12/12/2016 football Edit

Michael Carter Excited About The Next Phase

Navarre. FL, RB Michael Carter is less than a month from enrolling at UNC, and he couldn't be more excited. (Bruce Young, THI)

Andrew Jones • TarHeelIllustrated

Publisher

Andrew Jones has covered sports for 26 years, including all major college & professional sports for daily newspapers & national sites. He's done radio and TV & is entering his seventh year at THI.

Michael Carter is ready to be a Tar Heel.

With Navarre (FL) High School falling in the state semifinals after he turned in a spectacular season, Carter is now turning his focus to enrolling at North Carolina on Jan. 8 and diving into UNC football as an early enrollee.

The 3-star running back will graduate in about 10 days, but will return to Navarre in the spring and walk with his class at the school’s official graduation ceremony. For now, the excitement for his next step is building.

“I'm excited, I'm anxious to get in there and prove myself and that I'm all in for the Tar Heel Nation,” Carter told THI on Monday. “It's a dream come true.”

As much as he’s looking ahead and not behind, the sting of falling short in the state playoffs still remains some. But he’s choosing to look at the big picture.

“It's okay, we gave it all we had,” he said. “Navarre is in a good position for next year. I'm excited to see them work.”

Carter ran for 2,536 yards this season and scored 45 touchdowns, 41 of them on the ground. His numbers are even more remarkable given that he missed all but the first two games of his junior season because an injury. So, there was plenty to prove and plenty of developing to do, as well.

“Everywhere,” Carter replied when asked what aspect of his game improved the most this season. “It's a new beginning and I'm looking to improve in every area.”

He weighs 190 pounds right now and said UNC has given him no physical mandates as far as weight or speed are concerned. He already knows he will room with fellow earl enrollees Jake Lawler, J.T. Cauthen and Jonah Melton.

Together, the foursome are working other remaining prospects that could end up with the Tar Heels, though he won’t offer any names as of now. Otherwise, his time is about finishing his last few days of classes and getting ready for Chapel Hill.

“Making sure everything is set for graduation, (and) it's up to me to prepare for the next level,” he said, already embracing the responsibilities of playing at the next level. “Also talking to coach porter about concepts and really getting ready to dive into the playbook.”

THI interview with Michael Carter the night he committed to UNC.