Big Board ranking: #97

Positional ranking: #8

 

Overview

Position: DL

College: Duke

Class: Senior (RS)

Age: 23

 

Measurables

Height: 6’2 3/8”

Weight: 302 lbs.

Arm length: 33”

Hand size: 10 1/4″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: 4.99 sec.

10-yard split: 1.72 sec.

Vertical jump: 32.0”

Broad jump: 109.0”

Bench press: N/A

3-cone drill: 7.95 sec.

Short shuttle: 4.75 sec.

 

Strengths

Great overall athleticism. Highly instinctive. Terrific hustle and pursuit. Excellent speed. Very light on his feet. Tremendous strength on extension. Gets in on any tackle he can. Wraps up to finish. Quick hands and ability to shed as the aggressor. Attacks the chest of opponents and pushes them back. Will engage centers with strength and aggression. Peaks into the backfield to find the ball at the mesh point. Very good ability to string out runs to the perimeter while taking on a block. Aggressive following the play to get in on tackles at the second level. Takes ideal paths to the ball as a backside defender. Good discipline and play recognition taking the quarterback on zone reads. Very effective in slanting penetration. Able to penetrate and split blockers in short-yardage situations. Part of a defense that was very stout at the goal line. Has an extremely effective power rush. Has shown a quality spin move. Gives effort to get a hand up as a rusher if he doesn’t win. Has experience lining up as a five-technique. Flashed an ability to disrupt with power from the edge. Three-time team captain at Duke.

 

Weaknesses

More fluid than twitchy. Want to see him use more rip moves to get off a block. Goes to his knees and is taken to the ground too often. Can get pushed back some after disengaging. Gets pushed back in general if he doesn’t have his feet under him. Has some trouble disengaging and will be ridden back while attempting to pursue.

 

NFL comparison

Keeanu Benton

 

Conclusion

Overall, Carter is an athletic, instinctive defensive lineman that shows outstanding effort and flashes of major power. The best fit would be in a scheme/role that allows him to penetrate from the interior and attack blockers more often.