Carter Warren knows what it feels like to win a championship at MetLife Stadium.
The New York Jets' fourth-round draft pick played for Passaic Tech when the North Jersey high school appeared in two consecutive NJSIAA state sectional title games on the home field of his current pro team.
"I played at Passaic County Technical Institute. We went back-to-back in the championship, played there a bunch of times." said Warren, who was taken by Gang Green with the No. 120 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Warren and the Bulldogs blanked Ridgewood, 27-0, in the 2015 North Jersey I Group V championship game. One year later, they returned to East Rutherford for a rem-match against Ridgewood and dropped a 14-13 heartbreaker.
Prior to enrolling at Pittsburgh, Warren was one of the most highly-recruited North Jersey offensive linemen in the past decade. He was rated the No. 9 overall New Jersey high school prospect in his class by ESPN and No. 10 by Rivals and 247Sports.
The 6-foot-5 tackle, who grew up in Paterson, NJ, was an All-State First Team selection in 2015. Warren later earned a spot on The Record/NorthJersey.com's 2010s New Jersey Football All-Decade Second Team.
"Growing up watching the Jets, I’m about 20 minutes away from the facility," said Warren. "So it’s a pretty cool experience to get this opportunity."
Speaking to reporters via video teleconference, Warren recounted the moment he received the call on Draft Day.
"It was crazy. (A) New Jersey number came (up on my phone); I saw the Jets were up next," said Warren. "I was crying, my family was so happy, they didn’t know what was going on. I was ecstatic, I was just highly blessed. I’ll tell you that."
Warren made a name for himself at Pitt during the 2021 campaign, starting all 14 games at left tackle. He earned a spot on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Second Team for his efforts.
The Garden State-born bookend kicked off 2022 by logging four starts at his customary left tackle position, but he missed the remainder of the season due to an undisclosed injury, which was later discovered to be a meniscus problem. Warren claims he is fully recovered.
"Yes sir, I’m 100%. I’m ready to go," said Warren, who attended the local Pro Day hosted by the Jets during the pre-draft process.
Warren, who totaled 40 appearances (39 starts) during his Pitt tenure, now works for a pro football team that he grew up following.
"I was a Jets fan, yes sir," said Warren. "Growing up, it was always cool to go to the stadium, catch a game here and there."
All grown up and having been drafted into the NFL, the Garden State-born baller will return to MetLife Stadium at least eight Sundays per year as a member of the New York Jets.
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