ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay made headlines recently by reporting there are character concerns for star Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, who is considered a top-three prospect in the 2023 draft.
“With Carter, there are some character issues. Does he get along with everybody. What’s he like to deal with in the locker room, those sorts of issues” McShay said on ESPN. “I know it’s early in the process, but I’m forewarning everybody out there. Carter is going to be a hot-button name when we talk about some of the intangible aspects of it. I think Pete Carroll (and the Seattle Seahawks) at No. 2, who has a long of history taking guys with questionable character and then developing them and having them work out, that would make a lot of sense to me.”
Buy Bulldogs Tickets“That will be the big discussion. It’s not about his talent, his size or his explosive take off or finishing as a pass rusher, it’s about the character and do we want to bring that guy into the building.”
Carter’s teammates quickly came to his defense after McShay’s comments went viral.
Nazir Stackhouse, Ryland Goede, Jackson Meeks, Zion Logue and Smael Mondon each made social media posts defending Carter as a teammate.
In a Peach Bowl media session on Thursday, Carter responded to McShay’s alleged character concerns.
“I did not take that any type of way,” Carter said. “I’m just trying to be the best teammate I could be. That’s it. It really didn’t affect me. I’m always a positive guy. I look at the positive side. I never look at the negative. I tried to stay away from that. And when it came out I really didn’t pay any mind to I just told my team let’s just keep going. Let’s just go to the playoffs and ball out.”
Carter also commented on his teammates support.
“It made me feel great,” Carter said. “I did not expect it. It is just the general love we have as a team.”
Carter and the Bulldogs will take on Ohio State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl semifinal at 8 p.m.
Get all your pregame coverage here at UGA Wire and live gameday coverage on Twitter at UGA Football Live.
We’ll get you ready for kickoff in our Peach Bowl special episode of ‘UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton‘. We are joined by former Georgia offensive lineman Chris Burnette to talk UGA vs. Ohio State. Listen here:
