Tampa Catholic’s Lewis Carter finds perfect fit with Oklahoma
TAMPA, Fla. (BVM) – Since he was 5 years old, football has been Lewis Carter’s passion. Over the years, his talent and diverse skillset have grown, turning him into the four-star recruit he is today.
One of the biggest attributes of Carter’s game is his versatility. While his main positions are running back and linebacker, Carter has played all over the field during his four years at Tampa Catholic, whether that be at safety, cornerback, receiver or on special teams.
“Really, my versatility,” Carter said about his greatest strengths on the field. “I feel like I can just do everything … I take a lot of pride in that. There are a lot of people following behind me. I just want to be able to lead and show them the way.”
Playing multiple positions is nothing new for the Tampa Catholic senior. Growing up playing for the Tampa Jaguars, Carter often found himself on the offensive and defensive line. By around 12 years old, he began playing at tight end and defensive end, and eventually found his way to running back and linebacker.
Other attributes include his speed, as Carter is also a track athlete at Tampa Catholic who holds a 40-yard dash time of 4.5 seconds. Another is his strength, as the senior standout can bench press over 400 pounds.
Currently, Carter is rated No. 127 in ESPN’s top 300 rankings for the Class of 2023, and is ranked No. 121 in the country by 247Sports, also checking in as the nation’s 10th-best linebacker. While the high rankings may add expectations, Carter relishes the opportunity to keep moving up.
“I kind of look at them sometimes, but every time I look at them they motivate me to just really get moved up the rankings,” Carter said.
Carter’s talent has never been in question, as he has been a varsity player throughout his four years at Tampa Catholic. As a freshman, he started out primarily on the offensive side of the ball, but began playing more on defense later that season which carried over into his sophomore year as well.
His first two seasons in high school set the stage for a strong 2021 campaign in which Lewis ran for 394 yards and five touchdowns while making 66 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception on defense.
“I feel like I got stronger and just better at my technique,” Carter said. “And just being a leader on that defensive side of the ball.”
Following Tampa Catholic’s 7-4 season in 2021, Carter and his teammates had high hopes coming into 2022, while Carter was again looking to bring an experienced presence for his Crusaders squad.
“I really just wanted to better the guys around me,” Carter said. “That was really the main thing, beat our rivals and better the guys around me.”
Carter has done just that, leading the Crusaders to an 8-1 regular season record. The 6-foot, 215-pound running back and linebacker has put up some truly outstanding performances, including an October performance against Robinson in which he had 212 rushing yards and five touchdowns on just nine carries, also adding seven tackles on defense.
@TC_Football 5 Star, @LewisCarter_4 has such a game on Friday Night tgey even crowned him #homecomingking pic.twitter.com/2buR3XHAFa
— Mike Gallagher (@mikegallagher24) October 23, 2022
The following week, Carter racked up 13 tackles along with another 100-yard rushing game in which he scored twice.
On the year, Carter has run for over 500 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging over 10 yards per carry on offense and close to 10 tackles per game on defense. However, perhaps the main highlight of the season thus far came in the team’s regular season finale as they took on rival Jesuit.
In a tight game where Tampa Catholic found itself down 19-13, Carter proved his versatility yet again by stepping up on special teams as he blocked Jesuit’s punt which was returned by Tre Pompilus III for the game-winning touchdown, leading the Crusaders to a 20-19 victory. It was part of an effort that also saw the senior run for 93 yards and a score while making eight tackles.
Hello Mr. Carter!#TampaCatholic #TampaCatholicHighSchool #FHSAA@JerisMcIntyre @TC_Football pic.twitter.com/1VqtfYwY7E
— BCP SPORTS (@BigCountyPreps1) November 7, 2022
Time for the celebration @TC_Football ! pic.twitter.com/ky3pfzoeRq
— Melissa D – Sign #91⚡️ (@MMDiaz09) November 5, 2022
“It was good, it was crazy,” Carter said. “You could tell the energy was live. The atmosphere was crazy and everybody was happy for us.”
With the win, Tampa Catholic snapped a 22-game losing streak against Jesuit. It was the perfect springboard into the postseason where the Crusaders now hope to make a deep run.
“We really are looking forward to making a deep run in the playoffs and having a chance at the state championship,” Carter said.
No matter what happens to finish off his high school career, Carter has a bright future on the horizon. He began receiving college interest already in his freshman year, and received numerous Power 5 offers during his recruiting process.
“It started early in freshman year,” Carter said about his recruiting. “It’s just been great over the years. It’s humbled me somewhat. I learned this could be taken away from me any day. But it opened my eyes knowing that I could play at the next level.”
Some of the final schools Carter had interest in included the likes of Clemson, Georgia, Florida, Miami, Auburn and North Carolina. But when it came down to it, there was one school that stood apart from the rest: the University of Oklahoma.
BOOMER SOONER COMMIT⭕️‼️@Hayesfawcett3 #AGTG pic.twitter.com/1li3qDQfPM
— LewisCarter (@LewisCarter_4) July 16, 2022
“I’m very excited to be a part of that program,” Carter said. “The main thing, they have a solid program, a solid coaching staff. I feel like that is the best coaching staff I can put myself under. Coach [Brent] Venables, he has a good scheme and good defense. I feel like I can fit in with that scheme very well.”
Already, Carter has formed a strong relationship with Venables and the rest of his staff as he joins college football’s eighth-best recruiting class in 2023. He feels they will be the right fit to put him in position to succeed and help him achieve his lifelong goal, which is making it to the NFL someday.
“My relationship is great with them,” Carter said. “I talk to them almost every other day. They just love me. They really want me to come out and play right now … They are ready for me to come play anywhere on the defense, really. But our relationship is great. Every week I build a better relationship with those guys.”
While Carter hopes to play three years and then turn pro, he knows he will need to first leave his mark in Norman to do so. Aiming for the highest pinnacles of success as an individual and for his team, Carter is ready to make an impact with the Sooners.
“I’m just going to stay consistent, stay focused and just keep working,” Carter said. “Never settle for less, never be satisfied … My main goal is to win that Butkus Award and get a national championship. I just want to leave my legacy there.”
