MSU RB Carter Shines at Pro Day

However, Carter has the physical tools to be a productive running back at the next level. 

This situation is similar to that of linebacker Ben VanSumeren. Although he did not stand out on bad MSU teams, he showed off his athletic prowess at his Pro Day and latched on with the Philadelphia Eagles. VanSumeren re-signed with Philly as a key member of their special teams unit and a depth linebacker. 

Carter put himself on NFL Draft radars with impressive numbers in drills. He ran a 4.37 40-yard dash and recorded a 40-inch vertical and 10-foot-8-inch broad jump. 

He would have had the second-fastest 40 time and vertical and the third-best broad jump among all running backs at the Combine, had he been invited to Indianapolis and posted those numbers. 

Carter also put up 23 reps of 225 on the bench press. 

While Carter’s draft stock likely took a hit because of the poor teams he played on, his individual skill set and physical traits should be more closely evaluated. He was tough to tackle in the open field and has more speed than he showed on tape. 

Carter carried the ball 301 times for 1,297 yards and nine touchdowns in his two years at MSU. He also caught 40 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns. 

Pro Days are set up for players to be in comfortable situations, and they don’t often display what a player will look like when they put pads on at the next level. 

However, it is encouraging for Carter’s draft stock that he got to show a skill set he couldn’t show on the field.