Jalen Carter

*Jalen Carter, Georgia, DT, 6030, 323, Jr, 1

OVERVIEW

Summary: Massive, talented human being whose biggest drawback is himself. Absolutely a top three talent in this draft, but after his only full season as a starter was in a double fatal vehicle accident. Although the legal consequences of that seem under control, Carter himself made a series of stupid decisions that draw his character into question. After not taking part in Indy Combine workouts as he was arrested that week, Carter had a chance to show value at an on-campus Pro Day. He showed up at least 12 pounds overweight, pooped out during field drills and did not run or jump. Then while other players have been visiting teams for an up-close look, Carter declared he will not visit teams outside the top ten in the draft.

Off-field issues aside, Carter is a phenomenal talent at defensive tackle with extraordinary strength and body control. He can demolish double-teams and keeps an eye in the backfield, where he spends more time than opponents want. Waited his turn amidst all the NFL-caliber defensive linemen at Georgia and showed all he needed to show in only one season as a starter.

FRANKLY: Seriously, dude? Millions on the line and Carter shows a combination of arrogance and ignorance that could deter potential employers. But NFL culture will turn a blind eye, even if this is a red flag that Carter may not improve the atmosphere in the locker room. He can play the game and that's pretty much all that matters. He is from the same high school as Warren Sapp, who overcame similar dumbass decisions before his draft but was taken in the first round and is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sapp should have called him with a warning. Or his agent, the renown Drew Rosenhaus, might have at least talked Carter out of rejecting visits to teams outside the top ten. What if a team beyond the top ten wanted to trade up for him? Alas, it doesn’t matter, somebody in the top ten, maybe the top five, will call him the first day of the draft. And, who knows, maybe he will become a Hall of Fame player. He has the physical ability. John Madden often said "winning is the great deodorant." That also goes for great left-handed pitchers and extremely talented football players. 

STATS

YEAR (GP/GS)   TKLS   TFL   SACK    FF     PD    INT 

2020: (10/2)       14       3.0     0.0         0       0       0

2021: (15/2)       37       8.5     3.0          0       1       0

2022: (13/9)       32      7.0      3.0          2       3      0

Total: (38/13)    83       18.5    6.0         2       4       0

 

HISTORY — From College Profile

Career Highs
* 7 tackles vs. Mississippi State, 2022
* 1 QB Sack vs. Clemson, 2021; vs. Kentucky, 2021; vs. Tennessee, Miss. State, LSU, 2022
* 2.5 Tackles for Loss vs. Kentucky, 2021
* 8 QB Pressures vs. Auburn, 2021

2022

Associated Press & Coaches' All-SEC First Team...played in 13 games, starting in nine...totaled 32 tackles and 31 QB hurries...finalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award as the nation’s top lineman...career-high seven tackles in win at Mississippi State...logged two tackles and a pair of QB hurries against TCU in the CFP National Championship Game...had four QB hurries against Ohio State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl...four tackles, a QB sack and six QB pressures in SEC Championship Game vs. LSU...had four tackles, a QB sack, another tackle for loss, and two forced fumbles in win over Tennessee...three tackles, 1.5 of which went for lost yardage, in win over Georgia Tech...had one solo tackle in season-opening win over No. 11 Oregon...had one tackle, batted down one pass and had three QB hurries in win over Samford...had a tackle, assist and a QB hurry in win at South Carolina...had one tackle and a QB hurry at Missouri before leaving the game because of injury...missed the Auburn and Vanderbilt games due to the same injury...returned from injury to play in win over Florida, getting one tackle and four QB hurries...Preseason All-America First Team by Associated Press, the Walter Camp Football Foundation, as well as Athlon Sports...preseason All-SEC First Team, by Athlon and the media attending SEC Media Days...named to preseason watch lists for the Lott Trophy (nation’s top defender), Outland Trophy (nation’s top interior lineman) and Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation’s top defender)...named one of four co-captains for the Kentucky game.

2021

Coaches’ All-SEC 2nd team...played in all 15 games, starting in wins over UAB and Kentucky, and finished with 37 tackles and 33 QB pressures, second-best on team...also had 3.0 QB sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss (3rd on team), and two blocked kicks: FG vs. Alabama (CFP Champ. Game) and PAT vs. Kentucky...one of 20 players nationally with multiple placement kick blocks in 2021...career-high six tackles in win over #11 Kentucky...had 2.5 TFLs vs. the Cats, also a career best...one of those six tackles was a QB sack for 4-yard loss...named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his efforts vs. UK...career-high eight QB pressures in win at #18 Auburn...two of his four solo tackles vs. Georgia Tech resulted in lost yardage...four stops in win over Florida, including an assisted QB sack for a 6-yard loss...had two tackles in season-opening win vs. #3 Clemson, including a QB sack for an 8-yard loss...also added three QB pressures...also a key blocker on Georgia’s first TD rush in win over Arkansas.

2020

Played in all 10 games, starting vs. Florida and South Carolina...finished with 14 total stops, three for lost yardage, and 13 QB pressures...season-high three tackles vs. Tennessee and again at South Carolina...also blocked a Gamecock PAT, the first such block by a UGA player since 2015...had two tackles, one for lost yardage, and two QB hurries in win over Miss. State...credited with one solo tackle for a 1-yard loss and also had a QB pressure in win at Arkansas...one of three UGA defenders to score touchdowns during the season, but the only one to score on offense...played as a running back in some goal-line offensive plays vs. Auburn and Tennessee...caught a 1-yard TD pass from Stetson Bennett in fourth quarter vs. UT.

High School: Apopka HS, coached by Jeff Rolson...selected to participate in the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game...247Sports.com composite five-star prospect, #18 player nationally...ESPN.com four-star prospect, ranked as the #12 prospect nationally, #3 DT nationally and the #5 prospect in Florida...ranked as the #53 prospect nationally, #6 defensive tackle nationally and the #9 prospect in Florida...PrepStar Magazine four-star prospect, Top 150 Dream Team, #3DT, #65 prospect nationally...rivals.com four-star prospect, ranked as the #49 prospect nationally, #4 DT nationally and the #23 prospect in Florida...played defensive tackle, tight end and punter for Apopka, leading the Blue Darters to a 12-1 record, No. 5 state ranking, and appearance in the FHSAA Class 8A Championship Game in his senior season...ranked as the top prospect in Central Florida on the Orlando Sentinel’s Super60 list...registered 64 total tackles (38 solo and 26 assists) including 12 sacks in his senior campaign...has been compared to former Apopka product and Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp...also competed in basketball and weightlifting at Apopka, placing second in the FHSAA Class 2A heavyweight division with a bench press of 395 pounds...played against Georgia linebacker Rian Davis, who is also from Apopka and played at rival Wekiva High School.

Personal:  JALEN DA'QUAN CARTER...intended major:  Learning Design & Technology...recipient of the Susan and Mark Tomlinson Family Football Scholarship.

 

 

2022

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
6.0	1.0	26.0	0.0	1.0	3.0	12.0

2021

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
8.5	3.0	37.0	0.0	1.0	3.0	17.0

2020

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
3.0	1.0	14.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	11.0