ESPN's Greg McElroy just provided Tennessee DB Boo Carter with plenty of motivation for playoff game against Ohio State
Tennessee Vols true freshman defensive back Boo Carter isn't the type of player that needs extra motivation. The former four-star recruit has a reputation for being the type of player that gives 100 percent on every rep. Whether it's practice, a game against a cupcake, or a game against a top rival, Carter is always […]
Tennessee Vols true freshman defensive back Boo Carter isn't the type of player that needs extra motivation.
The former four-star recruit has a reputation for being the type of player that gives 100 percent on every rep. Whether it's practice, a game against a cupcake, or a game against a top rival, Carter is always locked in.
"Boo Carter, he don’t care if he’s in front of 102,000, he don’t care if he’s in front of five people, he’s Boo and he’s so locked in and focused on what he does. He’s just a great football player," said Vols special teams coordinator/linebackers coach Mike Ekeler earlier this year.
If someone is going to provide Carter with some extra motivation, though, the young defensive back might as well use it.
Carter received some bulletin board material this week ahead of the Vols' College Football Playoff matchup against Ohio State via former Alabama quarterback/ESPN analyst Greg McElroy.
McElroy questioned Carter's ability to defend Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.
"I do think the Ohio State wide receivers against the Tennessee secondary has a chance to be one of the best matchups in the entire game," said McElroy. "You look at Jeremiah Smith against Jermod McCoy, that's a big time matchup. I think Jermod McCoy is super physical, I think he's great with his eyes. And I think Jeremiah Smith, who has excelled at making contested catches all year, this will be a step up in the level of physicality he's likely going to face when he tees it up against Jermod McCoy. But I think with his length, Jeremiah Smith is still an outrageously difficult [player to] cover. So it'll be very interesting to see who wins that matchup.
"Not to be overshadowed, though, is Carnell Tate on the other side working against Rickey Gibson. Now Rickey Gibson hasn't been quite as good as Jermod McCoy, but he's been rock solid. And when things haven't been going [well] for their other two wide receivers, how many times this year has Carnell Tate stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam? He's been very, very good when taking advantage of the secondary cover man or, in some cases, the tertiary cover man for the opposing defense. Then the one that might be the most impactful in this game….the guy that needs to be talked about in this matchup in particular is Emeka Egbuka. He's going to be going against Boo Carter. Boo Carter's a freshman and I think he's going to have his hands full against one of the best slot receivers in the country. That's a matchup that Ohio State can and should win rather convincingly. Egbuka against Carter, if I'm (Ohio State QB) Will Howard, that's a matchup I'm looking to take advantage of early and often throughout the game."
That's not an unfair take from McElroy. Egbuka is an experienced senior wide receiver who has over 2,500 receiving yards in his career at Ohio State. The former five-star recruit is a dynamic player who will be playing on Sundays next fall.
Carter, however, is also a dynamic player who will eventually be playing on Sundays. On paper, though, Egbuka has the advantage thanks to his experience.
But that doesn't mean that Carter is going to lose every rep against Egbuka. Both players are going to make plays on Saturday night in Columbus. Carter just has to figure out a way to make more plays than Egbuka. It's a tough matchup, but it's a matchup that an elite competitor like Carter will embrace.
Perhaps the added motivation from McElroy will help Carter play his best game of the season against one of the top wide receivers in the nation.
