Caelen Carson
American football player (born 2002)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Caelen Carson (born March 3, 2002) is an American professional football cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.
| No. 21 – Dallas Cowboys | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Cornerback | ||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | March 3, 2002 Waldorf, Maryland, U.S. | ||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | North Point (Waldorf, Maryland) | ||||||
| College | Wake Forest (2020–2023) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 2024: 5th round, 174th overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||
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Early life
Carson attended North Point High School in Waldorf, Maryland, where he was a wide receiver and a cornerback on the football team. He helped them reach the Maryland 4A state championship, while they had a 13-1 record. Carson was a first team All-Southern Maryland selection.[1]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caelen Carson CB |
Waldorf, MD | North Point | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Jun 5, 2019 | |
Recruit ratings: Scout:  Rivals:  247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Rivals: Unranked 247Sports: 1725 ESPN: Unranked | ||||||
Sources:
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College career
Carson played in all but one game his freshman year, and tallied up 25 tackles, a forced fumble, and one interception.[2] He got his first interception of his career against Virginia. In 2021, he played every game up until a 58-55 loss to North Carolina, where he went down with an injury, and missed the rest of the season.[3] He ended 2021 with 31 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a fumble recovery.[4] 2022 was also hammered by injuries for Carson, as he injured his leg against Liberty on September 9, and didn't see the field until the Demon Deacons faced Louisville.[5] He finished 2022 with 21 tackles, and no interceptions.[6] He played in 11 out of 12 games in his redshirt junior year, and ended up with 42 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.[7] After the season, he accepted an invite to the 2024 Senior Bowl.[8] He also was invited for the NFL Combine.[9]
College statistics
Professional career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11+7⁄8 in (1.83 m) | 199 lb (90 kg) | 31+3⁄8 in (0.80 m) | 8+1⁄4 in (0.21 m) | 6 ft 3+5⁄8 in (1.92 m) | 4.53 s | 1.54 s | 2.59 s | 35.5 in (0.90 m) | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) | 6 reps | ||
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[10][11] | ||||||||||||
Carson was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 174th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft.[12] He was named the Week 1 starting cornerback, starting five games while missing 11 due to a shoulder injury.
Carson began the 2025 season on injured reserve after suffering a hyperextended knee in training camp. He was activated on October 18, 2025, ahead of the team's Week 7 matchup against the Washington Commanders.[13]