Terrance Carter Jr.

NFL Draft Profile: Terrance Carter Jr.

Position: Tight End | School: Texas Tech (via Louisiana) | Class: Redshirt Junior

Height: 6'2" | Weight: 245 lbs | Archetype: Receiving / Hybrid

College Career Summary

Terrance Carter Jr. is the personification of the modern "Big Slot" weapon. After a highly productive tenure at Louisiana, where he earned First-Team All-Sun Belt honors in 2024 (689 yards, 4 TDs), he made the jump to the Power Four.

His 2025 season at Texas Tech was a masterclass in efficiency. Under Mack Leftwich’s air-raid influenced scheme, Carter was used as a mismatch tool, frequently lining up away from the tackle box to exploit slower linebackers. Despite missing two games due to a lower leg injury, he finished as an All-Big 12 Second Team selection. His 2025 campaign was defined by high-volume catch games and an ability to act as a "receiver trapped in a tight end's body," providing the Red Raiders with a reliable safety valve and a vertical seam threat.

2025 Regular Season Stats

• Receptions: 46 | Receiving Yards: 552 | TDs: 5

• Average: 12.0 YPC | Long: 50 | Drops: 2

• Career Totals: 122 Rec, 1,496 Yds, 12 TD.

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Stats (Rec/Yds/TD)	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs Arkansas-PB	3 / 42 / 2	A	Two red-zone scores; looked physically superior to every defender.
2	vs Kent State	1 / 50 / 0	B+	Limited volume but flashed elite vertical speed on a 50-yarder.
3	vs Oregon State	6 / 102 / 1	A+	The Apex. First 100-yard game at Tech; unguardable on crossers.
4	@ #15 Utah	7 / 49 / 1	A-	Gritty performance against elite LBs; snagged a clutch TD.
6	@ Houston	3 / 26 / 0	C+	Quiet day; Houston’s bracket coverage limited his YAC.
7	vs Kansas	3 / 28 / 1	B	Solid in short-area; high-pointed a TD in the corner.
8	@ Arizona State	0 / 0 / 0	D	Worst Game. Suffered lower leg injury early; no impact.
10	@ Kansas State	4 / 81 / 0	A-	Successful return from injury; multiple big gains in the seam.
11	vs #12 BYU	4 / 41 / 0	B+	High-effort play; proved he was back to 100% health.
12	vs UCF	2 / 13 / 0	C	Limited targets in a dominant run-heavy game plan.
14	@ West Virginia	10 / 98 / 0	A	High-volume masterclass; showed elite hands in a shutout win.
15	vs #12 BYU (B12)	3 / 22 / 0	B-	Physical matchup; helped seal the edges in the Big 12 Title game.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 88/100

• Leadership: Respected veteran transfer; led the TE room immediately upon arrival in Lubbock.

• Mental Toughness: High; returned from a mid-season leg injury without losing a step.

• Competitor: Fierce; often calls for the ball in high-leverage 3rd down spots.

• Team Player: Praised for his adjustment to a new system mid-career.

• Star Power: Significant; he is a highlight-reel waiting to happen in the open field.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 84/100

• Height/Weight: 6'2", 245 lbs. (Under 6'5" benchmark; under 250lb benchmark).

• Stamina: Exceptional; can run high-tempo routes for entire drives.

• Durability: Generally good; 2025 injury was a fluke contact play.

• Injury History: Minor lower-leg injury in Oct 2025; otherwise medically clean.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Catching: Elite. Natural hands catcher; rarely uses his body to cradle the ball.

• Route Running: Strength. Moves like a WR; understands how to "blind" defenders.

• Strength: Functional; strong enough to fight through contact at the line.

• Blocking: Average. Lacks the length for traditional in-line "mauling."

• Release: Elite. Uses a basketball-style crossover to beat press coverage.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 95/100

• Speed: 4.60 (Estimated). Elite for a 245lb player; deep-threat capability.

• Agility: Elite. Can sink hips and change direction like a much smaller player.

• Jumping: High; high-jumper background (5-8 in HS) shows in red-zone fades.

• Acceleration: Explosive; reaches top speed in three steps.

• Break Tackle: Very good; difficult to bring down with solo tackles in space.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 93/100

• Awareness: High; former QB background helps him read defensive rotations.

NFL Scouting Report

• Strengths: Rare movement skills for a player of his bulk; elite yards-after-catch (YAC) potential; versatile alignment allows for significant "move" TE usage; exceptionally consistent hands; background as a QB/WR gives him advanced understanding of spatial voids.

• Weaknesses: Lacks prototypical "NFL Y-TE" size; length is a concern for in-line blocking against 270lb defensive ends; can be pushed around in the run game if he loses the leverage battle.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal "U" Tight End / H-Back in a Spread or RPO-heavy offense (e.g., Chiefs, Cardinals, Dolphins).

• NFL Comparison: Trey McBride / Jordan Reed.

Scout's Final Word

"Terrance Carter Jr. is a nightmare for defensive coordinators. If you put a linebacker on him, he’s too fast; if you put a safety on him, he’s too big. He is a 'Receiver in a Tight End's body.' While his lack of height will steer some 'old-school' teams away, his production in the Big 12 proves he is a Day 2 talent. In a league desperate for middle-of-the-field separators, Carter is a plug-and-play weapon. Draft Projection: Round 3."