2018 NFL Draft: 5 things to know about New York Giants linebacker Lorenzo Carter
The 2018 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday night and it will be held in Arlington, Texas. Carter was taken with the No. 66 pick in the third round. He gives Georgia 5 players taken, the most by any school to this point.
Carter was a key member of Georgia’s 2017 team, as the Bulldogs won the SEC and appeared in the 2018 College Football Playoff.
1. Lorenzo Carter is an athletic marvel
Few players had a better performance at the NFL combine than Carter. The outside linebacker measured in at 6-foot-4 and had an Anthony Davis-like wingspan of 82 inches. He then ran a 4.5 40-yard dash, faster than what both Sony Michel and Nick Chubb posted. To top it all, he had a 10-foot-10-inch broad jump, which set the record for a player at his position. While he might not be the most polished player right now, he’s got the traits to be a star.
2. Lorenzo Carter made the play of the game in Rose Bowl
In the second overtime of the 2018 Rose Bowl, Carter squeezed through the Oklahoma offensive line, skied into the air and got a piece of an Oklahoma field goal. It kept the Sooners off the board and set up Georgia for the game-winning score on Georgia’s next possession.
And per Carter, it was the first time he had ever blocked a kick in his life.
“I just had to get through there,” Carter said following the game. “There was space the whole game, so I just jumped through. I stayed on my feet, got my hands up, and got one on the ball.”
3. Lorenzo Carter elected to remain at Georgia for his senior season.
Like a few of his teammates, Carter bypassed the 2017 NFL Draft to return to Georgia for one final season and it more than paid off. The senior posted new-highs in both tackles and tackles for loss.
And he specifically made some money during the Notre Dame game, when he forced a game-deciding fumble while rushing against future-first round picks in Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson. When asked about his favorite memory from college, Carter points to that Notre Dame game as the one he will cherish the most.
“I would have to say the Notre Dame game,” Carter said of the 2017 contest. “That game was legendary. Just being up there on the field with the gold dome and that legendary stadium and tradition. That moment was most definitely the best moment of my college career.”
4. Lorenzo Carter has excelled in the 2018 NFL Draft process
Few players have done better in the 2018 NFL Draft process than Carter. Following his strong combine performance, Carter has played his way into being either a first-round pick or a high second-round pick.
“He’s a little bit of a challenging evaluation,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “I think right now, at this point in time, he’s a better athlete than just a pure football player. When you talk about somebody that’s 6-5, 250 pounds that runs a high 4.4, low 4.5, and watch the Notre Dame game, especially. It’s easy to see what he can become.”
5. Lorenzo Carter compares favorably to former Bulldogs star Leonard Floyd
Some have worried about Carter’s lack of production in college, especially given his athletic gifts. But another former Bulldog had similar concerns in Leonard Floyd. The 2016 first round pick never had more than 7 sacks during his time at Georgia but it was obvious that he had incredible athletic talents. He’s gotten off to a very strong start in the NFL, as he’s racked up 11½ sacks in just 22 career games. Floyd was named to the All-Rookie team in 2016.
