Verbal commitment Duron Carter (6-3, 180, 4.5), the wide receiver out of Ft. Lauderdale (Florida) St. Thomas Aquinas, finished his prime goal for the football season — helping his team win a state championship. On Friday night, his Raiders dominated Lakeland 56-7 in the Class 5A title game and likely wrapped up a USA Today national championship in the process. Carter talked about the impact.
“It feels great,” said Carter, who had two receptions in the championship game. “Winning a title, especially in Florida where there are a lot of great teams, is special. Fortunately, we won. The second play of the game we scored on about a 60-yard pass. We knew then that we were going to dominate.”
Carter was not surprised by the outcome of the game. He said that the team was ready for their opponent, especially on the ground where Carter’s teammates racked up 288 yards on 28 carries.
“We felt that coming into the game, we had the offense to do it,” Carter said. “As long as we didn’t make too many mistakes. We knew we could put up 56 points. We really didn’t have a chance to pass the ball. Our running backs, every time they would touch it, they would score.”
With the state title checked as complete, Carter still has a couple of games left on his schedule. He is playing in two showcase games in January.
“I have the Under Armour All-American Game and I leave for that December 31,” said Carter, who finished the season with 39 receptions and 14 touchdowns. “After that, I have Broward (County) versus Dade (County) game down here in Florida. That’s on January 17. So I still have a very busy schedule.”
After those last two games Carter will end his high school football career and prepare for life at Ohio State, among other things.
“I will be working out to get ready,” said Carter, recruited by coach Darrell Hazel. “And I’ll run track and that will help me on my speed. That’s it. Track and weight lifting. I’ll be up there (in Columbus) in June.”
Carter elaborated a little bit on his goal in track in one event, the high jump.
“Last year, I did 6-3,” said Carter. “This year, I’m trying to get to 6-7. It’s more of a strength thing. I’ve been running a lot with a weight vest on so I can kind of get used having more weight and being more explosive.”
With a father that was a star for the Buckeyes in Cris Carter, the younger Carter said he doesn’t feel any added pressure to perform or to live up to the legacy of his dad.
“Not really,” Carter explained. “Coach Tressel is confident in what I can do. That’s why they offered me a scholarship and I’m confident in what I can do on the field. I’m not here to disappoint, just to do my job as a wide receiver and I’m lucky to do it at a prestigious program like Ohio State”