Vernon Carey life and biography

A majority of Vernon’s work in the community with the Dolphins has focused on kids, particularly in the Liberty City area of Miami, in which he grew up. “I like working with kids because of a lot of young kids don’t have the privilege of going different places and having an open mind about being successful in leadership,” Vernon says. “They need somebody to talk to them once in a while and show them that there’s more out there for them.”

PRO
2010 - Started at right tackle all seven games this season ... Has played in 99 straight regular season games and has started 82 regular season games in a row.

2009 - Started all 16 games at right tackle ... Named first-team All-Pro by Peter King of Sports Illustrated ... Part of a line that led a running game that averaged 4.4 yards per carry, the fifth consecutive year in which the Dolphins’ running game put together 4.0-yard average or better, during which time Carey has started 78 of 80 games ... It was the first time in team history that the Dolphins have amassed this average in five straight seasons ... Was part of offensive line that didn’t allow a sack for two straight games (Games 9-10) for the first time since Games 8-9 of the 2005 season ... Led the way as Miami rushed for 239 yards vs. Indianapolis (9/21) ... Helped the Dolphins rush for 250 yards vs. Buffalo (10/4), the most rushing yards by Miami since Dec. 1, 2002 when they rushed for 270 yards at Buffalo.

2008 - Started all 16 games at right tackle ... Was one of three offensive linemen (LT Jake long and C Samson Satele) to start all 16 games at the same position ... Helped pave the way for RB Ronnie Brown’s first career Pro Bowl selection ... Contributed to one of the franchise’s most productive offensive performances in a decade at New England (9/21), when the team compiled 461 net yards, the most since October 10, 1999 at Indianapolis ... Helped anchor a line that paved the way for the Dolphins to rush for season highs of 222 yards and a 6.3-yard average per carry against Oakland (11/16) ... Did not allow a sack of Chad Pennington as an offensive unit at St. Louis (11/30) ... In what was the coldest game in Dolphins history at Kansas City (12/21), offensive line did not allow a sack of Pennington for the third time in 2008.

2007 - Started all 16 games at left tackle after making the move from the right side, where he had started the previous two years ... Was one of four Dolphins offensive linemen to start every contest ... In fact, took part in all but 26 offensive snaps over the course of the year, with most of his time missed having occurred in the second half of finale vs. Cincinnati (12/30) when he left contest with a back injury.

2006 - Started all 16 games at right tackle, the first time in his three NFL seasons he opened every contest ... In fact, participated in all but one offensive snap over the course of the season ... Along with C Rex Hadnot, was one of only two Dolphins offensive linemen to start every game at the same position in 2006 ... Key part of a line that led the way for a running game which averaged 4.2 yards per carry ... Along with the Dolphins’ 4.3-yard per attempt in Carey’s first season as a starter in 2005, it represented the first time the Dolphins averaged better than a 4.0-yard per carry in consecutive campaigns since 1986-87.

2005 - Played in all 16 games, including 14 starts at right tackle ... The only games he did not open were at Buffalo (10/9) and at Tampa Bay (10/16) ... Part of a line that yielded just 26 sacks, the fourth-lowest total in the NFL, and led a running game that averaged 118.6 yards an outing and 4.3 yards per rush attempt, which ranked seventh and fourth in the AFC, respectively ... Took part in all but one offensive snap over the final 11 weeks of the season.

2004 - Played in 14 games, including two starts, in his rookie season ... Was inactive for two contests ... Made initial start of NFL career when he opened at right tackle in place of the injured John St. Clair (ankle) at New England (10/10) ... Also opened at that spot the following week at Buffalo (10/17).

COLLEGE
Four-year letterman (2000-03) who started his final two seasons at Miami ... Led the Hurricanes in key blocks (knockdowns/pancakes) as both a junior and senior ... Started 11 games as a senior ... Moved to left guard in spring drills after starting at right tackle as a junior ... Named as a third-team All-America choice by the Associated Press and College Football News ... Earned second-team All-Big East Conference honors from the media ... Started all 12 games at right offensive tackle as a junior ... Collected eight touchdown-resulting blocks and 79 key blocks (42 pancakes) ... Named as a second-team All-Big East Conference choice ... Played in every game with one start as a sophomore ... Stepped in at tackle in the season finale at Virginia Tech when left tackle Bryant McKinnie went out with a knee injury ... Played in eight games as a redshirt freshman ... Redshirted as a true freshman in 1999 ... Spent the season as a member of the Hurricanes’ scout team ... Holds B.A. degree in liberal arts.

PERSONAL

Married to LaTavia, his long-time girlfriend whom he wed on October 5, 2004, the Tuesday prior to the New England Patriots game of his rookie season (10/10), his first NFL start ... Couple has a son, Vernon, Jr. and twins, son Jaylen, and daughter, Taelynn ... Family resides in Davie ... Grew up in the Liberty City section of Miami and attended Northwestern High School ... Did not allow a sack during his junior and senior seasons ... Named as a Parade and USA Today first-team All-America pick as a senior ... Earned first team Class 6A All-State honors ... Helped guide Northwestern to the Florida Class 6A State Title ... Was a high school teammate of Bucs wide receiver Antonio Bryant and Broncos linebacker Nate Webster ... Also lettered in basketball ... As a child, Vernon lived across the street from the site where Sun Life Stadium now sits, and could see it being built from 1985 through its completion less than two years later ... Started the Vernon Carey Foundation in 2010 and recently hosted his inaugural golf tournament ... Was the Dolphins 2008 NFL Man of the Year ... Was the co-winner of the team’s “Nat Moore Community Service Award” for 2007 ... Is part of the Dolphins’ “All-Community Team,” in which he donates a block of tickets for every home game to Norland Middle School ... Has hosted a group of kids from the school to a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, a Miami Heat game and bowling ... Also has taken part in the Miami Dolphins Foundation’s annual charity fishing tournament, the “Souper Bowl of Caring” and “Rebuilding Together” ... Helped deliver furniture to a Boys and Girls Club member as part of the team’s Rooms To Go program ... Held a turkey giveaway during the holidays at Northwestern High School ... Enjoys shooting pool, playing basketball and bowling in spare time ... Growing up, the Miami Dolphins were his favorite sports team and Reggie White was his favorite athlete ... Lists “Martin” as favorite television show, Biggie Smalls as favorite recording artist and The Bible as favorite book ... Full name is Vernon A. Carey, born on July 31, 1981, in Miami, Fla.

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