With the Mr. Football hardware resting on a table in front of him, and his high school football career now officially behind him, Boo Carter spoke freely about his future Tuesday afternoon.
Less than an hour after being named Class 6A's Mr. Football, the Bradley Central star wrapped up his media obligations inside Nissan Stadium by acknowledging his excitement to join the University of Tennessee football team in a matter of weeks for Citrus Bowl preparations.
Carter and Bears teammate Marcus Goree are both scheduled to graduate on Dec. 15 and be early enrollees for Tennessee's current signing class. According Carter and Bradley Central coach Damon Floyd, both players will join the Vols to begin practicing on Dec. 16. As early enrollees, however, they will not be eligible to play in the bowl game.
"I'm very prepared and ready for it," Carter said. "To be in a role to be ready for next year is something I've worked for. I feel like my trainer, Coach Kaylen (Stewart), has got me right in the offseason and prepared me to be ready to practice with the team for the bowl.
"I'm ready to take it to the next level."
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Carter, led the Bears in total yards with 1,795 — an average of 128.2 per game — which included 1,145 receiving and 407 yards in kick and punt returns and also led the team with 26 total touchdowns.
Defensively, he was in on 89 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and had two interceptions and three pass breakups, while the 6-1, 180-pound Goree, who is projected to play either cornerback or safety, had 56 tackles, four for loss and three pass breakups as Bradley Central claimed its first region championship since 1980 and reached the semifinals for the first time since 1976.
A consensus 4-star national prospect according to every major recruiting service, Carter also said he's been told he will get a look at multiple positions — on offense, defense as well as special teams.
"They told me I would be a safety, nickel, punt returner, kick returner and play some on offense," Carter said. "I'll be doing it all. I'm prepared and ready for it. I'm ready to compete and am ready for the challenge.
"I know wherever they put me I can capitalize because I've been doing it. I've got the heart, I've got the skill and the mindset, so I'm ready for it."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com.