PURE Academy QB Tevin Carter wants to be ‘hometown hero’ with Memphis Tigers
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BVM) — Tevin Carter has had a lot of things thrust upon his shoulders at a young age. The quarterback has gone through multiple transfers as a prep player, going from Freedom Prep to West Memphis from his freshman to sophomore year, a significant injury when he tore his ACL as a sophomore and the difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, just to name a few. However, perhaps the most important and pressure-filled situation occurred last year when he was entrusted with helping start the PURE Academy football team as the first quarterback in the history of the program.
Perhaps it is this ability to stay level headed through these obstacles, on top of his natural ability on the gridiron, that made Carter attractive to college recruits. There is a sense of pride associated with being able to build a program from the ground up and bring energy and excitement to a team and that may have also played a role in Carter’s collegiate decision. Despite getting offers from across the country from bluebloods including Auburn, Florida State, Michigan and Tennessee, the three-star quarterback elected to stay home at the University of Memphis to help bring even more hype to the football program.
“I’m locked in,” Carter said. “I feel pretty good about it and I’m confident in my decision. … I know if I go to Memphis my chances of going to the NFL are a little bit higher because I get to stay in town and train with the same people I’ve trained with and get that extra work in without having to wait.”
Locked in🐆🗣 pic.twitter.com/p302I4I5dA
— Tevin Carter (@tevincarter_2) August 11, 2021
Few saw Carter being in this position when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. Carter was supposed to play for Kirby High School during the season, but the Shelby County School District’s decision to cancel the season left him without a home. Already enrolled in PURE Academy, a non-profit boarding school created to help at-risk youths find academic success, Carter, along with a number of displaced Shelby County Schools football players, helped to field the program’s first team. This was the ultimate test of leadership for Carter, who many turned to because he was not only the team’s QB but also seen as the highest-regarded recruit on the team.
“It was a cool experience to be around a lot of different kids from around the city,” Carter said. “It was an overall cool experience to go through that with PURE [Academy].”
The season wasn’t easy. The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association helped the team create a hodgepodge schedule filled with all away games as the squad navigated the COVID season as best they could. Through it all was the steady hand of Carter who kept a calm composure in a cloud of uncertainty.
Following the season, Carter’s reputation only grew in recruiting circles. His leadership and skills were both on full display throughout his junior season and helped him achieve opportunities to prove himself among the best players across the country. This included participating in the Elite 11 quarterback competition where he would show his skills alongside other top QB recruits such as Quinn Ewers, Walker Howard and Ty Simpson. Throughout the camp, Carter was able to learn from some of the best quarterback coaches from across the country while also comparing himself to other top prospects.
“The Elite 11 to me was actually fun, we did work of course, but we were just out there slinging it,” Carter said. “Of course it was a competition for us, but we were just out there being ourselves…I think I went head-to-head with them. It didn’t really matter rankings, that’s more of a political thing. I was just out there being myself and it just worked out for the best.”
With scouts and recruiters as interested in Carter as ever, he had a decision to make. Instead of going to a top-level national power like many other players in the Elite 11 competition, Carter instead decided to stay home and play for mid-major Memphis, bringing an excitement to the program. As one of the highest-rated quarterbacks to ever commit to the Tigers, ranking as the No. 35 QB in the nation by 247Sports, Carter’s arrival will bring a whole different type of energy to the program and him being a hometown kid only adds fuel to the fire.
“Of course I want to be the hometown hero,” Carter said. “I want kids to know that you don’t have to leave Memphis to be successful. I want to show them you can stay here and do that.”
100000% locked in with Memphis 🗣🐆 pic.twitter.com/ZuCzl0RmwU
— Tevin Carter (@tevincarter_2) September 27, 2021
Carter believes the energy and winning attitude he will bring will only add to the already strong program the Tigers have created. Ever the confident player, Carter has big goals both for the team and individually.
“[I want] two to three AAC championships and a bowl game every year,” Carter said. “I also want to break Brady White’s career passing yards. I think he has 10,000 so I want 10,005.”
Having already had so many things happen during his young football career, Carter is well prepared to handle anything thrown in his way. With his decision to play at the next level made, now all Carter will have to do is bring the steady abilities and leadership he has shown during his high school years with him to Memphis.
“I’m going to get in there and do what I have to do,” Carter said. “I’m going to bring a winning mentality to the team. They have it now, but I think I will bring more of a winning attitude. I just want to win no matter what and I’m willing to do whatever it takes for the team.”
