Carter Making Early Season Impact

The fourth-year defensive end is making his presence felt just two games into the season.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:39 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Apr 16, 2010 8:38 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma -- At the game’s most crucial moment, Terrance Carter made the biggest play of the young season, stripping Dallas quarterback Shane Stafford to set up a Talons’ go-ahead score. It was his second sack of the night.

“Personally, that’s just a stat to me,” said the 6-foot-4, 260 pound Tulsa defensive end. “We have some great players up front. Anybody could have made (the play)”.

Perhaps anybody could have, but Carter was the one who did. The fourth year player from Colorado State keeps popping up in the right place at the right time this season. His tenacity and drive on defense have made a huge impact for the Talons early on this season.

He and quarterbacks have met a lot. Last season he brought down the QB four times in the season opener against Kentucky. Through two games in 2010, he’s gotten to the passer twice, tying him for tops in the league. His dominance has pushed Tulsa into a favorable position in its first season with the AFL.

“It’s the ultimate feeling right now. We’re out here making a statement as an Arena2 team coming in to the AFL and coming out here to play like we did (against Dallas),” said Carter. “You see what happens when a team buckles down in the end.”

Carter made a couple of big plays in Week 2 against the Vigilantes. He picked up a sack in the first half and nearly pawed down an interception in the third quarter before setting up Tulsa’s second win with his late-game sack.

“We can compete with the best,” he said after the Talons’ 63-59 win over the Vigilantes. “I think this is a stepping stone that can show that we have a lot of work to do, but it’s something that we can win with.”

Carter and the Talons will play their first road game of the year against Arizona on Friday, April 23rd.