2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Bruce Carter, UNC
By Editorial Staff
Bruce Carter-OLB- North Carolina
6-3 225lbs Senior
Stats:
2007- 25 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble
2008- 68 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 1 INT
2009- 65 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 INT
Pros:
Bruce Carter is yet another top defensive prospect from the University of North Carolina. He is an explosive athlete that uses a disciplined approach to the game of football. He has decent size but good speed. He uses his speed and athleticism to create pressure in the offensive backfield. He covers a ton of ground and is threat to make a play form anywhere on the field, which is evident by the 6 blocked kicks he last season. He would fit nicely as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 defensive scheme because he has the ability to get to the quarterback on a blitz but also is sound when dropping back into coverage. Carter is a hard working individual and gains praise from his teammates about being a tremendous leader.
Cons:
At 225lbs there are some concerns about Carter’s ability to play the run in the NFL. While he has good strength he can sometimes find himself overpowered by bigger offensive linemen. We mentioned that he is disciplined but he can also be a little slow to diagnose plays and react. He can get away with this on the college level but will be out position in the pros.
Thoughts:
Carter ranks #16 on our 2011 NFL Big Board. He has a ton of physical ability that will allow him to overcome some size concerns. He is going to be the target of a 3-4 defensive team looking for a linebacker that could both rush the quarterback but also drop back into coverage.
Projected Round:
Carter should be selected somewhere in the middle of the 1st round.