ATHENS – Sometimes it gets lost in the discussion, but Jalen Carter changed the national championship game.
Alabama consumed half the third quarter on a 17-play drive. It was setting up a 48-yard field goal that would’ve extended its advantage to 12-6, which at that point felt like a seismic difference. But Carter broke through and blocked Will Reichard’s attempt.
One play later, James Cook ripped off a 67-yard run. Zamir White soon scored the game’s first touchdown. Georgia had the burst it needed and ultimately topped the Crimson Tide 33-18. The game might play out differently if not for Carter.
“It happened really fast,” Carter said. “I blocked the kick, and I saw everyone running to me. I really didn’t process it until James Cook got the run. Then I was like, ‘wow.’ I knew it was a big spotlight.”
A junior, Carter will be more than a spark in 2022. He’s no longer a luxury behind three likely NFL first-round picks among the defensive linemen. He’s a leader of the group, possibly competing with Alabama’s Will Anderson for consideration as the SEC’s top defender.
This isn’t an underdog story. This is about a premier prospect fulfilling his vast potential. Carter, listed at 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, was a five-star recruit from Apopka, Florida. He was the No. 9 recruit in the country per 247Sports.
“Being a five-star is cool and all, but I came here with a new start and a new mindset saying I have to earn everything I do,” said Carter, who spoke with reporters for the first time in his collegiate career Tuesday. “Just playing with the guys, I feel like I’ve done what was needed.”
The Bulldogs’ deep defensive line limited Carter to a part-time role (he started only two of 15 games). Carter would’ve started regularly on any other defensive line in the country. He instead learned under Travon Walker, Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt. Georgia even deployed him as a fullback and tight end to get him on the field (“It’s very fun, I really wish I could play a lot more,” Carter said).
That Georgia was willing to use Carter on offense is a nod to his rare traits. His talent was evident even as a rotational player. Carter had 37 tackles, three sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss last season. He led SEC interior pass rushers with a 13.6% pressure rate, per Sports Info Solutions. There was a difference of two percentage points between Carter and the next highest inside rusher (Colby Wooden, Auburn).
Coach Kirby Smart wants to see Carter develop the consistency necessary to handle a heavier workload. He’s talked with Carter about conditioning and building his stamina, stressing they need him to anchor the front in 2022.
“He has flash plays, and he’s really athletic,” Smart said. “Just playing with consistent effort. The talent is oozing. It’s a matter of can he play every play with maximum intensity and be able to sustain (a high-level performance). He was in a three-man weave triangle last year, and it was easy to sub him because you weren’t having a big drop-off on the field.
“We need him to play more snaps this year. We need him to be on the field. We need him to be active, and we need him to play first, second, and third (down) in a row. Not first and second and then some thirds. Can he do that? Can he go through offseason workouts and put himself in a position like Travon? Devonte worked so hard in practice, but Devonte could play any number of snaps and be fresh. We have to get Jalen to be able to do that and lead, set an example for the other players.”
Carter already is on the NFL radar as a potential top-10 pick next April. Elite interior pass rushers are some of the rarest and most valuable commodities in the NFL. Draft analyst and former scout Daniel Jeremiah has said multiple times that Carter was the best prospect on Georgia’s defensive front. For context, Walker, Davis and Wyatt are expected to be first-round selections later this month. Walker could be a top-five pick.
Speaking at the NFL combine, the prospect trio raved about Carter. Walker said there are multiple budding stars on the Bulldogs’ defensive line, “but the one that sticks out right now is Jalen Carter. I love Jalen Carter. I love all those boys, but Jalen Carter.”
Wyatt took it a step further: “Carter is definitely going to be amazing. Man’s got talent. He’s strong, he’s fast and I can’t wait to see him play next year. I can’t wait to see him go through the whole process I am going through right now. As long as he keeps his head straight and stays positive, the sky’s the limit for him.”
As lauded as Walker, Davis and Wyatt are, each has questions. Walker lacked statistical production. Davis was a non-factor on passing downs. Wyatt, at age 24, isn’t viewed with further upside.
While Carter logging a higher snap count will provide more opportunity for scrutiny, he has an argument as a more complete player than each of his predecessors. If he realizes that potential, he’ll credit them for helping him understand conditioning, practice habits and Georgia’s standard.
“Those guys motivated me to do more,” Carter said. “They told me I could be a top-10 pick. I’ve done a lot that I didn’t do my freshman year.
“They taught me a lot about how everything goes. Coming here, what I need to learn and what I need to do. … They’re just telling me (how special I can be) and motivating me to do better and be better than them.”
