Carter impressed by Iowa visit
Minneapolis defensive end Chase Carter was finally able to make his official visit with the Iowa Hawkeyes this weekend. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Carter has stayed in close contact with Iowa defensive line coach Kelvin Bell throughout the recruiting process, but getting a chance to meet face to face and see campus for the first time was a new opportunity.
"I loved the visit," said Carter. "I thought it was really good."
"Like Coach Bell has always said, talking about Iowa City is not the same as actually being there and experiencing everything," he continued. "I think that was one big thing that stood out as well as the coaches and the progression in the program. This weekend really showed me a lot."
Carter's host for the weekend was defensive tackle Noah Shannon and he also spent time with Terry Roberts, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and some of the other upperclassmen on the team.
"I felt like I fit in well," Carter said. "They're all pretty laid back and you can tell they weren't gaslighting the program or anything like that. I think everything they said about the program they truly believed. They weren't lying to make it seem better or because a coach told them what to say. They truly like the program and they have really changed it a lot, in my opinion."
In his meetings with Coach Bell, the conversation often moved to topics outside of football, but on the field the Hawkeyes love Carter's length and athleticism at defensive end.
"Coach Bell has been good to me from the jump and this weekend really showed it," said Carter. "We spent more time this weekend talking about stuff besides football because he said he's coaching me off the field as well as on the field. But with football, I think the biggest thing he's said he likes about me is my length and being able to play all over the defensive line. A lot of their coaches have said I remind them of how Chauncey Golston was when he first got to campus."
After making official visits to Iowa, Iowa State, and Michigan State this month, Carter is now going to use the July dead period to take a long, hard look at his options.
"Now that we're done with all of our visits in June, I'm going to sit down with my parents and make a decision," Carter said. "I don't have a timetable yet, but it will be sooner rather than later. I'll probably plan on committing in July or August at the latest."
What is Carter ultimately looking for in a college?
"Somewhere that I can call home," said Carter. "Somewhere that I'm comfortable and I enjoy the people I'm around every day and can have fun on and off the field. Somewhere I'm wanted and I can develop the most and get to my end goal, which is the NFL."
