Carter, LorenzoGeorgia outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter admits he’s in the minority in facing spread offenses.
He actually relishes the opportunity.
“I don’t know if I would say that I enjoy it, because a lot of these teams go really fast, but it’s a game built for me,” Carter said minutes after the Bulldogs wrapped up their 8-5 season with a 31-23 defeat of TCU in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 30. “I definitely feel like I have to go out there and play well in these types of games.”
Carter played very well against the spread-oriented Horned Frogs, amassing seven tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack. His first forced fumble came in the final 30 seconds of the first half at the expense of quarterback Kenny Hill, and his second occurred early in the third quarter after a 13-yard run by tailback Kyle Hicks.
The Bulldogs were unable to convert Carter’s first turnover into points, as a 53-yard Rodrigo Blankenship field-goal attempt was blocked at the halftime horn, but they drove 52 yards in 12 plays after his second big play to take a 21-16 lead.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart didn’t hesitate afterward to let everyone know he had called out Carter before the Liberty Bowl.
“We knew that in this game that Lorenzo Carter’s specialties would come out,” Smart said. “He can run. He never gets tired. He’s fast. He can run plays down. I’m really proud of the way Lorenzo approached this game, because we asked Lorenzo to do things that aren’t natural.
“He has to spy the quarterback sometimes when he wants to rush, but it’s what is best for the team.”
Carter arrived in Athens from the Atlanta suburb of Norcross as a five-star member of the 2014 signing class, and he didn’t disappoint as a freshman, starting five of 13 games and tallying 41 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. His production dipped sharply as a sophomore, when he had only 19 tackles and no lost-yardage stops.
The knock on Carter was that he could be a pass-rushing menace but was suspect against the run, but that is being replaced by his defender-of-the-spread label.
“You just have to realize the plan and execute the plan,” Carter said. “It’s hard sometimes when they’re running plays every 10 seconds, but we go fast in practice. I just think it’s fun being out there with my teammates and running around getting the calls and playing football.
“It’s becoming more of the norm in college football, and I’m not against it.”
Carter’s performance in Memphis followed his decision to come back for his senior season and help headline a potentially dominant defense. The Bulldogs, barring unforeseen setbacks, will return their top five tacklers and 14 of their top 15 – all but graduate transfer defensive back Maurice Smith.
Georgia is expected to be especially stout at the first two levels, with Liberty Bowl MVP Trenton Thompson, Julian Rochester, David Marshall and Jonathan Ledbetter up front, Roquan Smith, Natrez Patrick and Reggie Carter at inside linebacker and Davin Bellamy at the outside spot opposite Carter.
“I’m extremely happy to be able to come back to the University of Georgia,” Carter said. “With all the people we have coming back, we have a goal in our heads, and we’re not going to stop until we get it.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.