Great heights: Sac State's DeAndre Carter out to prove he belongs in NFL – Sacramento Bee
SANTA CLARA — Steve Smith is the champion of the undersized wide receiver, and just about every aspiring wideout who hovers around Smith’s 5-9 height mentions his name in the run-up to the NFL draft.
For Sacramento State’s DeAndre Carter — who looks up, literally, to Smith — it’s an apt comparison. The 5-8, 186-pound Carter never has allowed his height to be a hindrance. If anything it’s driven him to be a smarter, sharper and, like Smith, a fiercer receiver.
“He walks around with a chip on his shoulder,” Carter said of Smith, the Ravens receiver who is entering his 15th NFL season and who has been to five Pro Bowls. “And he makes sure they’re not going to push him around. And if you try to, he’s going to let you know about it.”
“I get a little fire in myself from time to time in a game when someone tries to bully me a little bit,” Carter said. “I make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Some speedy but undersized wideouts make it to the NFL because their college programs used spread offenses and fed them the ball on end-arounds, sweeps, short passes and other gimmicky ways.
Sacramento State used Carter like he was a 6-5, 215-pound receiver. And he delivered as if was just that, catching 99 passes for 1,321 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. Both his reception count and yards total led the Football Championship Subdivision and the 99 catches ranked second in Big Sky history.
Carter also showed he could produce against cornerbacks from bigger schools when he shined in practices for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl all-star game that was held in January. He went against cornerbacks like Cody Riggs from Notre Dame and Troy Hill from Oregon and generated as much buzz as anyone.
“He belongs,” ex-Rams head coach Mike Martz, who coached one of the squads, told ESPN that week. “He does. He belongs on somebody’s roster. He has been very impressive.”
Carter has spent this month trying to reinforce that notion. He worked out for the Cardinals in early April and will do the same for the Raiders and 49ers on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Because he was born in San Jose and grew up in Fremont, he is eligible for both teams’ pro days.
Carter realizes that his first NFL job may be on special teams.
He handled four punts last season, returning one of them 61 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to cap a 17-point comeback win over Portland State. He said he’s also eager to show his worth as a gunner on special teams.
He and his former coaches, however, are confident he can distinguish himself as a wide receiver if given the opportunity.
Sacramento State offensive coordinator Paul Peterson said Carter was like a quarterback — someone who spent the week studying game film, who knew every detail of his opponent and who was adept at reading coverages.
“And he is so quick and so fast,” Peterson said. “He could juke you in a phone booth. His start and stop is phenomenal.”
Carter’s workout numbers are virtually identical to Smith’s in 2001. Both men ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. Both reached 38 1/2 inches in the vertical jump. And Carter pumped out 17 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press. Of the 44 receivers at the scouting combine this year — Carter was not invited — only four had more, and each of those players was at least 212 pounds.
Pound-for-pound, Peterson said, Carter was the strongest guy on the team
“You know, I don’t see him as a little guy,” he said. “Yeah, he’s short. But he’s a big target and he gets himself open. He’s going to separate himself. He’ll get a shot and they’re going to be well-pleased with him.”
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Persons of interest at 49ers pro day
LS Nate Boyer, Texas
He grew up in Dublin, Calif., which makes him eligible for the local pro day. Boyer has one of the better stories among would-be draft picks having served as Green Beret in problem areas like Darfur before arriving at Texas.
CB Alex Carter, Stanford
At 6-0, 196, he has good size for a cornerback and is among several Stanford players who likely will be taken in the middle rounds of the draft. Note: the 49ers never drafted a Stanford player in the four season ex-Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh ran the team
S Akeem King, San Jose State.
King turned heads last month when, at 6-2, 215 pounds, he ran his 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds. King began his stay at San Jose State as a receiver. NFL teams, notably including the Seahawks, are looking at him as a press cornerback.
DL Travis Raciti, San Jose State
He was one of two team captains in 2014. Raciti has good size, 6-5, 285, and an excellent motor and could fit in as a defensive end in the 49ers’ 3-4 defense. He is viewed as a late Day 3 prospect or a priority free agent.
S Jordan Richards, Stanford
The Folsom High product is expected to be taken on Day 3. Richards may not be as fast as some safety products, but he’s tough and so intelligent that he earned the nickname “Coach Richards” at Stanford.
ILB A.J. Tarpley, Stanford
Tarpley was impressive at Stanford’s pro day last month. He also is familiar to 49ers linebackers coach Jason Tarver, who served as Stanford’s defensive coordinator in 2011.
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