Virginia Tech senior wide receiver C.J. Carroll is retiring from football, he announced on Twitter earlier Thursday evening. The fifth-year senior has been dealing with foot injuries over the past couple of seasons.
“As many of you may know I’ve been battling through a foot injury for the past two years and trying extremely hard to get healthy,” Carroll said on Twitter. “Unfortunately after another setback Saturday night my family and I have decided it is in my best interest at this moment to stop playing the game I love and get healthy.”
Carroll came to Tech as a walk-on in 2014 and redshirted in his first season. He played two games in his freshman season before playing in all 13 games of his sophomore season. In 2016 he rushed for 46 yards and made 18 receptions for 258 yards.
Carroll started out solid in the 2017 campaign, but was sidelined halfway through the season with an injury, missing games from Oct. 7 to Nov. 18. He returned to the gridiron for the regular season finale against Virginia, catching two passes for 12 yards. He finished the season with 15 receptions for 157 yards and one touchdown, hauling in a touchdown pass against Old Dominion.
Carroll has been used as a punt returner during the 2018 season. He has returned eight punts for 54 yards, his longest coming on a 20-yard return against Notre Dame.
While he was redshirting during his freshman year, Carroll earned Hokie honors in the weight room for squatting 370 pounds and running a 4.69 40-yard dash during spring testing. His work ethic has been rewarded as he received a scholarship following the 2016 season. Carroll was also honored with the No. 25 jersey for the game against Notre Dame in 2016, a game in which he made three receptions for 80 yards. During the game, Carroll made a 62-yard reception that set the Hokies up at Notre Dame’s six-yard line.
“These last 4+ years at Virginia Tech have been incredible and I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Carroll said on Twitter. “Blacksburg will always be home.”
Photo Credit: Harley Taylor
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