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Carlos Andrews

Nickname: C-los
Birthday: 5-13-82
High School: Godby
HS Mascot: Cougars
HS Coach: Sheldon Crews
HS Position: SS, FS, RB
HS Number: 10
Official Visits: Alabama, Arkansas, UCF
Second Choice: Arkansas
Host During Alabama Visit: Antonio Carter
Committed: 9-30-99

Despite playing sparingly most of the season due to a foot injury, Carlos rushed for 1,117 yards and eight TDs and had 84 tackles and two interceptions.

Against Tallahassee Leon, he had nine carries for 130 yards, including a 74- yard touchdown run. And against Ocala Forest, he had four carries for 74 yards, including a 51-yard TD run, and he made 14 tackles from his strong safety position.

As a junior, he had over 100 tackles and rushed for just over 1,000 yards.

He was one of the top pure safety prospects in the state of Florida. He was a PrepStar Top 100 Dream Team and Super All-Southeast Region selection and was listed as a Super Prep All-American. Carlos was the No. 16 safety prospect in the nation by Rivals 100, an Atlanta Journal Southern 100 selection and the No. 6 prospect in Florida.

He bench presses 300 and squats 415.

His family is from Laurel, Mississippi, and his brother Dennis played fullback at Florida State.

Carlos picked the Tide over Arkansas, Southern Miss and Central Florida.

What Experts Say about Carlos Andrews

Bill Buchalter: "He's the best back in Big Bend since Eric Turral went to Florida State."

Allen Wallace: "He is a multi-talented DB from Florida, a pro baseball prospect and a great kick returner."

Tom Lemming: "He's a hitter, with plenty of speed."

Forrest Davis: "Extremely versatile, runs with power. Great kick returner and one of the South's top safety prospects."

Q&A with Carlos Andrews

TI: You committed to Alabama in September. Why did you commit so early?

CA: I knew a lot of the players at Alabama like AC [Antonio Carter] and Aries and some of the other guys from Florida. I knew that I'd fit I there. But the main reason I committed early was the tradition. I wanted to be a part of the Alabama tradition.

TI: How much influence did Coach [Ronnie] Cottrell have in your decision?

CA: He had a great, great influence. I always liked Alabama as a kid, but with Coach Cottrell being there it made the decision easier for me. Coach Cottrell recruited my brother, Dennis, out of junior college for Florida State. We knew Coach Cottrell and felt comfortable with him all along. We knew that he was a straight shooter.

TI: After you committed, you took a few visits to other schools. Were you having second thoughts?

CA: I just wanted to look around a little and take some visits, but I never had any second thoughts. I knew I was going to Alabama all along.

TI: Being from Tallahassee, why didn't you consider FSU?

CA: I did at first, but my brother and I talked about it and I decided that I should look around at other schools.

TI: You mentioned knowing several Alabama players. Did you play against any of them in high school?

CA: I played against AC. He was a running back and when I was on defense I got to come up and hit him a few times. I played with Aries when he was a senior and I was a sophomore. Everybody used to run away from him. That's why I had so many tackles that season. He was a great player.

TI: Who's the best player you've played against?

CA: The best player is [Godby wide receiver] Tarry Givens. I went against him everyday in practice and nobody I've ever played against in a game can match him. He's so fast it's unreal. He'll get behind you in a wink of an eye. He has great height and long arms. He makes defensive backs work.

TI: We've heard that Tarry recently passed the ACT. Is that true?

CA: Yes, he passed it. All he needs to do now is get his grade point average up some and he'll be eligible. If he can do that, he's supposed to go to Alabama.

TI: How are your grades coming along?

CA: I've already got my grades. I just need to make one point higher on the ACT and I'll be eligible. I'm taking it this weekend. I'll get that point and be done with it.

TI: You played running back and defensive back in high school. Which position do you prefer?

CA: I like running back because, besides quarterback, that's the center of attention on offense. But I don't have a problem with playing defensive back. I'm just as good at either position.

TI: Do you expect to play defensive back at Alabama?

CA: They're telling me strong safety. They say I've got a real good chance to come in and play early because they need help at safety.

TI: Are you already preparing for next season?

CA: Yeah, I'm running track and working out everyday. I run the 100 meters [11.2] and the third leg in the 4x100-meter relay.

TI: Describe yourself as a DB.

CA: I'm a very physical safety. I love to hit. I have great football speed and I'm good in coverage too.

TI: Do you have a favorite play from your high school career?

CA: Yeah, it was against Springfield Rutherford my junior season. I was playing running back and we ran an isolation play, which is a handoff to the tailback going off guard. I went off left guard and bounced it outside. They had the angle on me, but I beat them to the corner and took it 80 yards for a touchdown. I outran everyone.

TI: How does it feel to be a part of a national top-five recruiting class?

CA: How does it feel to be a part of a top-five class? Man, it feels great. It feels great to know that I'll be playing with some of the best players in the country. We should have a couple of national championship trophies pretty soon.

Note: Carlos was one of the top pure safety prospects in the state of Florida. He was a Prep Star National Top 100 Dream Team and Super All-Southeast Region selection and was listed as a Super Prep All-American. He was rated the number 16 safety prospect in the nation by Rivals 100. Over the past two seasons he rushed for more than 2,000 yards and made close to 200 tackles.