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UNC Football: Michael Carter impressing during Senior Bowl week

By Lee Vowell

Jan 27, 2021; Mobile, AL, USA; National running back Michael Carter of North Carolina (7) grabs a pass during National practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2021; Mobile, AL, USA; National running back Michael Carter of North Carolina (7) grabs a pass during National practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michael Carter had a special season for the UNC football program and that appears to be carrying over to Senior Bowl week.

The college all-star game known as the Senior Bowl has become even more important this year because the NFL decided to cancel its yearly combine due to COVID-19 issues. So if a player can stop out during prep work for Saturday’s game and then have a good game, their draft stock will rise. This seems to be the case for Carter.

According to Execute Director of the Senior Bowl, Jim Nagy, Carter “is one of the biggest risers on our board from the summer to now.” And Tar Heels fans know why as we watched Carter run for 1,246 yards in 2020 and score 11 touchdowns. Carter showed explosive quickness and an ability to catch the ball and then create yards.

UNC football fans know Carter should be really good in the NFL but now other people are learning this as well. Besides Nagy, NFL Network draft analyst Bucky Brooks took note of Carter this week as well on an episode of the Move the Sticks podcast.

"The way that he plays, you have to give him more credit. His hands are very nice, soft, does a good job. I think he has impeccable timing when it comes to the screen game. His ability to run in between the tackles is appealing. He does have a little bit of juice. He doesn’t have what I would call A-level juice. But I think he has B, B-plus speed and quickness in the short area."

Zack Patraw of Sports Illustrated implied that Carter showed more explosiveness than he expected

"On day one of (Senior Bowl) practices, (Carter) showed off his burst and speed. He took the top off of the defense on a few occasions during 7-on-7s and held his own against linebackers in pass protection."

UNC football’s Michael Carter in the draft

It could be that last part that makes Carter a higher draft pick than originally expected. Sure, Carter isn’t a huge running back at 200 pounds and may not have sub-4.3 speed, but he never gives up on plays and his ability to pass protect, even for a smaller back, will make NFL teams happy.

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That, coupled with the fact that Carter is a versatile back who can be part of a rotation, be a third-down back but can also pick up tough yards on first and second should get Carter drafted on day 2. Whichever team chooses to take Carter, however, will learn he is more valuable than even they anticipated.

For more on the UNC Football program and Carter, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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