urged to do so by his elder brother.

After a solid season in Tatum, he earned a scholarship to nearby Stephen F. Austin State University.

He was also recruited by Baylor, Texas Tech, and several junior colleges.

His brother, Donnie, played for the University of Arkansas and coach Lou Holtz as a wide receiver.

After being recruited as a running back, wide receiver, and a defensive back, Centers began his college football career with the Division I-AA Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks as a wide receiver.

As a freshman, he broke his pinky finger on his left hand and was then assigned to play scout team running back and special teams.

In his sophomore season against Nevada, an injury to the team's starting running back allowed Centers a chance to play.

In the win, Centers rushed nine times for 96 yards and finished the season with 100-plus rushing yards in each of the remaining six games.

He also led the Lumberjacks in receptions, rushing yards and yards from scrimmage during his junior and senior years.

Centers was a two-time all-Southland Conference pick and set a school record for rushing yards in his senior season.

In 1995, Centers had one of the greatest seasons ever of any modern day fullback, recording 101 receptions for 962 yards.

He became the first runningback to record 100 receptions.

Unfortunately, his team was not successful despite his contributions; they finished the 1995 season with a 4–12 record and Ryan was fired at the end of the year and replaced by Vince Tobin.

In 1996, Centers recorded 99 receptions for 766 yards and seven touchdowns, while also gaining a career-high 425 yards on 116 carries, and he scored two touchdowns on the ground.

He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row, but once again his team had a disappointing season, finishing with a 7–9 record.

Centers became a free agent after the season.

Centers then played for the Washington Redskins (1999–2000), the Buffalo Bills (2001–2002), and finally was a member of the New England Patriots.

Centers played college football for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks.

He held the record for most receptions by a running back with 101 until this record was broken by Matt Forte in 2014 with 102.

He also rushed for 254 yards, scored four touchdowns, and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time.