Lydell Carr is a former Enid, University of Oklahoma and NFL running back.
Carr was born May 27, 1965 in Enid and was an All-State selection as a senior after rushing for 2,077 yards in helping Enid win the Class 5A state championship in 1983.
In the title game, Carr gave the Plainsmen an early lead by taking the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and scored the game's only other touchdown in the 14-0 win over Booker T. Washington.
In his high school career, he rushed for 3,326 yards and 27 touchdowns -- and it would have been much more had his junior season not been cut short by an achilles injury.
Carr signed with the University of Oklahoma, where he played fullback in the Sooners' wishbone offense. As a freshman, he led the Sooners with 625 yards rushing and he had his best season in an OU uniform in 1985, running for 735 yards as the Sooners won the national championship.
In the Orange Bowl, Carr put the finishing touches on the Sooners' 25-10 win over Penn State, scoring on a spectacular 61-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and finished with a team-leading 148 yards rushing.
In 44 career games in an OU uniform, Carr had 2,584 yards rushing on a 5.1 yards per carry average and scored 20 touchdowns.
In 1988, Carr was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. But, his rookie season was over before it started when he suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason and was placed on injured reserve.
In 1989, he signed with the Phoenix Cardinals and began the season on injured reserve. He was activated in November and in five games, he had one kickoff return for 15 yards.
After not playing in 1990, Carr signed with the Barcelona Dragons of the World League of American Football (WLAF). Despite rushing for only 89 yards on 27 carries, he led the Dragons with 8 touchdowns scored.
In 1992, Carr returned stateside with the WLAF's Ohio Glory, running for 58 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Today, Lydell Carr lives in the Dallas area where he has been involved in the auto business.
In 2023, the City of Enid named a portion of North Johnson Street "Lydell Carr Drive" in his honor. And in 2024, Carr's number 44 jersey was retired by the Plainsmen.