Quinton Carter Scouting Report

It took Quinton Carter a little time to find his way into the Oklahoma rotation. As a true freshman in 2006, Carter played in just five games on special teams and tallied one tackle; in 2007 he redshirted. By 2008 Carter made a couple of starts when the Sooners started an extra defensive back. Yet, he was a big role player off of the bench despite his lack of starts and ended the season tallying 36 tackles. By his junior campaign Carter was finally starting at the free safety spot and had a fine season. He finished the regular season as Oklahoma's second leading tackler with 80 stops and picked off three passes. In the Sun Bowl victory over Stanford, Carter added eight more tackles and another interception. For his efforts Carter earned a variety of All-Big 12 accolades.

The honors should keep rolling in during Carter's senior season. Through ten games the 6-1, 200 pound Las Vegas, Nevada native totaled 71 tackles and two interceptions. Carter will even occasionally get into the backfield and has 2.0 tackles-for-loss this season and 5.0 in his collegiate career.

Carter is a big hitter who has the size and the speed to be a great free safety at the next level. Carter is arguably the best free safety in this class and he should hear his name called during the second or third round if he keeps performing as well as he has over the last two years.

2/10 Update: Carter wrapped up his collegiate career with another great season and was named to just about everybody's All-America first-team. Carter ended up with four interceptions on the season and his strong finish is boosting his draft stock. He has pretty much cemented his spot as the best free safety in this class and that means he should hear his name called in the second round.

4/6 Update: Rahim Moore has given Carter some competition for the best safety in this class, but Carter could still be the top on some draft boards. His versatility is a huge plus and many teams see him as a free safety, strong safety or even a nickelback in certain situations. Moore cannot do that. However, Carter did not run very well at the NFL combine and that has scared away some teams, but he is still a safe second round pick.