Wedged in between Spring Football practice 13 and 14, Washington defensive back coach Julius Brown was on the phone with Univeristy of Rhode Island cornerback Antonio Carter who had just entered the Transfer Portal.  Originally from Oak Ridge High School in Orlando, Florida, Carter’s recruitment was heating up like a Central Florida summer day.  That stands in stark contrast to his high school recruitment that was as cold and Seattle this past week.

“I had a few D-2 offers and a few FCS offers,” he said.

In the past 72 hours he’s fielded calls, texts, DMs from nearly two dozen D-1 schools across the country–including Washington who offered yesterday.

“It was coach Brown who offered but several other coaches have reached out to me,” he said.  “I’ve heard from coach Morrell, coach Grubb hit me up, and coach Huff.”

In the middle of our interview another text came through from Washington.

“Coach Inge (linebacker coach) just messaged me,” he chuckled.

Although the introductions to the Washington staff are new, he’s not new to Husky football having watched games as a high schooler and in college.

“They’re a great team and that’s something that I want to be a part of,” he said.  “I know they’re going to be getting a lot of attention this year.”

Distance won’t be a factor.

“A place that I can go in and play and make a difference.  I’m from Orlando and I’m in Rhode Island so I feel that anywhere away from home is going to feel away from home,” he said.

What is a factor is Washington’s track record of putting defensive backs into the NFL.

“When I don’t have a game to play I watch college football.  Washington has a lot of great DBs and I’d love to be the next one to come out of there,” he said.

The first recruiting go around when he was in high school was not like this.

“Honestly, I wasn’t ready but I think that it was all of God’s plan,” he said.  “I was a very different player.  My senior season was only my second season playing cornerback.  My technique wasn’t there just yet.”

The University of Rhode Island proved to be a Godsend as he settled into the college game starting the better part of two seasons.  As a sophomore for the Rams, Carter started all 11 games recording 60 total tackles including 4.5 for negative yards.

“My physicality stands outs as well as being versatile,” he said of what the Washington coaches have told him that they like about his play.  “I can play safety, corner or nickel.”

6-1, 200 pounds and runs in the area of a 4.4 in the forty yard dash.

Part of what else he attributes his level of success at Rhode Island is that he was able to align himself with his faith.

“I’m a strong believer in God,” he said.  “People may think that I did this all by myself, but it’s not true.”

He said that God gave him the ability to play college football at a high level and when he truly began to excel as a player was when he got his priorities right.

“That’s why I feel that I’m in this position now.  I decided to follow God more than I ever have,” he said.  “I had to learn to be more consistent with that.”

As he became more consistent in his mindset, he also became more consistent as a player.  He decided to take a leap of faith and put his name into the Transfer Portal on the April 16th.  The next day Utah State offered.  Then Virginia, UNLV, Middle Tennessee, Kentucky, Baylor, Louisville, and SMU all offered.  The next day Virginia Tech, Minnesota, Texas A&M, and Georgia Tech offered.  Then it was the Pac-12’s turn as Oregon State and Washington offered.

20 schools offering within 72 hours.

What also helped Carter was playing for someone other than himself.  Before he goes out onto the field he gets his mind right with a hype song is different than any of his teammates.

“Let It Rain by Bishop Paul S. Morton is my song.  It helps me focus, it helps me lock in.  I like hip hop but it doesn’t get me locked in like that song,” he said.

The song takes him back to when he was a child.

“It hits me different.  It makes me lock in.  I was only 7 years old when my granddad died and it was played at his funeral,” he intimated.  “It gives me a different focus.  I think he’d be so proud of me seeing all of this.”

There’s another family member he plays for, as well.

“My cousin Dexter Rentz was committed to Louisville to play receiver but he never got a chance,” Carter said.

Nearly two years ago, on April 25th, 2020 Rentz was returning from a family member’s funeral when he was caught in the crossfire of bullets intended for someone else.  He died on his way to the hospital.  The news made national headlines and former Orlando Magic star and current Orlando resident Shaquille O’Neil covered the funeral costs.

“It happed a month before he was to go off to college,” Carter said.

This weekend, nearly 2 years to the day, he’ll be putting together a plan of 5 visits after he does a lot of research on schools.  However, based upon conversations with schools he’s begun narrowing his focus already.

“Washington, Kentucky, Iowa, Wisconsin, and maybe Virginia Tech,” he said as offers continue come in, including Ole Miss who offered on Friday.

RealDawg.com will have updates on Carter’s recruitment and all of the University of Washington’s Transfer Portal activities.