Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter is one of the top prospects, regardless of position, as we look to the 2023 NFL Draft. Five-star freshman from Apopka High School in Florida, Carter was the piece mistress of Georgia’s championship-winning defense the past two seasons. He’s combined to rack up 15.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2021 and 2022, but beyond the stat sheet he’s been a 6-foot-3, 310-pound force against the run and a disruptive passer. Some even believe he was the best player in a 2021 Georgia defense that had five first-round picks.
While Carter’s talent earned him a top-five finish, he got into legal trouble after being issued an arrest warrant after his discovery, he left the scene of a fatal car accident in January. A resolution was taken in mid-March, as Carter reached an agreement with Athens-Clarke County attorneys, where he pleaded no contest. The 21-year-old avoided jail time, but was given 12 months probation, paid a $1,000 fine and completed 80 hours of community service and a driving lesson.
It is unclear how this situation, in addition to its Disappointing Pro Daywill impact his draft stock, but he’s still one of the best defensive talents in this class.
Below is a full draft profile for Carter, including his scouting report, prospect rankings, pro comparison, combined results, college and high school honors and overall NFL outlook.
Note: This profile will be updated as new information becomes available.
In regards to
- Age: 21
- Year: Junior
- Height: 6-3
- lester: 310
- Hometown: Apopka, Florida
- Interesting fact: 2022 Unanimous All-American
Position: N°1 DL | Overall: No. 2 | Ranking: 94.23 (All-Pro)
CBS Sports fictional drafts
- Ryan Wilson: Seahawks (No. 5)
- Chris Trapasso: Lions (#6)
- Josh Edwards: Bear (#9)
- Kyle Stackpole: Raiders (#7)
Expected draft position (via Grinding the Mocks): 4.3 (DT1)
To view all of the most recent drafts from CBSSports.com, Click here.
NFL combines metrics/results
Height: 6-3 | Lester: 314 pounds | Arm: 33 1/2″ | Hands: 10 1/4″
- 40 yard dash: N / A
- Wide jump: N / A
- Vertical jump: N / A
Screening report
Jalen Carter has elite speed for a player his size. His value is rising due to a shortage of inside defenders who can rush passes. A relatively young prospect, Carter has had limited pass-rush production and continues to grow in that area. Georgia’s defense has mainly relied on their players’ athleticism to set up games and create chaos. He has a great strength to play the race.
Strengths
- Uses strength and leverage to gain ground
- Great speed to attack gaps
- Play with good balance
Weaknesses
- Limited pass-rush production
- play too high sometimes
- Displays a variety of pass-rush moves but must chain them together for a polished pass-rush plan
NFL Comparison
College statistics
|
2022 |
13 |
32 |
7.0 | 3.0 | 3 | 2 |
| 2021 | 15 | 37 | 8.5 | 3.0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | ten | 14 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
University Honors
Honors
- 2022: First Team All-American (Associated Press, FWAA, Walter Camp, Sporting News)
- 2022: All-SEC First Team (AP, Coaches)
- 2021: All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
Notable statistics
- 2021: One of 20 players nationally with multiple placement kick blocks in 2021
High school: Apopka (Apopka, Florida)
Class: 2020
Composite rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0.9912)
- National: 18 | DT: 4 | Florida: 3 | All the time: 377
High School Honors: Participant in the Under Armor All-America game
See Jalen Carter’s full profile on 247Sports here. For his MaxPreps profile, click here.
