Notre Dame Lands Talented Transfer Safety Antonio Carter
Notre Dame has dipped back into the transfer portal for a very, very important pickup, this time landing Rhode Island transfer Antonio Carter. A standout cornerback for the Rams, Carter was being recruited to play safety - and other spots - for Notre Dame.
Carter was a very popular player since going into the portal in mid-April. Not only did Notre Dame throw their hat into the ring, Carter was also offered by LSU, Florida, Texas A&M, Iowa, Ole Miss, Washington, Louisville, Wisconsin, Baylor, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Oregon State, Indiana and SMU.
Despite that heavy interest, it didn't take Carter long to figure out Notre Dame was the place to be.
"It felt right, so I went ahead and made the decision," Carter told Irish Breakdown. "(Notre Dame) is really different from the rest of the schools. They all offer great opportunities to play football at a high level, but what was different about Notre Dame is the quality. The things after football, it was a business decision and I want to make sure I'm good for the rest of my life."
Carter began a visit to Notre Dame on Wednesday, and it became very clear early on to him and his parents that the Irish program was different.
"After we met with the coaches and just walking around the campus, it was my type of vibe," Carter explained. "It was pretty chill, it was a place I could focus. I want to focus on what I need to do, to go out and ball and do my work. It was the perfect situation for me to do that."
Carter was being recruited to play different positions by different schools. Some liked him at safety, others at cornerback, others still saw him as a nickel/slot defender. For Notre Dame, although he's being recruited as a safety, that versatility made him an incredibly valuable player, and explains why Carter was the player the staff zeroed in on in the secondary.
"My versatility," Carter said when asked about what the coaches liked about his fit. "They have some good safeties coming back, and they were looking for someone to come in and add to that and be a quality piece .... I'll be able to (also) play some nickel, dime, any position on the backend. Wherever I fit and can make plays, I feel that is one of my strengths and separates me from other people is to do all of it.
"I'm not just a cover guy, I'm not just a tackler, I'm not just a post guy," continued the soon to be Rhode Island graduate. "Being able to show all of that on film will be great for me."
Notre Dame sold more than just the personal opportunity that awaits Carter. This move isn't just about positioning himself for what comes after college on the field, Carter still has a lot he wants to achieve in college, and his goals begin with more than his own objectives.
"(Notre Dame) has a shot at the playoff, and that's something I'm looking forward to," Carter explained. ".... Playing for a championship, that's amazing to me. With that and the opportunity to get great relationships with people, that was definitely a no brainer."
Being a transfer with a smaller window can force some players to focus mostly on what's best for them, but Carter had a different focus in his college decision. He wants to be part of something bigger on and off the field.
"I've never been the type of person that's all about me," noted the 6-1, 200-pound defender. "I want to contribute to something, and as long as you do what's best for the team, everything will work out for you. That's how I've always been; believe a lot in my faith, and being selfish about things won't get you far. I try not to make it about me and be selfish."
Spend just a few minutes talking to Carter about what he wants to do after football and you see this attitude shine through. He'll be pursuing a degree in health services, and working with young people is what he wants to do.
"I want to help troubled teenagers, be a mentor," Carter said of his future plans. "I feel like I'm someone that can connect with people .... I am someone that my teammates always come to about whatever is going on in their lives, and I want to be able to make a difference."
Carter clearly sees the impact that his role as a football player can have not just on his team, but on the community around him. It's easy to see why he made such an immediate connection at a place like Notre Dame.
From a football standpoint, this is a huge pickup for Notre Dame, who desperately needs help in the secondary, especially at safety. The Irish return three veterans at safety, but there is certainly room for upgraded production and depth while the younger players develop. His ability to play safety, as well as his ability to provide depth in the nickel position, or even outside at cornerback, is vital.
Carter also has two seasons of eligibility remaining, and with Notre Dame set to lose safety DJ Brown, nickel Thomas Harper and cornerback Cam Hart after this season, landing a veteran transfer that could potentially return in 2024 was a must for the Irish staff. That means Carter can push for a key role in 2023, but also have the time to learn in the system, figure out what the Irish coaches want, and then have an offseason to better himself and enhance his fit even more for the 2024 season.
The Orlando, Fla. native racked up 105 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons. He also had an impressive 17 pass break ups, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. His production on the football and disruptive numbers should project quite well to the safety position.
Here's film analysis of Carter from Irish Breakdown's Ryan Roberts:
"At 6-1 and 200 pounds, Carter brings a long and athletic frame to the table with the skill set to play a variety of spots on the back end of a defense. His experience at cornerback should allow him versatility to play some man coverage across the board, including in the slot as a nickel back and when rotating down as a safety. Carter is a smooth mover who shows a nice level of proactiveness in zone. As a tackler, you won’t find many better. Carter has shown the talent to deliver blows and be a consistent wrap up tackler in space. That should allow his versatility to continue to shine through."
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