Anquan Boldin
Anquan Kenmile Boldin Sr. (/ˈænkwɑːn/; born October 3, 1980) is an American former football wide receiver who played for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens, the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions.
No. 81, 80
October 3, 1980
Pahokee, Florida, U.S.
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Florida State (1999–2002)
2003 / Round: 2 / Pick: 54
1,076
1,076
13,779
82
Boldin was the 2003 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, was selected to three Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl XLVII with the Ravens. In 2015, he was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year for his community service.[1] Despite not being named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, Boldin is widely considered as one of the greatest wide receivers of his era.[2]
High school career[edit]
Boldin played football, basketball, and ran track at Pahokee High School.[3] His ability playing as a quarterback led him to be named Florida's Mr. Football in 1998.[4] During his senior season, Pahokee held a 10–0 regular season record including a 34–14 win over Glades Central in the annual Muck Bowl.[5] After the season, he was a USA Today first-team selection and named Florida Player of the Year.[6]
Also a standout track athlete, Boldin competed in sprinting, jumping and throwing events at Pahokee High. He was timed at 52.34 seconds over 400 meters. In jumps, he recorded a personal-best leap of 6.13 meters in the long jump. As a thrower, he got a top-throw of 13.53 meters in the shot put.[7]
In 2007, he was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team, a team compiled of the top 33 players in the 100-year history of high school football in the state of Florida.[8]
College career[edit]
Boldin attended Florida State University from 1999 to 2002. In the 2002 season, he had nine receptions for 175 receiving yards against Notre Dame, a three-touchdown game against North Carolina, and a two-touchdown game against rival Florida.[9][10][11] He was converted to wide receiver in order to get more playing time. In 23 games at wide receiver, he caught 118 passes for 1,790 yards (averaging 15.2 yards per reception) and 21 touchdowns.[12]
Professional career[edit]
2003 NFL Draft[edit]
Boldin created initial concerns of the NFL scouts after he registered a relatively slow 4.7 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.[13] He was drafted in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals with the 54th overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft.[14]
Personal life[edit]
Boldin has a brother, DJ Boldin, who was an offensive assistant for the San Francisco 49ers and is the head football coach at NCAA Division II Lake Erie College.[124][125] One of his cousins was Corey Jones.[126]
Boldin is a Christian. With the Baltimore Ravens, Boldin would often lead Bible study in the locker room.[127]
Boldin established the Anquan Boldin Foundation aka Q81 Foundation in 2004. The Foundation is dedicated to expanding the educational and life opportunities of underprivileged children and has a track record for sustaining programs in multiple cities. As evidenced by the charitable activities in Arizona, Baltimore and Boldin's home state of Florida, the Q81 Foundation has its annual Q-Festival Weekend,[128] Holiday Turkey Drive and Shopping Spree, and Q81 Summer Enrichment Program partnered with Florida Crystals[129] The Foundation exercises scholarship and dental programs for children. It also serves the community by rewarding great scholastic and community achievement in youth.[130]
In March 2012, Boldin and former Cardinals teammate Larry Fitzgerald went to Ethiopia, where they volunteered to move rocks to create arable land.[131]