UF’s Zachary Carter hopes return to Gators pays dividends in NFL Draft
Defensive lineman Zachary Carter came back for another season at Florida holding high hopes, and left with few regrets despite his best-laid plans going awry.
Carter hopes NFL teams see how much he improved and endured during a five-year stretch, culminating with a second losing season and head coaching change rather than championship success.
Carter is confident whoever drafts him Thursday through Saturday will land a player better for his experiences and prepared for the transition to the next level.
“That’s my whole demeanor,” Carter said. “I kind of developed that throughout college, just being a pro.”
During his time in Gainesville, Carter developed into a team captain, defensive stalwart, locker room presence and media spokesman. The 22-year-old also earned his degree in December 2021.
A year earlier, Carter decided to return for another season even though he received enough positive feedback to give him pause.
“It was one of those things I knew there was more that I could do,” Carter said.
Neither Carter nor the Gators accomplished all he envisioned.
Carter’s 5.5 sacks through five games put him on pace to challenge the school record of 13 (Alex Brown, 1999). Yet, he topped out at 8 as opponents ganged up to stop him and teammates battled injuries.
Hopes for an SEC title were dashed by early October. By the end of November, the Gators had hired Billy Napier to replace Dan Mullen, who’d replaced Jim McElwain in 2017 following Carter’s freshman season.
Carter soon will learn whether he improved his draft stock. He is consistently projected as a fourth-round selection.
Lined up at end after playing inside much of his career, Carter aimed to showcase versatility and position flexibility while increasing his production. He finished with a career-high 11 tackles for loss, including his 8 sacks.
“I just wanted to show that I was a complete player, I can stop the run, I can rush the passer and I wanted to lead my team,” Carter said. “We might not have had the team success that we wanted to have, obviously the goal was a championship. Individually I feel I did pretty good.
“That was my mission and I feel like I accomplished that.”
Carter said NFL teams have praised his efforts and anticipate a place for him in their scheme.
“I’m hearing from a lot of teams that kind of like how I fit in this defense … they see me as a puzzle piece to move around,” he said.
Carter continued to build his case for NFL teams during the Feb. 5 Senior Bowl and the Gators’ Pro Day March 28.
He participated in many drills for 28 NFL teams at Florida’s indoor practice facility. The 6-foot-4 Carter arrived at 285 pounds, his 2021 playing weight, but clearly was leaner having reduced his body fat from 25% to 18%.
Leading up to the event, Carter worked to improve his agility working at Michael Johnson Performance in McKinney, Texas.
“Defensive line is all about changing direction,” Carter said. “I really improved on that part of the game.”
Carter is expected to be just one of a few Gators drafted the next three days.
Cornerback Kaiir Elam could be selected in the late first round, but likely will fall to the second day (rounds 2 and 3). Tailback Dameon Pierce is projected as a Day 3 pick (rounds 4-7).
Carter is less concerned with where he goes in the draft than how he arrives to his new team.
“I look at it I just try to put my head down and work because I can’t really control that,” he said. “I’m going to put forth my best foot. Whatever round I go it’s a blessing, regardless, because I know a lot of guys would like to be in my shoes — Round 1 or Round 7 — it doesn’t matter.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com oraafollow him on Twitter at @osgators.
()