Former Miami Hurricanes QB Dorsey & veteran DB Carpenter sign with Argonauts

On the Season Preview teleconference today, the Toronto Argonauts Football Club announced that former University of Miami Hurricanes’ star quarterback Ken Dorsey and veteran CFL and NFL defensive back Dwaine Carpenter, former teammates in San Francisco (2003-2004), have signed with the club.

Dorsey, who has gained his pro experience over six seasons split between the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns, brings with him a very impressive college resume. He left behind a legacy at Miami that includes back-to-back BCS National Championship appearances, including a win over Nebraska in the 2001 game, and a collection of records and awards that could fill a book. Dorsey was originally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He started 11 games over three seasons with the 49ers. He was traded to Cleveland, in exchange for QB Trent Dilfer, at the beginning of the 2006 season and played primarily as a backup quarterback with four starts in 2008.

Commented Dorsey, “I am very excited to become a part of one of the oldest and best sports franchises in history and to help create something special here in Toronto. The CFL is different than any other brand of football out there, but it is a challenge I cannot wait to attack as a part of the Argos organization. I look forward to coming to camp and competing, and helping the Argos with our ultimate goal: winning a Grey Cup."

After four seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers and the St. Louis Rams, Dwaine Carpenter joined the Stampeders in 2007. He dressed in 50 games with the club and recorded 119 tackles, 44 special teams tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries in three seasons for Calgary, winning a Grey Cup with them in 2008 when he had a remarkable 4 DT and 1 PKD outing in Montreal.

Carpenter remarked, “It feels great to sign with the Argos. I have always thought the Argonauts organization and the city of Toronto would be a great place to be. I’m grateful and appreciative that Coach Barker is giving me a chance to come in and help the team out. I’ve been impressed with the off-season moves of the team and I’m ecstatic to rejoin Coach Barker who was the person who convinced me come to the CFL in the first place.”

Ken Dorsey
Quarterback
6’4”, 220 lbs.
Miami
Born: April 22, 1981
Orinda, California
1st Year Argos / 1st Year CFL
Imports

Acquired: Signed as a free agent with Toronto on May 26, 2010.

2009: Released by Cleveland on February 9.
2008: Attended training camp with Cleveland and named backup QB for most of season…Named starter on December 2 when starter Derek Anderson suffered an injury…Completed 43 of 91 passes for 370 yards on the season…Injured in second-last game of season.
2007: Attended training camp with Cleveland and released as a final cut…Re-signed with Cleveland following regular season week 1 and listed as backup QB for remainder of the season.
2006: Traded to the Cleveland Browns (NFL) along with a seventh round pick (CB Trumaine McBride) in exchange for QB Trent Dilfer on May 4…Joined Browns as third string quarterback behind Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson…Listed as third QB for 13 weeks…Promoted to backup QB for final three weeks of the season and attempted one pass.
2005: Started all three games he played in and completed 48 of 90 passes for 481 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs…Was inactive in five games and did not play in eight…Thrust into action when Tim Rattay was traded and Alex Smith suffered a knee injury.
2004: Dressed in eight games with seven starts for San Francisco…Completed 123 of 226 passes for 1,231 yards, 6 TDs and 9 INTs…Made his NFL game debut vs. Atlanta (12/09/04) replacing injured starter Tim Rattay in the second quarter…Completed 9 of 15 passes for 111 yards in debut…Made first career NFL start at New Orleans (09/19/04) and completed 18 of 32 passes for 205 yards and 1 INT.
2003: Selected in the seventh round (241st overall) of the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers…Listed as the 49ers’ third quarterback for 14 games and promoted to backup QB for two games.

College: Played four seasons for the University of Miami (1999-02) compiling a 38-2 record… Won the BCS Championship as a junior…Won 34 straight games with the Hurricanes… Still owns most Miami passing records…2002 Led Miami to another BCS National Championship game, a devastating double-OT loss to Ohio State…Passed for 3,369 yards, 28 TDs and just 12 INTs on the season… Fifth in Heisman Trophy balloting behind Carson Palmer…Walter Camp Player of the Year Finalist…Archie Griffin Award Winner…Named All-Big East First Team All-Star…Named Co-Offensive Player of the Year… Named Academic All-Big East…2001 Led Miami to the BCS National Championship (Rose Bowl) win over Nebraska…Third in Heisman Trophy balloting behind former Argo Eric Crouch…Co-MVP of 2002 Rose Bowl…Walter Camp Player of the Year Finalist…Archie Griffin Award Winner…Named All-Big East First Team All-Star…Named Maxwell Award recipient as college football’s outstanding player…Named Co-Offensive Player of the Year…Named Academic All-Big East…2000 Led team to Nokia Sugar Bowl victory over Florida…Named All-Big East First Team All-Star…Named Academic All-Big East…1999 Led ‘Canes to Gator Bowl victory over Georgia Tech as a freshman.

Personal: Ken and his wife Jordan live in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The couple has a 1-year old daughter named Tyler and are expecting their second baby in July of this year. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Giving Back Fund, an organization that manages and supports a host of celebrity charities through a variety of fundraising initiatives. Ken helped coached a local Florida high school team to a winning record and a playoff berth in 2009. He earned a degree in business management and marketing from U of Miami. Ken attended Miramonte High School and led the school to back-to-back regional titles.

Dwaine Carpenter
Defensive Back
6’2”, 207 lbs.
North Carolina A&T
Born: November 4, 1976
Pinehurst, North Carolina
1st Year Argos / 4th Year CFL
Import

Acquired: Signed as a free agent with Toronto on May 26, 2010.

2010: Released by the Calgary Stampeders in May.
2009: Appeared in 17 regular-season games and made eight starts for Calgary…Finished the season with 38 DTs, 15 ST tackles and 1 QB sack…Made three forced fumbles and tied for the league lead with four fumble recoveries…2009 Playoffs Dressed in the West Semi-Final and West Final…Combined for 1 tackle in both playoff games for the Stampeders.
2008: Appeared in all 18 regular season games for the Stampeders…Made 35 DTs and was second on the team with 17 ST tackles…2008 Playoffs Played in West Final…Made 1 ST tackle and 1 PKD….Grey Cup Championship Dressed at LB vs. Montreal at Olympic Stadium…Made 4 DT and 1 PKD in win.
2007: Signed with the Calgary Stampeders…He had season-high six-tackle games on three occasions…2007 Playoffs Started West Semi-Final vs. Saskatchewan making 4 DTs, 1 PKD, 1 Tkl for Loss of 4 yards and 1 INT for 74 yards.
2006: Dressed in 9 games for the St. Louis Rams…Recorded 4 DTs…Released by St. Louis following the season.
2005: Played in 2 games recording 1 tackle for San Francisco…Released by the 49ers and singed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams (NFL)…Played in one game and recorded 1 DT with the Rams.
2004: Played in 15 games for San Francisco…Made 54 tackles and 1 interception for 31 yards.
2003: Signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers (NFL)…Played in 15 games and recorded 27 tackles.

College: Played at North Carolina A&T University…1999 As a senior, Carpenter led the team in interceptions and was named the top defensive back.

Personal: Dwaine and his wife Taptolia have two sons, Jaelin and Jordan, and a daughter, Sequoia, and live in Hampton, Georgia. In his spare time, he trains using Taekwondo. He has hosted basketball camps in his hometown to raise money to support youth sports in his county.