Dri Archer
Dri Archer (born August 9, 1991) is a former American football running back, wide receiver, and return specialist who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL).[1] Standing at 5 feet 8 inches and weighing 173 pounds, Archer was renowned for his exceptional speed, recording a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.[1] His career spanned college stardom at Kent State University and a brief NFL tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was selected in the third round, 97th overall, of the 2014 NFL Draft.[2] After appearing in 20 games over two seasons, primarily as a kick returner, Archer signed with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills in 2016 but did not see regular-season action with either team, effectively retiring from professional football thereafter.[1] In 2021, he was inducted into the Kent State Athletics Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to the Golden Flashes program.[3] Since retiring, Archer has worked as a running backs coach for youth football programs, including Wolff Elite as of 2024.[4] At Kent State from 2009 to 2013, Archer emerged as one of the most dynamic players in college football, accumulating 4,980 all-purpose yards and 40 total touchdowns—figures that rank third and second in school history, respectively.[5] His breakout 2012 season was particularly dominant, as he rushed for 1,429 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 561 receiving yards and three kickoff return touchdowns, leading the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in multiple categories including rushing yards, scoring, and kick return average (36.9 yards per return).[5] That year, Archer earned consensus All-American honors and was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, highlighting his versatility across rushing (325 career attempts for 2,342 yards and 24 touchdowns), receiving (99 receptions for 1,194 yards and 12 touchdowns), and special teams (51 kickoff returns for 1,436 yards and four touchdowns).[5] His all-purpose prowess helped Kent State achieve an 11–3 record (8–0 MAC) and a bowl appearance in 2012, solidifying his legacy as a program icon.[5] In the NFL, Archer's role with the Steelers emphasized his speed and return abilities, though his offensive production was limited.[1] Over 2014 and 2015, he recorded 10 rushing attempts for 40 yards, seven receptions for 23 yards, and 23 kickoff returns for 515 yards in 20 games, mostly as a reserve.[1] Injuries and competition for return duties curtailed his opportunities, leading to his release by Pittsburgh in September 2015; subsequent stints with the Jets (practice squad) and Bills (training camp) ended without further advancement.[6] Despite the short professional career, Archer's draft selection marked him as the fifth Kent State player since 1974 to be chosen in the first three rounds, underscoring his pre-draft hype as a multi-faceted gadget player.[2]Early life
Birth and upbringing
Adrion Dante Archer, known as Dri Archer, was born on August 9, 1991, in Laurel, Florida.[1] He is the son of Valerie Hart and was raised by his single mother in the Venice area of Florida.[7][8] He has two brothers, Aaron and Derek.[9] Growing up in Venice, Archer displayed an early interest in athletics, particularly football, during his elementary and middle school years. His initial exposure came through local youth programs, where his mother enrolled him in flag football at the age of seven.[10] In these games, he played versatile roles, including quarterback, running back, safety, and receiver, quickly standing out among peers.[10][11] From a young age, Archer exhibited natural speed and agility that marked him as exceptional, often recognized as the fastest player on his youth team.[10] He later transitioned to organized high school athletics at Venice High School.High school career
Archer attended Venice High School in Venice, Florida, from 2005 to 2009, where he participated in football, basketball, and track and field.[12] In football, Archer played primarily as a wide receiver and return specialist, showcasing his versatility and speed. His senior year was particularly productive, with 1,482 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 145 carries, 21 receptions for 402 yards and four touchdowns, and 1,094 kick return yards with three touchdowns. These performances earned him team MVP honors, first-team all-area recognition, and second-team all-conference selection.[12] On the track team, Archer specialized in sprints, recording personal bests of 10.50 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.92 seconds in the 200 meters during his senior year in 2009. He finished second in the 100 meters at the Florida state championships that year.[13][14] Archer's high school exploits drew attention from college scouts, resulting in track scholarship offers from Clemson and Arkansas, though Kent State was the only program to extend a football scholarship, which he accepted.[15]College career
Seasons at Kent State
Archer arrived at Kent State University in 2009 as a highly touted speedster from high school, where his exceptional quickness had earned him acclaim as one of Florida's top recruits.[7] As a freshman that year, he quickly contributed on offense, rushing for 246 yards on 58 carries with one touchdown while adding 231 receiving yards and three scores on 19 catches, accumulating 743 all-purpose yards in 11 games.[5] His role was primarily as a rotational back and receiver, helping the Golden Flashes in a season where he showed flashes of his potential as a versatile playmaker.[12] In his sophomore campaign of 2010, Archer's playing time remained limited, as he served in a backup capacity behind the starting running back. He recorded 140 rushing yards on 40 carries and 75 receiving yards on 16 receptions over 12 games, demonstrating reliability in short-yardage situations but not yet emerging as a focal point of the offense.[5][12] This modest production reflected his ongoing development amid a crowded backfield, though his speed continued to intrigue coaches for special teams duties.[16] Archer sat out the entire 2011 season due to academic ineligibility, a setback stemming from a retaken course that failed to count toward his eligibility requirements, forcing him to redshirt the year.[15] This absence allowed him time to address his studies, but it delayed his progression and kept him off the field during Kent State's 6-6 campaign.[17] Archer's junior year in 2012 marked a dramatic breakout, transforming him into the centerpiece of Kent State's high-powered offense and special teams. He led the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with 1,429 rushing yards on 159 carries—averaging an FBS-best 9.0 yards per attempt—while scoring 16 rushing touchdowns, adding 561 receiving yards with four more scores, and excelling as a return specialist with three kickoff return touchdowns.[5][7] His explosive performance powered the Golden Flashes to an 11-3 overall record, highlighted by an undefeated 8-0 MAC regular season and a spot in the GoDaddy.com Bowl, where he earned consensus All-American honors as a returner, including first-team selections from the Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, FWAA, and others.[18][19] Additionally, Archer was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year and secured first-team All-MAC accolades as both a running back and kick returner, highlighting his evolution into a dynamic, multi-threat star.[20][21] As a senior in 2013, Archer maintained his productivity despite increased defensive attention and a shift toward a more distributed offensive attack, rushing for 527 yards on 68 carries with six touchdowns and catching 25 passes for 327 yards and four scores in 10 games.[5] He continued to shine on special teams, leading the team with 11 total touchdowns and 982 all-purpose yards while earning third-team All-MAC honors as a kick return specialist.[22][23] Archer's senior season underscored his growth from a peripheral contributor to an indispensable leader, finishing his Kent State career with 2,342 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns, second in program history for total touchdowns with 40.[7][24]College statistics
Dri Archer compiled 2,342 rushing yards on 325 carries with 24 rushing touchdowns, 1,194 receiving yards on 99 receptions with 12 receiving touchdowns, and 1,436 kick return yards on 51 returns with 4 kick return touchdowns during his Kent State career from 2009 to 2013, excluding the 2011 season due to academic ineligibility.[5] His all-purpose yardage totaled 4,980, contributing to 40 total touchdowns and 240 points scored.[3][5] The following table summarizes Archer's year-by-year statistics in key categories:| Year | Games | Rush Att | Rush Yds | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | Kick Ret | Kick Yds | Kick TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 11 | 58 | 246 | 1 | 19 | 231 | 3 | 11 | 266 | 0 |
| 2010 | 12 | 40 | 140 | 1 | 16 | 75 | 1 | 22 | 451 | 0 |
| 2012 | 14 | 159 | 1,429 | 16 | 39 | 561 | 4 | 16 | 591 | 3 |
| 2013 | 10 | 68 | 527 | 6 | 25 | 327 | 4 | 2 | 128 | 1 |
| Career | 47 | 325 | 2,342 | 24 | 99 | 1,194 | 12 | 51 | 1,436 | 4 |