William Michael Tolbert[1](born November 23, 1985) is an American former professionalfootballfullbackin theNational Football League(NFL). He playedcollege footballfor theCoastal Carolina Chanticleers.Tolbert was signed by theSan Diego Chargersas anundrafted free agentin 2008. He was also a member of theCarolina Panthers,where he was a three-timePro Bowlerand two-time first-teamAll-Pro.He signed with theBuffalo Billsin 2017 after being released by the Panthers.
 Tolbert with the Panthers in 2016 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 35 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Fullback | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | November 23, 1985 Carrollton, Georgia,U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 260 lb (118 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Douglas County(Douglasville, Georgia) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Coastal Carolina(2004–2007) | ||||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2008 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Early life
editTolbert attended and playedhigh school footballatDouglas County High School.[2]
College career
editTolbert had a four-year career atCoastal Carolina Universityunder head coachDavid Bennett.[3]As a freshman, he had 281 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.[4]As a sophomore, he had 202 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.[5]As a junior, he had 439 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.[6]He was named a second-teamFCSAll-American after leading the Chanticleers in rushing with 748 yards on 111 carries and nine touchdowns.[7]In four years, he had 303 touches without any fumbles. He followed in the footsteps ofQuinton Teal,who was undrafted in 2007, but went toSan Diego Chargerstraining camp as an undrafted free agent and made the roster becoming the first player in school history to appear in an NFL game. At Coastal Carolina, Tolbert also was teammates with quarterbackTyler Thigpenand wide receiverJerome Simpson,who would both also go on to play in the NFL.[8]
College statistics
edit| Season | Team | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 2004 | Coastal Carolina | 47 | 281 | 6.0 | 52 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 13.0 | 15 | 0 |
| 2005 | Coastal Carolina | 49 | 202 | 4.1 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 17 | 0 |
| 2006 | Coastal Carolina | 70 | 439 | 6.3 | 80 | 7 | 14 | 187 | 13.4 | 45 | 1 |
| 2007 | Coastal Carolina | 111 | 748 | 6.7 | 86 | 9 | 7 | 58 | 8.3 | 14 | 0 |
| Career | 277 | 1,670 | 5.8 | 86 | 21 | 26 | 291 | 10.4 | 45 | 1 | |
Professional career
edit| Height | Weight | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft8+3⁄4in (1.75 m) |
246 lb (112 kg) | |||||||||||
| All values fromPro Day[9] | ||||||||||||
San Diego Chargers
editTolbert was signed as an undrafted free agent by theSan Diego Chargerson April 28, 2008.[10]On September 22, against the New York Jets, he had his first professional touchdown in the 48–29 victory.[11]Tolbert played in 13 games in the 2008 season (starting 7 at fullback) and rushed for only 37 yards on 13 carries.[12]In the 2009 season, he rushed for 148 yards with one touchdown, as well as catching 17 passes for 192 yards and three receiving touchdowns, of which one was a 66-yarder against the Cleveland Browns.[13][14]In the 2010 season, he emerged as a co-starter along withRyan Mathews.In Week 2, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had 82 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[15]On October 3, against the Arizona Cardinals, he had 100 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the 41–10 victory.[16]On November 22, against the Denver Broncos, he had 111 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the 35–14 victory.[17]Overall, he finished the 2010 season with 182 carries for 735 yards and 11 touchdowns.[18][19]He started the 2011 season with 35 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, nine receptions, 58 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns in the 24–17 victory.[20]Overall, he finished the 2011 season with 490 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 54 receptions, 433 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns.[21]
Carolina Panthers
edit
On March 19, 2012, Tolbert signed a four-year, $10 million ($4.2 million guaranteed) contract with theCarolina Pantherswhere he got the nickname,The Toldozer.[22]In the regular season finale against the New Orleans Saints, he had three rushing touchdowns in the 44–38 victory.[23]Overall, in the 2012 season, he finished with 183 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 27 receptions, and 268 receiving yards.[24]Utilized as a fullback, Tolbert earned his firstPro Bowlappearance in 2013.[25]Overall, he finished the season with 361 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 27 receptions, 184 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns.[26]He was also named to the2013 All-Pro Team,another first of his career.[27]
In the 2014 season, Tolbert finished with 37 carries for 78 rushing yards and 12 receptions for 93 receiving yards in eight games in the regular season.[28]The Panthers made the playoffs and faced off against the Arizona Cardinals in theWild Card Round.[29]He finished the 27–16 victory with seven rushing yards and a one-yard touchdown reception.[30]In theDivisional Roundagainst the Seattle Seahawks, he had ten rushing yards and a 14-yard reception in the 31–17 loss.[31]
Tolbert finished the 2015 regular season with 62 carries for 256 yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with 18 receptions for 154 yards and three touchdowns.[32]For his efforts, he was named to the 2015 Pro Bowl as well as the AP All-Pro First-team.[33][34]The Panthers finished the season with a 15–1 record, which set a new franchise record for wins.[35]On February 7, 2016, Tolbert was part of the Panthers team that played inSuper Bowl 50.In the game, the Panthers fell to theDenver Broncosby a score of 24–10.[36]In the loss, Tolbert had five carries for 18 yards and one fumble.[37]
On March 9, 2016, Tolbert signed a two-year deal with theCarolina Panthersworth $3.3 million with $700,000 guaranteed.[38][39]He finished the 2016 season with 114 rushing yards to go along with 10 receptions for 72 yards and a receiving touchdown.[40]
On February 21, 2017, Tolbert was released by the Panthers.[41]
Buffalo Bills
editOn March 8, 2017, Tolbert signed with theBuffalo Bills.[42]
Throughout training camp, he competed for the backup running back role againstJonathan Williams.Head coachSean McDermottnamed him the backup toLeSean McCoyto start the regular season.[43]
On September 10, in the season opening 21–12 victory over theNew York Jets,Tolbert had a one-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter for his first score with the Buffalo Bills.[44]Overall, he finished the 2017 season with 247 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 14 receptions, and 78 receiving yards.[45]
NFL career statistics
edit| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2008 | SD | 13 | 7 | 13 | 37 | 2.8 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 171 | 13.2 | 67 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | SD | 16 | 3 | 25 | 148 | 5.9 | 32 | 1 | 17 | 192 | 11.3 | 66 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | SD | 15 | 4 | 182 | 735 | 4.0 | 36 | 11 | 25 | 216 | 8.6 | 28 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| 2011 | SD | 15 | 1 | 121 | 490 | 4.0 | 40 | 8 | 54 | 433 | 8.0 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2012 | CAR | 16 | 4 | 54 | 183 | 3.4 | 13 | 7 | 27 | 268 | 9.9 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | CAR | 16 | 13 | 101 | 361 | 3.6 | 22 | 5 | 27 | 184 | 6.8 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | CAR | 8 | 2 | 37 | 78 | 2.1 | 15 | 0 | 12 | 93 | 7.8 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | CAR | 16 | 3 | 62 | 256 | 4.1 | 29 | 1 | 18 | 153 | 8.6 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | CAR | 16 | 2 | 35 | 114 | 3.3 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 72 | 7.2 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | BUF | 12 | 0 | 66 | 247 | 3.7 | 25 | 1 | 14 | 78 | 5.6 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Career | 143 | 44 | 696 | 2,649 | 3.8 | 40 | 34 | 217 | 1,861 | 8.6 | 67 | 12 | 10 | 5 | |
In popular culture
editIn the third season of theFXXcomedy seriesThe League,the character Andre goes on a rant about Mike Tolbert and what he calls "Touchdown Vultures," or players who enter the game in goal line situations and score touchdowns, "stealing" fantasy points from the player whom they replaced. This has led to Tolbert's nickname "The Vulture".
Tolbert has worked as a correspondent for the Carolina Panthers since 2018.[46]
References
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- ^Mahone, Derrick (September 30, 2017)."Mike Tolbert ready for homecoming in Atlanta".Douglas County Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon March 8, 2018.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
- ^"Mike Tolbert NCAA FB Stats - Season & Career Statistics".FOX Sports.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2018.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
- ^"2004 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Player Rushing Stats".FOX Sports.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2018.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
- ^"2005 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Player Rushing Stats".FOX Sports.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2018.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
- ^"2006 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Player Rushing Stats".FOX Sports.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2018.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
- ^"2007 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Player Rushing Stats".FOX Sports.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2018.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
- ^"Coastal Carolina Players/Alumni".Pro Football Reference.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2018.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
- ^"Mike Tolbert, Coastal Carolina, FB, 2008 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football".draftscout.Archivedfrom the original on December 9, 2021.RetrievedDecember 8,2021.
- ^Strickland, Bryan (March 19, 2012)."Panthers sign FB Tolbert".panthers.Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2022.RetrievedNovember 6,2022.
- ^"New York Jets at San Diego Chargers - September 22nd, 2008".Pro Football Reference.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2018.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
- ^"Mike Tolbert 2008 Game Log".Pro Football Reference.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2018.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
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- ^"Jacksonville Jaguars at San Diego Chargers - September 19th, 2010".Pro Football Reference.Archivedfrom the original on November 14, 2022.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
- ^"Arizona Cardinals at San Diego Chargers - October 3rd, 2010".Pro Football Reference.Archivedfrom the original on November 23, 2022.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
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- ^"Mike Tolbert".Spotrac.Archivedfrom the original on March 10, 2016.RetrievedMarch 10,2016.
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External links
edit
- Career statistics fromNFL·ESPN·Yahoo Sports·Pro Football Reference
- Coastal Carolina Chanticleers bio