Antonio Carter

WR/KR, 5'9, 180, 4.3, 285 BP
Tallahasse, FL

Nickname: AC
Birthday: 10-15-80
High School: Rickards
HS Mascot: Redskins
HS Coach: Ricky Bell
HS Position: WR/RB/CB/KR
HS Number: 13
Official Visits: AL, Ohio St, FL, FSU
Second Choice: FSU
Host During Alabama Visit: Reggie Myles
Committed: 1-18-99
Roommate To Be: Michael Gaines
Academic Status: Qualified

Stats

HS Senior Season

Receptions

• 37 receptions
• 530 yards
• 13 TDs

Rushing

• 850 yards

Tackles

• 42 total

Interceptions

• 5 INTs

Honors

• All-Distirct
• All-State
• SuperPrep National Top 50
• Atlanta Journal Southern Top 100
• Two-time All Big Bend
• City MVP
• Team MVP
• Team Defensive Back Award
• USA Today All American
• Pigskin Preps Super South 75
• Forrest Davis All South
• SuperPrep All American
• Prep Star All American

SBR Scouting Report

[Observation: senior game film.]

Stories

The Cottrell Connection

The right words, spoken by the right person at the right moment, can change a young man's life forever.

Carter

"I was at the Florida State football camp after my eighth grade year," recalls Antonio Carter. "He kept telling me, 'Man, you're going to really be good someday."

Those words were spoken by then FSU recruiting coordinator Ronnie Cottrell.

"You couldn't imagine how that made me feel," Carter says. "A Florida State coach telling me that I was going to be good. That always stuck with me."

"I remember during my ninth grade year, I never doubted myself even though I was playing against guys that were two or three years older than me. And it was because of what he said."

This past season Carter was one of the South's most highly recruited prospects. The natural thing for him to do would've been to go to FSU.

"I loved Alabama after I visited last summer, but if it weren't for Coach Cottrell I don't think I would've taken a serious look at them. I would've probably gone to Florida State," Carter says. "Coach Cottrell's been like a best friend for a long time. I trust him."

I Might Be Headed to Alabama

As a kid, Antonio Carter dreamed of playing for Penn State.

"I remember in the seventh grade telling my mom that I was going to play for Penn State," Carter says. "For some reason, I just loved them."

But as Carter matured and his relationship with Ronnie Cottrell grew, his allegiance shifted to the hometown Seminoles.

"After I went to their football camp in the eighth grade, I knew that someday I'd be playing for FSU," Carter says. "All I talked about was playing for the Seminoles."

Then Cottrell left for Alabama.

"Last spring I told him that I'd come to the Alabama football camp," Carter says. "But I really didn't think that Alabama had much of a chance."

That changed once he got to Tuscaloosa.

"I couldn't believe that it was so nice up there," Carter says. "It was like this was the place for me."

"My older brother Sam was up there with me. I remember him telling me, 'AC, you'd look great in Crimson and White.' That's the first time that I thought that I might be headed to Alabama."

An Alabama Man

It was hard for Antonio Carter to say "no" to FSU.

"I only live two miles away from the campus," Carter says. "I've been going to their practices for a long time. I know all of their players and coaches. If I went there, it would've been real easy for all of my family and friends to come watch me play."

A lot of people wondered why Carter would even consider leaving Tallahassee for Tuscaloosa. After all, while Alabama was rebuilding last year, the Seminoles played for the national championship.

A Bama Man!

"Both schools have great tradition," Carter says. "FSU is always going to be loaded. But I can go to Alabama and make a name for myself. I can help a team change a 7-5 record into 11-0."

Even after Carter committed to Alabama, people figured that he'd end up signing with FSU, especially when late in the recruiting season he decided to make an official visit to the FSU campus.

"I went over there [FSU] and had a great time," Carter says. "While I was there I started having second thoughts. I was thinking that maybe I should come to FSU. But I knew that my mind had already been made up. I knew that I'm an Alabama man."

AC's First Big Catch

In 1995, Antonio Carter was a skinny little freshman wide receiver trying to help Rickards pull off an upset in the first round of the state playoffs against powerful Madison County.

With five seconds left, and the game tied 14-14, Rickards had the ball at its 45 yardline. The quarterback -- Carter's older brother, Tim -- called the last play for AC.

"It was G-60 X & Z Post Corner," recalls AC. "I was doubled covered. Tim just heaved it as far as he could. I went over the two defenders and hauled it in."

Unfortunately, AC came up four yards short of the goalline.

"But that catch fired up the whole team," AC says. "Here was a little freshman going up against two seniors and making that catch."

Eventually, Rickards pulled off the upset in overtime, 24-21.

"We stopped them four straight times at the goalline to win the game."

It was the first time in school history that Rickards went past the first round of the state playoffs.

AC vs Josh Parker

In last season's matchup between Rickards and Wakulla, Antonio Carter matched skills with Josh Parker.

"He's a great quarterback," Carter says. "But we had a great scheme that kept him confused."

Carter intercepted three of Parker's passes.

"One of them was big-time," Carter says. "They had a fourth-and-one on our ten yardline. They tried a play-action fade route to the corner of the end zone. I went over the receiver to make the interception."

Still, Carter is impressed with Parker.

"He has a strong arm and he's a good leader," AC says. "I don't know his stats, but he hit some big passes. And I remember that he never gave up. That's why they won."

The final score was 28-24.

Q&A

TI: Describe yourself as a receiver.

AC: My main assets are my speed, hands and eyes. I'd consider myself a big-play receiver, kind of in the Peter Warrick mold.

TI: Didn't the FSU coaches tell you that you could be the next Peter Warrick?

AC: That's pretty much what they wanted me for. They felt like I could come in and take over that big-play role when he left.

TI: Talk about your speed. What's your fastest time in the 40-yard dash and the 100 meters?

AC: My best 40 is about 4.25. I'm consistently running in the 4.3's. I haven't been timed in the 100 meters since my sophomore season, but I ran a 10.6 back then. I'm sure that I'm a little faster than that now.

TI: Are there any areas of your game that need improvement?

AC: Yeah, there are. I really need to get stronger. I'm strong, but I need more strength to help me beat the jam at the line of scrimmage. I don't think it'll be a problem for me, but it's something to work on.

TI: Do you expect any difficulties in adjusting to Alabama's offense?

AC: Not at all. I understand the passing game and routes pretty good. It's just a matter of learning the plays.

TI: Will you report to Alabama this summer to work with the quarterbacks and receivers?

AC: Yeah, I expect to be there in July. I'm looking forward to working with them.

TI: Have the Alabama coaches talked to you about your role for next season?

AC: They say that I'll be on the field very early. Coach Cottrell wants me to return kicks.

TI: You returned several kicks for touchdowns in high school. What's your secret?

AC: It's just a knack for finding a crease and then making something happen. What helps me on kick returns is understanding how to use my quickness and speed. You've got to have that feel of when and where to cut and then turn on the speed.

TI: How much of an influence did Ronnie Cottrell have on your decision to come to Alabama?

AC: He had a lot of influence. I loved Alabama from the first time I went up there last summer. But I would've never gone up there to visit if it weren't for him.

TI: What makes him such a good recruiter?

AC: He's a good guy and everything, but I'd say the main thing that he does is make you feel that he has something in common with you. He's just one of those guys that you really enjoy talking to. He's like a friend.

TI: We understand that you played against Garry McNealy. What did you think of him?

AC: He's a great player. Very aggressive and can run for a guy that big. I know from first hand experience, if McNealy gets his hands on you, you're in trouble. I think he has a chance to make a quick impact on the defensive line.

TI: What about Michael Gaines?

AC: He can be special on either side of the ball. He has a tight-end's body, but he can run and get up and catch the ball like a 180-pound receiver. He's very aggressive on defense.

TI: Do you feel that the Alabama program is headed in the right direction?

AC: Oh, we're headed to the top. We had a great class last year and another great one this year. And I really think the Alabama coaching staff is great. I'm very high about our future at Alabama.