DeQuece Carter Ready To Prove Himself at Indiana: 'Do Your Hard Work in the Dark'
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Fordham Rams traveled to Lincoln, Neb. on Sept. 4, 2021 to take one of college football's most storied programs.
It represented a huge game for an FCS program from New York that could fit over five times its undergraduate enrollment inside Nebraska's Memorial Stadium.
Fordham ultimately got stomped by the Cornhuskers, losing 52-7 and surrendering 633 yards to the opposing offense. However, there was one wide receiver for the Rams who had a nice day, finishing the game with five receptions for 69 yards.
That receiver was DeQuece Carter, who transferred from Fordham to Indiana ahead of his fifth season of college football in 2023. The 6-foot wide receiver from Louisa, Va., saw the level of competition on the field that day in Nebraska and decided he wanted more of it.
"Just proving myself, I love the schedule we have," Carter said. "We're competing against one of, if not the top, conferences in the country. It's something that I enjoy and see myself fitting into."
Indiana wide receiver DeQuece Carter catching a pass at fall camp practice in Bloomington.
© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK
In his four seasons at the FCS level, Carter tallied 176 receptions for 3,035 yards and 31 touchdowns in 38 career games played. He was an unstoppable, mismatch hunter outside the hashes for the Rams, torching FCS-level corners every Saturday.
However, with his step up to not just FBS, but to the Big Ten, Carter expects a different role for himself at Indiana.
"At Fordham, I was one of the bigger guys there at the FCS level," Carter said. "But coming here they were like, 'You'll probably be more of a slot here.' I look around the room and you got 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 type of guys. Guys who can really make plays. And that's good when you can have that variety of different sizes, different skillsets. Guys who can just make plays all over the field."
Other players might not take well to a role adjustment. These are high-level athletes, and ones that are rightfully proud of their abilities and accomplishments.
But Carter is different. He's an experienced, mature wide receiver, and he's perfectly capable of filling any role that Indiana asks of him without complaints.
"He’s got a great, mature presence about him. Really positive guy," Indiana wide receivers coach Anthony Tucker said. "He’s really fit in with our team fast. He’s really smart. He has really picked up what we’re doing and how we do things. He’s perfect for what our culture is here. He’s fit in our locker room really well."
Some of those 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4 guys Carter described are Cam Camper, Donaven McCulley and fellow transfer E.J. Williams from Clemson. Those taller, ball-winning receivers at the X and Y slots, combined with shorter and quicker receiving options in Carter, Kamryn Perry and even Jaylin Lucas are what makes Indiana's receivers one of the best position groups on the team.
Carter told media on Monday that he actually does prefer playing on the outside, and that Indiana fans can still expect to see him lined up at that No. 1, X-receiver spot a few times each Saturday. But ultimately, he knows that this is a talented position room, and he'll likely operate more often in the slot.
Similar to what the IU defensive linemen said on Friday, the goal for these wide receivers is to have no drop-off no matter whose on the field.
"One's, two's — we're competing for that starting job," Carter said. "There are guys who going to be a two who could probably start at other places. It's a lot competition right now, but a lot of energy, a lot of love and a lot of trust in that position group."
Carter was honest admitting that there was a bit of a transition for him moving up from Fordham to the FBS level. He said that there's a noticeable speed increase in the players around him, and that at this level, there's a lot more variety and complexity in the defenses you have to face.
But he trusts that he's going to show everyone just how good he is for Indiana this year. It's why Tom Allen brought him into the Hoosier family, because they both know he's ready to take that next step.
"Coach Allen — we had a one-on-one meeting when I was getting recruited — and he talked about all the things that I could do, and what we could do for Indiana football," Carter said. "I trust him and I trust everyone here."
To the outside world, Indiana football and a former Fordham wide receiver don't seem like that most impressive pairing. But that's okay to Allen and Carter. They know the wide receiver is eager to prove himself, even if the world can't see all the hard work he's put in.
"Coach Allen always says, 'Do your hard work in the dark.'"
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