Chris Canty was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the 4th round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

Chris is regarded as one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's premier players. He was an All-State tight end and defensive end at Charlotte (N.C.) Latin School, where he recorded 89 tackles with seven sacks and caught 20 passes for 400 yards as a senior. He did not participate in football until his senior year, but finished his two-year career with 161 tackles, twelve quarterback sacks and two fumble recoveries. Canty also lettered twice in basketball, earning All-Conference honors.

Chris redshirted as a freshman for Virginia and played in every game as a reserve in 2001, totaling 23 tackles (19 solos) and three quarterback pressures. He started eight of eleven games in 2002. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference down linemen with 86 tackles (52 solos) that year, adding a pair of sacks, four stops behind the line of scrimmage, four pass deflections and three fumble recoveries.

In 2003, Canty earned All-ACC second-team honors, as he again led the league's down linemen with a career-high 104 tackles (53 solos), including four sacks, twelve stops for losses and a dozen quarterback pressures. It marked only the second time in school history that a down lineman made over 100 tackles in a season, joining Stuart Anderson (106 in 1981).

Chris was voted one of four team captains in 2004. He collected 30 tackles (21 solos) with a sack, seven stops behind the line of scrimmage and two quarterback pressures. Canty finished his career with 243 tackles (145 solos), seven sacks for minus 43 yards, 24 stops for losses of 79 yards, twenty quarterback pressures, four fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and six pass deflections. He started 26 of 40 games he played in.