Rip City Legends 18U impressed in winning the gold bracket at the Back 2 Ballin High 2026 7v7 Tournament during the middle of April at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The squad is filled with playmakers, making it hard to stand out. Carlton managed to do that with his performance in the event where weak links are exposed. The spring success followed a fall where he was an important piece of a Dallas Center-Grimes’ defense that helped the team reach the Class 5A playoffs. The sophomore produced 24.5 tackles, 20 of which were of the solo variety. He intercepted a pass, and rushed twice for 16 yards. We could see the potential with the ball in his hands when given an opportunity in the passing game at The Dome or for the Mustangs. Both teams lean on his skills as a defensive back, however. Carlton is an athlete with burst that helps him break quickly on the ball. He moves well laterally and in a straight line, and looks smooth in his back-pedal. It all adds up to Carlton being a prospect on the rise.

Carlton has contributed on both sides of the ball as a sophomore on a Class 5A playoff contender. Through seven weeks, he’d contributed two carries for 16 yards and added 13 tackles (10 solo). When popping on Carlton’s highlight videos from the season, we witness an explosive presence at safety. He identifies plays quickly and gets to the ball in a hurry. With an advanced level of physicality for his age, Carlton stands out on run defense. His speed and fluid hip actions portend a player capable of locking down in coverage, too. Carlton has room to grow physically and as a player before reaching his considerable potential.

Carlton got his prep career started in style last season. The freshman carried 59 times for 440 yards (7.5 YPC) and six touchdowns for an undefeated freshman team. His ninth-grade highlights capture a play-maker with the ball in this hands. Carlton can pick his way through traffic running between the tackles thanks to strong vision and sharp cuts. He also displays the speed to get to the outside and turn it up field. Carlton runs hard and through arm tackles. He’s solidly built for a underclassman and should fill out more without losing speed.