Jalen Carter (Defensive Tackle, Georgia) 2023 NFL Draft Profile
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Position: Defensive Tackle
College: Georgia
Class: Junior
Height: 6'3
Weight: 300 lbs
Pro Comp: Javon Hargrave
2022 Season Stats
32 Tackles, 16 Solo, 3 Passes Defensed, 3 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles
Overview
Jalen Carter attended Apopka High School in Florida, where he played high school football. He had 12 sacks and 64 tackles as a senior. Carter committed to the University of Georgia as a five star recruit out of high school.
Jalen Carter played in 8 games his freshman year, recording 12 tackles and catching a touchdown pass. In his sophomore year, Carter recorded 31 tackles and 3 sacks to earn 2nd team All-SEC honors. His sophomore season concluded with a national championship victory over Alabama.
Carter had 32 tackles and 3 sacks his junior year, earning 1st team All-SEC honors for his efforts. Carter's college career concluded with another national championship win. He declared for the 2023 NFL draft following Georgia's win over TCU in the CFB Championship game.
The Good
-Plays with a nasty "F--- you" mentality
-Has a variety of pass rush moves
-Demands to receive double teams
-Consistently splits double teams
-Hard to move off platform in the run game
-Eats up space and does the dirty work defending the run
-Provides consistent interior disruption in pass rush downs
-Good speed for size
-Has versatility to line up at both edge and interior
The Bad
-Does not have the most effective bull rush
-Can lose balance and end up on the ground too often
Analysis
Jalen Carter is considered to be the best prospect in this draft class by many, and for good reason. He has all of the skill and physical tools to be a dominant defensive tackle at the NFL level.
Although his numbers may not suggest this, Carter is very productive as a pass rusher. His athleticism combined with his pass rush moves makes it a nightmare to try and block him 1 on 1.
Even when facing a double team, Carter is able to split through the blockers and wreak havoc in the pocket.
Jalen Carter is also a valuable asset in the run game. He eats up space on running downs and does not get moved by blockers easily. He also has the ability to break through the blocks and get into the backfield.
The one part of Carter's game that was underwhelming was his bull rush. He has not shown the ability to win on pass rush downs using power.
Overall, Carter is a polished, athletic star who should become a perennial pro bowler at the next level. He is incredibly talented as a pass rusher and being a run defender, which will make him a valuable talent for whichever team drafts him.
Draft Value: Top 5