10/12/2016 football Edit

Carter Helping Recruit For Tar Heels

Navarre, FL, RB Michael Carter is set on his college choice, now he's working to help the Heels build the rest of the class. (Bruce Young, THI)

Jarrod Hardy • TarHeelIllustrated

TarHeelIllustrated.com

Following the Freak Show this past June, Navarre (FL) standout Michael Carter committed to North Carolina, and hasn't looked back.

Carter, whose announcement didn’t go public until July 4, per his request, felt the Heels are the best overall fit for him academically and athletically.

"It's still surreal,” he told THI. “I had a list and they were the only school that checked every box."

With UNC possibly losing 3 running backs this season, Carter is going to play a big role going forward. The 5-10, 193-pound speedster is having a really good season and is finally healthy and ready to lead his team to a state championship.

Carter took his official visit to North Carolina this weekend and he didn't come alone, teammate and 4-star offensive lineman Nick Brahms, an Auburn OL pledge, joined him for his official visit, as well. The duo are close friends and have a good relationship.

The Rivals 3-Star running back is not strong-arming Brahms to join him in Carolina blue, but he regularly reminds him about the things UNC has to offer as a student-athlete.

"I want Nick at UNC,” he said. “But I'm letting Nick experience it, and see what he thinks about it for himself."

Brahms chose Auburn over mainly North Carolina this summer, though Tennessee hung in contention for a while. But this was really a decision between the Tigers and Tar Heels.

Something that stuck out to Carter on his official visit was on the academic side of things.

"Going to Kenan-Flagler, It's motivation every time I see that place,” Carter said. “Everybody I have met so far at UNC was extremely friendly and has been amazing."

UNC felt like home to Carter from the first day he stepped onto the campus to the day he committed at mid-field surrounded by Larry Fedora and family members to this past weekend when he made his official visit the love for Chapel Hill has not wavered.

Carter wants to continue his success on the field and win a state title for his hometown Raiders. That is the goal Carter wants to accomplish before enrolling early at North Carolina in January.

UNC is looking to Carter to help build the rest of the class, and it’s pretty obvious the Heels would love to flip Brahms. Maybe Carter can help make that a reality.