OSU’s Carter sliding from end to tackle
Late last December, as Oklahoma State prepped for the Alamo Bowl, Trey Carter stepped on the scale to gauge his weight before heading into the offseason.
What he saw in the mirror and on the scale clashed before his eyes.
“It was a little bit of a surprise, because I still looked fit, with the abs working and everything,” the playful Carter said. “Then I stepped on the scale and it was like, ‘Wow, 298?’
“So I was like, ‘Hey, coach, let’s move inside.’”
And inside Carter moved, from defensive end to tackle; from being in the mix to standing front and center.
And it’s a move for the better, for Carter and the Cowboys.
OSU lost senior starters in Vincent Taylor and Motekiai Maile at tackle, creating need — and opportunity — for replacements. Yet the holes might not be so gaping, with the next wave spurring optimism and Carter thriving in his new role.
“The transition of Trey Carter to defensive tackle has made life a little easier,” said Cowboys defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements. “He made that transition a lot sooner than I anticipated, and that’s a credit to him.
“It’s a more difficult
move than people realize.
“He’s played well and flourished in it at some points. There’s still some things he’s got to improve in his game, but that’s just gonna take experience.”
Carter has some experience inside; he played nose guard at L.G. Pinkston High in Dallas, filling a bigman role and starring as a four-star recruit.
His speed on the edge helped project him as an end with the Cowboys, and he played there sparingly the past two seasons.
But with the openings at tackle and his weight climbing into his junior year, up from 255 when he arrived in Stillwater,
Carter grew into a tackle.
“I always was the biggest at defensive end anyway,” he said.
The Cowboys are deep at the ends, with Jarrell Owens and Cole Walterscheid back as starters and Jordan Brailford and Tralund Webber capable of starting and slotted for major roles.
Vili Leveni is returning from injury and in the mix.
At this point, Carter is better fit as a tackle, because of his size, but also his play.
Still proud of his abs, he brings a different physique and speed inside.
“This feels like a right move for me, because now I’m faster and I’ve got quick hands,” Carter said. “I’m one of the fastest defensive tackles now.”
Carter seeks a fast
transition to playing time, too.
“Trey is very hungry. And he is very determined,” said Darrion Daniels, a projected starter at tackle.
“At the defensive end, I could tell he was really trying hard out there, but he had so many great athletes in front of him, he kind of got discouraged.
“But him coming inside and realizing he has great potential, he’s like, ‘I want it.’”
There’s depth inside, too, with DeQuinton Osborne, Enoch Smith Jr., Taaj Bakari, Ben Hughes, Cameron Murray and Brendon Evers all offering promise. So Carter won’t be gifted the job.
“Ever since I moved inside, I’ve really enjoyed it,” Carter said. “I feel like I can be a great help to the team.”