Duron Carter cleared to play for Alabama
Posted on: August 29, 2011
Posted by Jerry Hinnen
Better late than never, right?
That's no doubt what Alabama supporters are believing this afternoon as multiple outlets are reporting that JUCO transfer receiver Duron Carter has finally been cleared to join the No. 2 Crimson Tide. Carter tweeted earlier Monday that he had gotten the final go-ahead, and though Nick Saban declined to confirm that at his midday press conference, Carter is expected to be at practice Monday. UPDATE: And he is. It's officially official.
As we've written before: though the addition of one JUCO transfer might not usually be so key a development on a roster as stacked as Alabama's, Carter happens to play the position -- outside, deep-threat wide receiver -- where the Tide appear to be most lacking. That he arrives with a year of seasoning at Ohio State (the alma mater of his NFL-legend father Cris Carter) and another at Coffeyville (Kan.) C.C. has only helped fuel the fire of expectations surrounding his arrival; no less an authority than Phil Steele proclaimed him a second-team All-SEC player as soon as this season.
After missing nearly all of fall camp with academic issues, Carter's splash likely won't be as immediate as first expected, and it's possible there's too much ground for him to make up to make any major headway in 2011. But considering that the Tide might be one more contributor at receiver away from regaining their place at the top of college football, his clearance is a major positive for Saban and Co. all the same.
