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Former Ohio State receiver Duron Carter looking to grab last chance at community college: Video

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Former Ohio State receiver Duron Carter knows he's on his last chance at his new community college home, and though he shouldn't be missed much this season, he could still have a bright future in Columbus.

I distinctly remember this pregame warmup before the Wisconsin game last October, watching Ohio State freshman receiver Duron Carter attempting to make a one-handed catch in the endzone. He wouldn't stop until he finally grabbed one, and then he trotted off the field, his mission complete, his dreads bobbing, seemingly right where he wanted to be as a freshman receiver in Columbus with a bright future ahead.



It's a stark contrast to this video from OKBlitz.com featuring his new life at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas.

Duron Carter practices with his new team: Video

There's a point in the video where Carter tries to make a one-handed catch in practice and you can hear a coach tell him to use two hands.


That's not a bad metaphor for what happened with Carter at Ohio State, as he went through his freshman year trying to get by without taking charge of his academic responsibilities with both hands. He admits in the video he didn't attend class or turn in his work on time, which led to his eventual suspension for the Rose Bowl and his departure from Columbus.


"I messed up. It's my last chance," Carter says.

A freshman not adjusting to the demands of college life certainly isn't unusual, and every football program, Ohio State included, has some players coming in from either less challenging high school academic environments or without the full family support that can help an 18-year-old adjust to college. But that wasn't the case with Carter, the son of former Ohio State and NFL star Cris Carter. So Duron did this to himself, and as this video shows, he knows it. The good news for Ohio State fans is he wants to come back.


"I'm a Buckeye in my blood. I'm a Buckeye all the time," Carter says in the video.


The better news is that I'm not sure the Buckeyes will miss him much this year. As I've said before, I believe tight end Jake Stoneburner will actually serve as the Buckeyes' de facto third receiver this year. And between senior Taurian Washington, who blocked well in the Rose Bowl in Carter's absence, and redshirt freshman Chris Fields, whose potential was regularly praised by the staff last year, Ohio State will find a third receiver.


Senior Grant Schwartz, sophomore James Jackson and incoming freshmen James Louis, Tyrone Williams and Corey Brown are options as well, and few positions get more attention and have less impact on Ohio State from year-to-year than the fourth receiver. As the fourth receiver last year, Carter had 13 catches, but in Big Ten play, he had five catches for 48 yards. So as long as Washington or Fields fills the No. 3, the depth beyond them shouldn't be a major worry.
 
As a player whose best attributes were his hands and his advanced understanding of playing the position, Carter wasn't going to be as much of a potential gamebreaker as the No. 3 receiver as the inconsistent yet speedy Ray Small was a year ago. DeVier Posey, Dane Sanzenbacher, Stoneburner and a stable of running backs will give quarterback Terrelle Pryor plenty of primary options this fall.


At a place like Ohio State, one mistake is enough to get you passed by. Carter has made his. But with his package of skills, he's a guy the Buckeyes should want back in the future. He's more valuable as a future No. 1 receiver than as a No. 3 now. With his size and knowledge and sneaky speed, he seems to have the ability to turn into a go-to receiver, the type who can make a catch in traffic even when he's covered, find a way to make a play when it's needed.


Duron Carter still has time to become that player. As long as he grabs the opportunity with both hands.


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