Carter, safety at center of Nkemdiche saga, speaks out

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sat Jul 07 13:15:38 GMT-04:00 2012

Grayson safety Ryan Carter found himself the center of attention Friday morning, some of it unwanted attention, and he wants to set the record straight.

The 2013 prospect attends the same high school as Clemson commits Robert Nkemdiche Robert Nkemdiche
Defensive End
6-5, 275
Loganville, GA
View Full Profile , Wayne Gallman Wayne Gallman
Running Back
6-1, 195
Loganville, GA
View Full Profile and David Kamara David Kamara

5-11, 185
Loganville, GA
View Full Profile . He told TigerNet Saturday morning that he has offers from Ole Miss, Arkansas St., Tulane, East Carolina and Georgia St., but his name made it into the news when Nkemdiche – the nation’s No.1 recruit and a close friend of Carter’s – told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that his commitment to Clemson would be a “done deal” if the Tigers were to offer Carter.

Carter told TigerNet that the ensuing turmoil caught him by surprise.

“It was really crazy. My phone blew up yesterday,” Carter said. “At the same time, it was a learning experience. I don’t want him to feel like he can't go to a school if I don’t get an offer. And I don’t think he meant that he wouldn’t go there if I wasn’t offered. That isn’t the case. I know he did it out of friendship, and I think he was just showing them that they need to take a look at me. I don’t have to play at Clemson because of him being there.”

However, Carter did say he heard from a Clemson coach late Friday afternoon.

“Coach [Tony] Elliott messaged me on my Facebook, and I am supposed to call him,” he said. “I just got the message yesterday, but I have been busy. I am going to call him later tonight.”

Carter said he also plans on making a visit to Clemson on July 20th.

“I am pretty sure Robert is supposed to go up there on July 20th,” he said. “I have never been up there before, so I am anxious to see it. Robert and David have told me that Clemson’s style of defense is similar to what we run at Grayson. I think I could definitely make and impact my freshman year and help the team out. And Coach [Mickey] Conn is a good friend of Coach Swinney’s, so there is a good connection.”

Carter says he would accept if Clemson were to offer.

“It would be unbelievable because I have played with those other guys for so long,” he said. “We have been together since middle school, and if we could play together it would just be overwhelming.”

Carter (5-11, 175), said he is a physical safety who doesn’t mind hitting people.

“I am physical, and I love coming down on the run,” he said. “I love to hit. That is one of my specialties. I love coming down on the run, or playing in coverage.”