Michael Carter (running back)
Michael Carter is an American football running back for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
North Carolina Tar Heels – No. 8 | |
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Position | Running back |
Class | Senior |
Career history | |
College |
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Bowl games | |
High school | Navarre High School (Navarre, Florida) |
Personal information | |
Born: | Navarre, Florida | May 7, 1999
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
Weight | 199 lb (90 kg) |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Early life and high school
Carter grew up in Navarre, Florida and attended Navarre High School.[1] He rushed for 526 yards and nine touchdowns before suffered a season-ending injury during the third game of his junior year.[2] As a senior, Carter rushed for 2,536 yards and accumulated 3,345 all-purpose yards and 45 total touchdowns and was named the Florida Offensive Player of the Year by USA Today.[3] Carter committed to play college football at North Carolina over offers from Florida, Louisville, Mississippi State and Tennessee.[4]
College career
Carter rushed for 559 yards on 97 carries and eight touchdowns in his true freshman season.[5][6] As a sophomore, Carter rushed 84 times for 597 yards and two touchdowns and caught 25 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.[7] During his junior season, he rushed for 1,003 yards and three touchdowns and had 21 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns and was named third team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[8][9]
Carter was named to the Doak Walker Award and Paul Hornung Award watchlists going into his senior season.[10] Carter was named the ACC Running Back of the week after rushing for 214 yards and two touchdowns against Virginia Tech on October 10, 2020.[11] Against Miami, Michael Carter and fellow North Carolina running back Javonte Williams ran for a combined 544 rushing yards, the most by two running backs in college football history. Carter lead the team in rushing in that game with 308 yards, along with two touchdowns.[12] On December 21, 2020 Carter announced he would opt out of the Orange Bowl matchup with Texas A&M, in order to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft, finishing his 2020 season with 1,245 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns to go along with 267 receiving yards and two more scores. His 1,245 rushing yards are eighth-most in a single season for a Tar Heel running back. That same day, he and teammate Javonte Williams were named Pro Football Focus first-team All-American for the running back position.[13] Carter's 3,403 total rushing yards over his collegiate career are fourth best all-time for the school. He was also named a finalist for the 2020 Paul Hornung Award.[14]
References
- "Navarre's Michael Carter steals spotlight in college football debut". Pensacola News Journal. September 2, 2017.
- "Navarre RB Carter to miss rest of season". Northwest Florida Daily News.
- "Navarre's Michael Carter named USA Today Offense POY". Northwest Florida Daily News. December 29, 2016.
- "Navarre's Carter commits to UNC". USA Today. July 4, 2016.
- "UNC's Michael Carter Among Preseason Candidates for Doak Walker Award". Chapelboro.com. July 19, 2018.
- "UNC RB Michael Carter Sidelined Due to Injury".
- "'It's a new era.' UNC football's Michael Carter is healthy and ready to help lead". The News & Observer. August 7, 2019.
- "Michael Carter Elevating his Game".
- "UNC RB Michael Carter Announced on Paul Hornung Award Watch List". SI.com.
- "Javonte Williams and Michael Carter Each Selected to Doak Walker Award watchlist".
- "UNC's Michael Carter Named ACC Running Back of the Week".
- "North Carolina's Michael Carter, Javonte Williams set NCAA record with 544 yards rushing". ESPN. December 12, 2020.
- "College Football 2020: PFF's All-American Team". Pro Football Focus. December 21, 2020.
- "Five Offensive Players/Return Specialists Named 2020 Paul Hornung Award Finalists". Lousiville Sports Commission. December 23, 2020.