GoHeels Exclusive: Michael Carter Q&A
August 3, 2019 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
A season removed from leading North Carolina with 597 rushing yards in nine games, Michael Carter seems poised for another strong campaign this fall.
Carter spoke with reporters after UNC's first training camp practice on Friday. The following is an excerpt from the interview.
Q: You have three guys battling for the quarterback position. It is a new offense, but there is some experience to lean on (at running back). Is that something you guys are excited about?
Michael Carter: Yeah, but not only at running back. We have experience at tight end, we have some experience at receiver, too, and we have a lot of experience on the offensive line. I know the quarterbacks are getting a lot of hype because there's not one set yet. But I think no matter what, we'll be OK because that's what great teams do.
Q: Do you find yourself paying attention to those guys (the quarterbacks) the same way we do or the coaches?
MC: No, I don't care. I don't look at it like that. I know they're all my friends and I know they're all really good ballplayers and the best one is going to win. But I know at the end of the day, whoever wins, the other two are going to be right there the whole way just in case they get hurt or just in case they're not playing well or just to support them because they hang out more than anybody. They're really friends. There's no bad blood; it's just competition.
Q: Javonte (Williams), what kind of stands out about him? We saw a little bit of him last year, but it seems like he's gotten a lot of hype from various people this offseason.
MC: He's a finisher. He finishes runs. Ezekiel Elliott, he never falls back. I don't want to compare him to that, but I probably would because he's built well; he's thick. Ezekiel Elliott doesn't look as big as he is. He always finishes forward. He's very physical. Also, he was the valedictorian of his high school. He's very smart. He picked up the playbook fast. … I think that's what makes him so good – he works hard, he's humble, he doesn't say much. We're trying to get that out of him. We're trying to get him to lead because he's got it in him. He just plays the game the right way.
Q: What does working with Antonio (Williams) and competing with him give you?
MC: It keeps me on my toes, gives me an edge, because Antonio is a really good player.Â
Q: What do you take most from his game that you can kind of apply to your skills?
MC: He's a physical runner. Growing up, I've always tried to be physical, too, because that's just where I'm from, Navarre, Florida. Beside that, he's detailed. He tries to do everything right. He's a perfectionist. He's just that type of guy who wants everything to be perfect.
Q: As a running back, you heard 'Air Raid,' but you've got at least three guys out here who have proven they can do it. How concerned were you at first that they were going to be throwing the ball all over the place and how much better do you feel now that you've talked to them and you've seen the playbook and know the running backs are going to be a part of this?
MC: I was concerned because we were getting a new head coach. I'm sitting there in January with no (position) coach. So, Air Raid wasn't like the biggest thing on my mind. It was more, 'Hey, who is going to be our next coach?' I'm bought in. It's fine with me. Whatever it takes to win.
Q: How different do things feel compared to, say, the first day of practice last year?
MC: Really good. I've never had this long of a break before camp. I got a week off. I'm feeling good. Last year, I think my last exam was on the 30th (of July) or the 29th. I stayed the weekend and then we were into camp and my body just wasn't feeling great. But thanks to Coach (Brian) Hess and I guess the school, UNC, for making the schedule straight.
