Georgia star defensive lineman Jalen Carter is a top prospect in the 2023 NFL draft after a dominant career in Athens.
In December, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said there were character issues with Carter.
“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. 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.”
This was a surprise to DawgNation and Georgia players alike. Multiple Bulldogs, including graduate tight end Ryland Goede, spoke out on the supposed issues mentioned by McShay on ESPN.
What’s he like in the lockeroom you ask? One of my favorite guys to be around. ALL-AROUND STUD as a player and as a friend/teammate. https://t.co/n1MOIOECwF
— Ryland Goede (@RylandGoede88) December 15, 2022
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic dived deeper into Carter’s character by speaking with UGA’s Weston Wallace, a walk-on who transitioned from the offensive line to defensive line last season.
Walk-ons are not allowed to eat every meal for free like those players on scholarship, and when Carter found out, he responded in an inspiring way.
“Jalen heard about that. I’m the only walk-on in the defensive line room and he goes, ‘I’m not gonna let that happen.’ So he used his scholarship money to pay for me to get lunch every single day,” Wallace said.
“No one told him to do that. The nutritionist informed me about it. Had she not told me, I wouldn’t have known about it. And that’s what I like about it.”
Instead of speaking out against McShay’s comments, which could impact his draft stock, Carter said this when asked his response before the Bulldogs’ playoffs run.
“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.”
What Carter did for Wallace, while not intending for his efforts to be shared, along with how his Georgia teammates responded to McShay’s comments, should squash unsubstantiated concerns.
“The blessings I have from being on a full ride, I just wanted to help, and that was taking care of a brother,” Carter said.”
