Syracuse Football: 3-star DB Ja’Had Carter brings punishing style to CNY

Syracuse football added some nasty on National Signing Day. Here are all the details on 3-star DB Ja’Had Carter and his physical style of play.

The last domino to fall on the 2020 Syracuse football recruiting class was 3-star defensive back, Ja’Had Carter.

On National Signing Day the Orange were holding out for one final recruit and they got their man on Wednesday morning. Carter chose Syracuse over offers from Florida Atlantic and Texas Tech.

Syracuse football announced the addition on social media with a continuation of its comic book theme.

Ja’Had “The Joker” Carter is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound cornerback prospect. Richmond, Virginia native was ranked as a top-50 athlete in the class of 2019 before he did a postgraduate year at Jireh Prep Academy.

Here is some more information via the Syracuse football press release:

"“One of the top prospects in Virginia during the last recruiting cycle, Carter spent a postgraduate year at North Carolina’s Jireh Prep Academy in 2019. Carter was a two-time Virginia all-state honoree at Henrico High School and recorded 40 tackles and seven interceptions to go along with 63 receptions for 1,233 yards (19.6 avg.) and 11 touchdowns in 2017.”"

Tale of the tape

Ja’Had is a heat-seeking missile that goes out of his way searching for contact. Throughout the highlight tape you can see him lined up at outside corner, in the slot, and even sitting back playing zone as a safety.

While the thumping hits will likely draw the attention of Syracuse football fans, the thing that stands out through the six-plus minute highlight reel is something that won’t show up on the box score.

Carter never gives up on a play.

On at least five to seven occasions, he could’ve easily given up on the play because the play didn’t go his way, but he still chased down the football to make a play or to prevent a touchdown.

In addition to his abilities on defense as a corner or safety, he also played some wide receiver in high school. Although with the Orange he’ll stay on the defensive side of the ball in the secondary.