Tag: Taurean Carter

Colorado bolsters D-line with commitment from Arkansas transfer Taurean Carter

Colorado’s D-line picked up another key piece

Colorado’s defensive line added another key piece on Thursday as Arkansas transfer Taurean Carter gave his commitment to head coach Deion Sanders’ Buffs. Carter, a 6-foot-3, 303-pound redshirt senior, was committed to SMU for about one week before flipping to CU.

After missing the entire 2022 season due to a knee injury, Carter returned to the Razorbacks’ D-line this past season and totaled 25 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks — all career-bests.

Carter was a three-star prospect from Mansfield Legacy High School in Texas who received an offer from Colorado in January of 2018.

Carter spoke with On3 about his commitment to Colorado:

“I mean, who wouldn’t want to play for the most looked-at team in college football?” Carter told On3. “Going to Colorado would be an opportunity of a lifetime, and I wouldn’t pass it up for anything because they believe in me and my ability to have a positive impact on the Buffs’ defense.”

Other transfer DL to join the Buffs this offseason include Samuel Okunlola, Quency Wiggins, Chidozie Nwankwo and Anquin Barnes. Colorado also landed former Kentucky edge rusher Keaten Wade.

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Defensive tackle Taurean Carter enters the portal

Taurean Carter became the fifth Arkansas defensive player to make his intentions known on Monday, entering the transfer portal.

December 4 was a date circled on every FBS football team’s calendar whether they were in contention for the College Football Playoff or were struggling to win two games.

The transfer portal is officially open, and Arkansas had already had some players enter it anyway.

On Monday, defensive tackle Taurean Carter decided to go ahead and put his name in as well.

Carter, a former 3-star recruit from Mansfield, Texas, has one more year of eligibility remaining thanks to the COVID year.

In 2023, he had 25 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks after missing all of 2022 because of a torn ACL he suffered in spring ball before that season.

He had 24 tackles in 2021.

Carter becomes the fifth player to make his intentions known, along with linebackers Christopher ‘Pooh’ Paul, Jordan Crook and Mani Powell and defensive back Jaylen Lewis.

Arkansas Depth Chart – Defensive Tackle

Now running a four-man front along the defensive line, Arkansas will rely on some key returners and added transfers to secure the tackle positions.

Depth has been the biggest issue at defensive tackle for the Razorbacks in recent years. New defensive coordinator Travis Williams has implemented a 4-2-5 base defense, differing from former DC Barry Odom’s three-man fronts the past three seasons. But with some experienced players returning and additional help from the transfer portal, Williams is confident Arkansas has what it takes.

“I think we have enough depth,” he said. “It’s just like anybody else: You don’t want to get guys hurt, but you have to get guys ready. That’s why we two-spot, so there’s always guys getting reps. We have enough depth to get the job done.”

A huge boost is the return of 6-foot-3, 303-pound senior Taurean Carter, who was injured in the 2022 spring game and missed the entire season with a knee injury. The Hogs lost a pair of starters in Isaiah Nichols, who transferred to Purdue, and Terry Hampton, who was a senior. But they also gained two experienced transfers, in Maryland’s Anthony Booker Jr., and Louisiana Tech’s Kelvie Rose.

No, really: Arkansas’ defensive line is deep and talented

The Razorbacks may roll 10 deep, all with skill and experience, up front. That’s scary for SEC opponents.

Combing through the names on the Arkansas depth chart on the defensive line may feel a little bit like one of the opening scenes in the movie Major League.

Not an established star on the roster.

But like those Cleveland Indians, now Guardians, expect the the Hogs’ front four – on this case, maybe 10, by the time things are said and done – to be one of the better units in the SEC. They still may not have a superstar when that happens, but the depth is showing itself, for sure, in fall camp.

“We have finessers, we have powerful rushers, and we have speed rushers, so it’s just kind of a mixture of everything that we can play into,” defensive tackle Taurean Carter said. “So, you can’t just study for one thing, you’ve got to study for all of it, and you’ve got to expect who to study it for. With us rotating and flipping sides, it’s a chess game, not checkers.”

Carter didn’t play last year because of injury, though two seasons ago he was establishing himself as a staple and a majority snap-taker at his spot in the middle. Now, he has plenty of bodies to help. And not the kind who are just taking up a spot, either.

Maryland transfer Tank Booker, Louisiana Tech transfer Keivie Rose and returners Cam Ball and Eric Gregory give Arkansas five players with loads of experience and established results.

And that’s just at tackle. On the ends, Pittsburgh transfer John Morgan and LSU transfer Trajan Jeffcoat join returners Landon Jackson and Zach Williams. All four have been starters at the FBS level and will likely make up the two-deep when the Hogs open their season against Western Carolina the first weekend of September.

“The last time I’ve been a part of a three-deep defensive line was the year we went to the Outback Bowl when we went 9-4,” Carter said. “It was Ridgeway, Nichols and me. Of course, we had the end depth. But this depth is way different. It’s just a way different type of vibe.”

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Arkansas’ best defensive lineman may be a new, old face

Taurean Carter was on the verge on breaking out two seasons ago. Then injuries struck. Now he’s back.

Taurean Carter looked like he was set to be Arkansas’ next breakout, home-grown defensive lineman.

A sophomore season that saw him crack the Razorbacks’ rotation at defensive tackle ended with only Illinois State transfer, a near All-SEC pick, John Ridgeway beating him on the statistical sheet. Carter was primed.

Then the knee went.

Carter missed the entire 2022 season, his junior season, after suffering a knee injury that spring. That set him back not only health wise, but the missed time allowed players to leapfrog him on the depth chart.

But now, heading into the 2023 season, Carter is feeling healthy and ready to re-take his place as one of the best defensive tackles on the roster.

“Me, personally, I like to try to go harder because the harder I go, the less I think about it,” Carter said.”And if I put myself in uncomfortable situations, I’ll get comfortable in those situations.”

The effort is what Arkansas needs up front. Carter is in the mix with returners Cam Ball and Eric Gregory and newcomers Tank Booker and Kieve Rose in the expected rotation. The good news for the Razorbacks is that that mix of defensive tackles brings a lot of experience. The bad news for Carter is they all played last year and he didn’t.

Defensive line coach Deke Adams said he thinks Carter is going to be ready to roll with no limits, mental or physical, sooner rather than later.

“Each day, you can see a little bit more confidence coming in, and he’s done a really good job like I said about all the other guys. He knows what I expect from him, and it’s every day come to work,” Adams said.

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Arkansas getting a visit from All-Big Ten defensive tackle from transfer portal

Arkansas’ defense needs work. Trill Carter was an All-Big Ten honorable mention player for the Golden Gophers.

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman knows his team’s defense wasn’t up to snuff in 2022 so he has had no qualms with rebuilding it via the transfer portal this offseason.

And Pittman may be close to landing a potential starter up front, too. Minnesota defensive tackle DeAngelo Carter, who goes by Trill, is set to visit Arkansas on the weekend. Carter entered the portal just two weeks ago.

Carter is more of a soak-up-blockers type of lineman than a playmaker, per se. He had 19 tackles, with two for-loss, with 1 1/2 sacks and three quarterback hurries. His play was good enough, though, to be named All-Big Ten honorable mention.

Arkansas landed defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat from Missouri via the portal in January. He was the third defensive lineman in three years to pick the Razorbacks from Mizzou after Tre Williams and Markell Utsey each had success at Arkansas after leaving the Tigers.

Carter would join a tackle rotation that is expected to feature Eric Gregory and Taurean Carter as its primary 1-2 combination. Taurean Carter did not play last year after a knee injury in the spring derailed his season, though he had 24 tackles with three for loss in 2021.

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Arkansas loses expected starter on defensive line to ankle injury

Cam Ball is expected to be Arkansas’ No. 1 defensive tackle next season. He’ll miss most of the next few weeks.

The Arkansas defense was one of the worst in the country last year. So any further personnel losses would hurt the Hogs.

Bummer.

Defensive tackle Cam Ball will miss most of the rest of spring practice because of ankle injury, coach Sam Pittman said Wednesday. He was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and was seen in a walking boot during Arkansas’ Pro Day.

Ball had 31 tackles last year, third most among all Razorbacks’ defensive lineman, despite not being a starter. Since the team’s Liberty Bowl win against Kansas, however, Ball has found himself locked in with the first-teamers.

The good news for the Razorbacks is that his ankle was merely sprained. The bad news is that high ankle sprains tend to linger.

Arkansas ranked 124th out of 131 FBS teams last year in total defense. Taurean Carter and Eric Gregory are likely to get the lion’s share of the reps on the inside when Arkansas uses a four-lineman set for the rest of the spring.

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Taurean Carter Leadership Presence Expands off the Field

Despite not being on the field due to injury, Tauren Carter’s presence in the locker room is still valuable.

The defensive line has been one of the biggest conversations during spring and fall camp. It became more of a conversation when Taurean Carter suffered his knee injury.

Carter comes into the season as the leader of the Hogs’ defensive line and one of the best players on the defense. Of course, losing him to an injury makes everything less ideal for the coaching staff regarding Carter’s presence, but he is also valuable off the field. 

“He was having a great spring, and it’s tough not having him out there,” Arkansas defensive line coach Deke Adams said about the redshirt sophomore. “But he’s bought into his role at this point of being a leader and talking to the younger guys and being a motivational guy in the room. He is probably the most outspoken guy in our room. He gets after it. If he sees them lagging and dragging around, he’ll get on them pretty good.”

Carter started eight of the 13 games he played last season, part of a group that was second to last in sacks in the SEC.

Pittman decided to have Carter around in full capacity as he goes through rehab. Pittman’s decision to keep the vocal leader around has proved wise and resonated with the rest of the defensive line group.

Carter will miss the season opener on Sept. 3 against Cincinnati, and there is no direct timetable on when he will return. However, everyone agrees that Carter has remained “in-tuned” with the team and unit as if he was still on the field.

“He’s still on the same stuff as he was when he was playing with us,” senior DT Zach Williams said. “The only difference is he’s not on the line right now. Sometimes, I don’t even notice that because, like Eric said, he’s so into it. He’s not one of the people that once you get hurt, they close down or shut off. He’s not that type of person. He’ll really help you just like with Isaiah. He’ll help you no matter what your position is. That’s what I really like about Taurean.”

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Arkansas doesn’t scary anyone at getting to QB, so Pittman wants that to change

Arkansas has plenty of bodies on the defensive line, now the Hogs need someone to step up.

The Arkansas pass-rush has been subpar for a while now. But Arkansas coach Sam Pittman expects that to change in 2022.

The last time the Razorbacks defense finished in the top-half of the SEC in sacks was in 2013 when future NFLers Chris Smith and Trey Flowers were making waves at defensive end. Last year’s Arkansas team had just 25 sacks, the second worst mark in the league just in front of Vanderbilt’s nine.

And while the Hogs lost three starters off the front four in John Ridgeway, Tre Williams and Markell Utsey, they also have transfers in from LSU and Georgia Tech. Landon Jackson Jr. and Jordan Domineck should help alleviate that loss. Throw in Cam Ball and the return of Eric Gregory, Taurean Carter and Zach Williams and the Hogs should be at least as good.

Coach Sam Pittman is hoping they’ll be better.

“We need pass rushers. We’re over on our numbers at the position. We’re at 20 counting walk-ons. We need some elite pass rushers,” he said.

Zach Williams is the returning leader as his 3 1/2 sacks were third on last year’s team as a part-timer. If he can take one of the starting jobs and run with it, that total could be eclipsed. The other option is he continues as a specialist off the bench.

Either way, Pittman is right. It’s been a while since the Hogs scared anyone with their ability to get to the quarterback.

Razorbacks add Terry Hampton, a defensive lineman and Arkansas native in portal

Terry Hampton wanted to be an Arkansas football player when he was in high school in El Dorado.

[autotag]Terry Hampton[/autotag] wanted to be an Arkansas football player when he was in high school, playing for El Dorado. It’s taken a few years and circuitous path, but the dream is about to come true.

Hampton committed to the Razorbacks on Sunday after entering the transfer portal from Arkansas State. He had offers from a number of power-conference schools, including Texas Tech, Illinois and Oregon State.

Hampton, who is 6-foot-0 and 290 pounds, played nose tackle for the Red Wolves. He was a starter in his final two seasons, but missed half of last year after a season-ending injury. His junior season, Hampton had 35 tackles, including six for-loss.

Arkansas’ defensive line now features [autotag]Cameron Ball[/autotag], [autotag]Isaiah Nichols[/autotag], [autotag]Taurean Carter[/autotag], Marcus Miller and Hampton among those vying for a bulk of the playing time on the inside. Hampton has one year of eligibility remaining.

Arkansas begins the season September 3 against Cincinnati.

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