Red Raiders land JUCO QB
With uncertainty around whether or not Patrick Mahomes will return for his senior season at Texas Tech, the coaching staff returned to a familiar name for quarterback depth in this 2017 recruiting class.
Only two weeks after receiving an offer from the Red Raiders, Tyler J.C. quarterback and former Gilmer high school standout McLane Carter committed to Texas Tech during his official visit this weekend.
"The visit was great, I was there with my Mom, my brother and his fiance," Carter said. "We got there on Friday, settled into the hotel and then went out to eat with the coaches. It was Coach (Kliff) Kingsbury, Coach (Eric) Morris and my host for the weekend Derrick Willies. I really enjoyed sitting down to dinner and getting to know the coaches a lot more.
"The next morning, we woke up and had breakfast with the team. From there, we toured the campus and met with the academic advisors. They showed a ton of support towards the program and that was huge, especially for my Mom. After the tour, we went to the basketball game against Rice and it was awesome, just a really great atmosphere."
After watching the Red Raiders basketball team pull off the last minute victory, Carter and the coaches went back to the football facilities to watch tape of the offense.
"We ate lunch after the game, then I went to sit down and watch film with Coach Kingsbury and Coach Morris," Carter said. "Kingsbury is one of the best at quarterback evaluation in the country, and it was a lot of fun to break down concepts and reads with him. Most of the offense is familiar, but I just need to learn the verbiage. I get there in January and can start buckling down on learning that, then start playing the game at my pace.
"The coaches talked about Pat's situation, how he is deciding between going pro or staying another season. Either way it goes it's a great situation for me and a great system fit for my style of play within their offense. I feel like I can compete for a starting role if he leaves, but can also sit behind and learn from a Heisman level quarterback if he does come back next season. Like I mentioned, it's a great situation either way."
Carter and Mahomes are both from the East Texas area and both players train at the same facility in Tyler during the off-season.
"Pat and I both train at APEC in Tyler, Texas," Carter said. "Blake Lynch, who is a receiver at Baylor, started getting me working out there and I ended up seeing Pat up there this past summer. We would throw together and we both have a very competitive nature, he's actually a good friend of mine.
"We hung out a little bit this weekend during the visit. He told me that Texas Tech is a great place to be and told me the fans in Lubbock are awesome and support the team 100-percent. Pat made it clear that playing under Coach Kingsbury is great, especially when you start communicating on his level and get on the same page from a quarterback to coach perspective. He thinks it's a great fit for me and my style of play too."
The 6-foot-3, 222-pound quarterback felt confident about the opportunity at Texas Tech before the visit this weekend, but decided to make his commitment after waking up Saturday morning.
"I knew that I liked Texas Tech a lot before the visit, but it was really after the visit that I made my decision," Carter said. "I woke up Saturday and had just had dinner with the coaches on Friday night. I just felt very comfortable and felt at home around the coaches and players. I even have several friends who are already out there as students, so it just felt like a great opportunity for me overall.
"I actually told Coach Morris right before dinner on Saturday night. I wanted to tell my Mom beforehand, but I knew she was all in after we had met with the academic support staff earlier in the day. Coach Morris was pumped up, then we told Coach Kingsbury and I waited until this morning to talk with my family and make the decision public.
"It still feels very surreal and hasn't really sunk in yet. From spending a semester at Incarnate Word, to transferring to junior college and now finally signing with Texas Tech is a dream come true. I have worked hard and I'm coming in as a junior in the classroom and a sophomore on the field."
The visit this weekend marked Carter's second visit to West Texas and the newest Red Raider commit really enjoyed getting to see more of Lubbock.
"It has a small town feel, but it's big and you have everything you need there," Carter said. "Lubbock is a nice town, there was great food and plenty of places to go. It was eye-opening really, because I always thought of tumbleweeds and wagons for whatever reason. (laughs)"
Despite late interest from several programs like Oregon, Arizona State and Georgia - Carter considers himself done with recruiting and will enroll at Texas Tech for the spring semester.
"Yes sir, I'm done with recruiting and ready to be a Red Raider," Carter said. "Sitting there and watching film with Coach Kingsbury was like a dream come true, and I'm just ready to step into this moment now that it is here."
Currently unrated, Carter finished the season with 3,226 yards and 30 touchdowns to only nine interceptions passing along with 224 yards and two touchdowns rushing. He earned the All-SWJCFC Conference MVP and Offensive MVP.
Carter graduates this December and will officially sign with the Red Raiders on Dec. 16th. He will have three years to play three years at the next level.