DRI ARCHERRunning Back/Wide ReceiverKent State University Golden Flashes5-8 - 173Laurel, FloridaVenice High School3rd Round – 97th Overall
CAREER NOTES
Archer started 21-of-47 games at Kent State – 20 at the A-Back position and one as a tailback…Caught 99 passes for 1,194 yards (12.06 ypc) and 12 touchdowns…Gained 2,342 yards with 24 scores on 325 carries (7.21 ypc)…Returned 51 kickoffs for 1,436 yards and four touchdowns…Also completed a 24-yard pass for a score, adding eight yards on six punt returns while also recording three solo tackles…Generated 4,980 all-purpose yards, an average of 105.96 yards per game, as he recorded a total of 40 touchdowns and scored 240 points…Mid-American Conference Career-Record Results…Archer's 40 total touchdowns tied P.J. Pope of Bowling Green (2002-04) for 16th place on the league record chart…His kickoff return average of 28.16 yards ranks fourth in MAC annals behind Bryan Williams of Akron (20.5 avg, 2007-08), James Williams of Marshall (29.4 avg, 1998-99) and Eric Page of Toledo (28.9 avg, 2009-10)…School Career-Record Results…Archer ranks 10th in school annals with 99 receptions, as his 12 scoring grabs tied Jurron Kelly (1998-01) for sixth on the school all-time list…His 40 total touchdowns are one shy of the school record of 41 that is held by Josh Cribbs (2001-04)…Finished ninth on the KSU rushing record list with 2,342 yards and eighth with 24 touchdowns on the ground…His 1,436 yards gained via kickoff returns rank seventh in school annals, while his average of 28.16 yards per kickoff return topped the previous Golden Flash record of 24.5 yards by Norman Warren (1977-79)…Also set the team record with four kickoff returns for touchdowns…His 240 points scored are third-best at the school behind Josh Cribbs (246; 2001-04) and Freddy Cortez (299; 2009-12).
2013 SEASON
Archer played in 10 games, starting nine contests at A-Back…Recorded 327 yards with four touchdowns on 25 receptions (13.08 ypc)…Carried 68 times for 527 yards (7.75 ypc) and six scores…Returned two kickoffs for 128 yards and one touchdown…Scored 66 points behind a total of 11 touchdowns, as he also recorded a pair of solo tackles and generated 982 all-purpose yards…The team offensive captain was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a kickoff for a 100-yard touchdown vs. Northern Illinois...Named to All-MAC Third Team as both a wide receiver and a kick returner... Averaged 7.8 yards per carry... Led team in scoring with 66 points and 11 total touchdowns. Tied for team lead in rushing touchdowns (6)... Led team with 982 all-purpose yards... Rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns in win at Ohio. Also caught five passes for 53 yards, giving him 191 yards of total offense... Scored on a 20 yard touchdown run in the victory over Miami, this was his eighth rushing touchdown this season... Rushed 10 times for 115 yards, including a 74 yard touchdown run as well as a 73 yard touchdown catch in the loss at South Alabama. Archer accumulated 199 yards of total offense and 227 all-purpose yards... Caught a 14 yard touchdown pass during the loss to Ball State... Caught a 66 yard touchdown pass as well as returning a kick 100 yards for a touchdown (tying Norman Warren in 1979 for longest in school history) during the loss to Northern Illinois... Caught a 31 yard touchdown pass during the win at Western Michigan... He snared four balls for 48 yards and a 31-yard score, adding 73 yards on six carries vs. Western Michigan…In addition to his kickoff return for a score, he caught a swing pass that Archer turned into a 66-yard touchdown vs. Northern Illinois…He added a 14-yard scoring grab vs. Ball State and picked up 114 yards on ten carries with a 74-yard touchdown run, as he also tallied 85 yards on two catches that included a 75-yard score vs. South Alabama…Generated 83 yards on 12 runs and reached the end zone on a 17-yard carry, knocking down All-American defensive end Khalil Mack to leap over the pylon vs. Buffalo…Closed out his career with 15 attempts for 138 yards and three touchdowns, as he also made five catches for 53 yards vs. Ohio University.
2012 SEASON
Archer earned All-American honors from The NFL Draft Report, Associated Press, Walter Camp, ESPN.com, Sporting News and Phil Steele…Named Mid-American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year and All-MAC first-team as both a running back and kick returner...One of four finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, honoring nation's most versatile player...Finished the year with 1,429 rushing yards (third most in a season at KSU) on just 159 carries with 16 touchdowns, as his average of 8.99 yards per attempt topped the nation...Named Dapper Dan Club of Akron's Co-Sports Person of the Year...Led the team with 39 catches for 561 yards (14.38 ypc) and four touchdowns... Returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and averaged 36.9 yards on 16 kick returns (highest in MAC history), good for 591 yards...Named to Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll three times throughout the season...Earned the Joe Fogg Award, honoring national collegiate player of the year in the Midwest...Named MAC East Player of the Week for his performance vs. Bowling Green, after rushing 17 times for 241 yards and two touchdowns that both went for over 70 yards in the 31-24 victory. His 241 yards broke a Doyt Perry Stadium record…Amassed 217 yards vs. Towson, as he carried eight times for 57 yards with two scores, returned two kickoffs for 155 yards and a 98-yard touchdown, as he also had an 8-yard catch…Raced 47 yards for a touchdown and tallied 205 all-purpose yards vs. Kentucky…Exploded for a career-high 350 all-purpose yards, rushing eight times for 72 yards, catching three passes for 104 yards and two scores, including a 33-yarder and returned four kickoffs for 174 yards with a 99-yard touchdown vs. Ball State…Gained 127 yards on 14 rushes vs. Buffalo and carried 12 times for 229 yards and a score, as he also threw a 24-yard pass for a touchdown vs.Army…Ran for a 30-yard score on 11 tries for 129 yards vs. Akron and carried 11 times for 151 yards and a pair of touchdowns, adding 54 yards and a score on two catches and a 13-yard kickoff return for 218 all-purpose yards in the Miami (Oh.) clash…Followed with 241 yards on 17 runs vs. Bowling Green.
2010 SEASON
Archer appeared in 12 games at tailback and had 75 yards on 16 catches with a score and 140 yards on 40 carries (3.50 ypc) that included one touchdown…Gained 451 yards on 22 kickoff returns (20.5 avg).
2009 SEASON
A reserve tailback as a true freshman, Archer finished fourth on the team with 743 all-purpose yards. Was second on the squad with 246 rushing yards on 58 carries (4.2 ypc) and also had 19 grabs for 231 yards...Posted four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing)...Led the team with a 24.18-yard average on 11 kick returns for 266 yards.
HIGH SCHOOL
Archer attended Vencice (Laurel, Fla.) High School, playing football for head coach John Peacock…Received just a twostar prospect grade from both Rivals.com and Scout.com… Named team MVP, first team all-area and second team all-conference during his senior year…In 2008, he rushed for 1,482 yards and 17 touchdowns on just 145 carries (10.2 ypc), while adding 21 receptions for 402 yards and five scores…Helped lead the team to back-to-back district titles and an undefeated 2008 regular season…Returned kicks for the Indians, averaging 22.3 yards on both kickoffs and punts, including running back one punt for a touchdown…Also lettered in track and baseball, finishing second in the 100-meter final of the state track meet in his first full season of running (ahead of third place Denard Robinson, former Michigan quarterback and present Jacksonville Jaguar) with a time of 10.49 seconds.
PERSONAL
Archer is majoring in Business Management…Son of Valerie Hart…Born 8/09/91...Resides in Laurel, Florida.
James Saxon RE 3rd Round Pick Dri Archer
James Saxon: We just selected Dri Archer in the third round. We are very, very excited. This organization just got another potentially great football player. He is going to add to the running back room very well. He is going to be able to be a dynamic football player with the ball in his hands. I'm very excited and looking forward to working with the young man. We are ready to roll.
Re: Little guys on third down pass block:
The one thing to the kids credit is he's as tough as any of the kids I've been around and he's going to learn to do a number of different things. We are going to try and put him in a position where he is going to succeed. Whatever way we can find to get this kid the ball or to have him involved in our offense we are going to do that as a staff. Todd Haley is going to do a great job with that. We are all going to work together to get this guy in the right place.
Does he return both punts and kicks?
Yes.
What did you have his 40-yard dash time listed as?
We had him at a sub 4.2. Some scouts had him at a sub 4.2. It doesn't really matter the kid can run, you can see that on tape. There is no denying that part of it. The kid is a special football player with the ball in his hands.
Were you looking for a speed guy to complement Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrett Blount?
Number one, I think Coach Tomlin would say the same thing, we are looking for good football players. We want players that are going to come in here and contribute to wins. I think this kid, no question, has this type of ability.
RB/WR Dri Archer Conference Call - TRANSCRIPT
How does it feel to get drafted by the Steelers?
It's a great feeling. It's a dream come true. I couldn't be happier than what I am right now.
Did you have any expectations on where you would be selected?
I really didn't have any expectations. I just really took it one day at a time. Took it one draft pick at a time. It's a great city and I'm going to be with a great organization and playing with a great group of guys.
What do you know about the Steelers organization and did you follow them growing up?
Yeah, I actually followed them a little bit growing up. I had the chance to meet Coach Tomlin at the combine as well as the rest of the staff. I know it's going to be a great organization to play for and I'm just ready to get started.
What was your 40-yard dash time at the combine? What is your fastest ever?
I was timed at 4.26 at the combine, and my fastest time is a 4.21, which I ran at college a couple of Springs ago.
Do you return both punts and kick-offs?
I have returned both but I didn't return too much in college. It's something I have been working on this offseason when I've been training though.
