Recruiting Report: Chase Carter (SMB-2022)

The dominance of the SMB Wolfpack during the late 2010's will go down in Minnesota lore as possibly one of the most talented teams in recent history, and their reign is still ongoing. As the names of Suggs, Johnson, Lockett, & Howard pass into the names of Wolfpack lore, large shoes will need to be filled, and luckily Minnehaha has a 6’6 sleeping giant of a recruit waiting to step into those championship edition kicks. Not only on the gridiron, this recruit is also no joke on the basketball court, and to continue to compete for 4A state championships in football and in their new 3A class for basketball, they will need one particular recruit - whose talent is vastly overlooked - to step up big in 2020 in order to repeat these deep playoff runs. Good thing c/o 2022 Chase Carter (6’6, 215 lbs.) is ready. The talented DE/DT and PF posted 56 tackles, 19 TFLs, 8 sacks, and a FF in the 2019 football season and spoke with Northstar Football News about his hopes for a monster 2020, his career playing for the Wolfpack so far, and where he is trying to play in college. Enjoy, and get to know one of Minnesota's top upcoming '22 recruits. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2C9sgy">Sophomore SZN</a> NFN: Hello and thank you for your time, Chase! Congratulations on your success in 2019, along with SMB's. Please start by telling us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? When did you start playing football? What do you love about the game? And anything else you'd like to share with us. Carter: "My name is Chase Carter and I started playing football around the age of 5, I’m from Brooklyn Park. A fun fact would be I have 5 division one basketball offers. I would say hitting the quarterback is the most fun thing about football to me. I’m 6”6, 205ish and I plan to take my measurements this spring as I’ve started to receive interest in football, and take it more seriously." NFN: What was your freshman season in 2018 like? Carter: "I went to Marantha Christian Academy as a freshman during the 2018 season, and played JV football as a co-op for my freshman year because I was growing into my body. I learned a lot playing with a lot of good seniors, and it wasn’t until this year I transferred to Minnehaha Academy." NFN: So what were expectations like coming into this 2019 season? What was it playing with the likes of Suggs, Johnson, & Lockett, and with their graduation upcoming, what do younger leaders like you and Kevvan (Anderson) have to do to step up next year to continue this dominance? Carter: "This year the whole goal of the year was to win the state championship, and from day one as a team that’s what we had our eyes set on. From the first day of training camp, we made it all the way to the championship but couldn’t capitalize. But this year made me into such a greater football player, I would say the person I learned from the most was <a href="https://www.northstarfootballnews.com/player/kaden-johnson/"><a href="https://www.northstarfootballnews.com/player/kaden-johnson/">Kaden Johnson</a></a>. Getting to see what he does everyday from practice to games, and the way he thinks the game, and the pure aggression I’ve never seen from him...there isn'tanything like it and that’s who I want to model my game after. Jalen and Terry were both leaders on and off the field and seeing them being as good as they are and still coming into work every day amazed me. I would say me and Kev have a lot of leading to do next year as a team because our goal hasn’t changed, we want to win a state championship, and it just starts with the grind now and getting better and better every day." NFN: You’re a very talented basketball player on Minnehaha’s loaded and nationally ranked BBall team, how has that been going? How are you guys feeling leading up the state playoffs soon? Also, how does basketball help your football game and vice versa? What do you like about each sport? Carter: "I would say basketball helps me as a better football player because of the speed and quickness of the game. Me being able to move faster than the linemen I go against gives me and edge because of basketball. It also helps that I’m starting to grow into my body. Last year I was 6'3, 220 and now I’m 6'6, 205 and I’m started to use my body in more effective ways than I ever had before, and I still have a lot of growing to do on and off the court and field." NFN: Tell me about your first eight regular season games in 2019? Who’d you play? How’d they go? What were some big games and some of the best games for you? I got to see you ball out against BSM, and you made a huge impression along with the game being nuts, what was that like? And then talk about sections and state as well, if possible. Carter: "The regular season went really well as we went 8-0 and like you said I would say the biggest moment was probably the BSM game because the environment was crazy, and it definitely was the best sports game I’ve ever been apart of in my life. Hutchinson was definitely the toughest game for me personally, because those linemen were the best blockers I’ve played against all season. Rocori got there win against us - no shade there - but if we cross paths again we cross paths but they are not a team we have on our radar. I do know we play Minneapolis North during the regular season next year and that should be a good game." NFN: I agree. So what's up with recruiting? Who are some teams you're interested in and have been in contact with? What are you looking for in a program, as well? Carter: "I have a couple of planned visits as the basketball season ends. I already took a gameday visit to watch Iowa stats play against Texas. And Iowa State was the first D1 school that I’ve talked to. I have visits that I haven’t planned yet, but I am supposed to be going up to the University of Wisconsin and University of Iowa. And I have also heard from Kansas State. What I’m looking for in a college is somewhere I can call home, and somewhere that fits me and can help me grow as a player and person." NFN: Forsure. Lastly, how does basketball fit into the equation? What do you think you can add to a college program and what do you do well as a football player? Carter: "There is no decision made between basketball and football (right now) as I love both so much. So right now it’s an even playing field, and I just want to get to college. And I feel like what I add to a college football team is a unique talent because of me being my size and speed - you don’t see that a lot in high school football - especially as a sophomore. And I will continue to get stronger. I would say I know how to get to the quarterback and that’s what I do best as a player. I feel like I have a really high ceiling in football and I watch a lot of football and my favorite player is Chase Young because I like his style of play." This will not be the last you hear about Chase Carter! Stay tuned.