Former Texas Tech OL Brandon Carter wants to come home

One of the most talented and memorable Texas Tech football players ever wants to return home as a member of the football program. Former all-American offensive lineman Brandon Carter, he of the skeleton-style face paint and green Mohawk recently spoke to Wreck ‘Em Red about his desire to join the Texas Tech football staff as a graduate assistant.

Graduate assistants are vital to the success of any program. Along with helping coach the team, GA’s are asked to do most of the behind the scenes tasks that keep the program functioning.

Working with the scout team also affords graduate assistants the opportunity to work with many of the younger players on the team and Carter would be able to share NFL experience with the newest Texas Tech linemen.

"“I played at New Orleans, and after that I went to Tampa and had a knee injury in my second year, rehabbed it and eventually went to Dallas in 2011.” Carter told Wreck ‘Em Red. Unfortunately, a knee injury forced the former Red Raider to retire from football in 2011. But Carter has always had the desire to remain part of the game he loves.“Coaching has basically been my biggest dream since I was a kid; even bigger than the NFL, and something I’ve always aspired to and thought I would eventually do one day.” said Carter who often spends his free time designing his own plays and schemes."

A 2009 member of the Outland Trophy watch list (given annually to the nation’s best offensive lineman), Carter was more than just crazy face paint and rock star hair, he was the heart and soul of the 2008 offensive line that protected Texas Tech’s all-time leading passer Graham Harrell.

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As one of the most outspoken and emotional players on the team that would rise to as high as No. 2 in the national polls, Carter was a leader from which the team drew its inspiration.

His physical play on the field set the tone in the trenches and Carter was always certain to hold his teammates to the highest standards settling for nothing less than maximum effort.

Such a player would be a fantastic mentor to the young and talented offensive linemen Texas Tech has signed in the past two recruiting classes.

"When asked what his strengths as a coach would be, Carter replied, “I was always very tactical and I always took such a pride in my job and I feel like I could help relay that to other players, and help them be successful. I would have an exorbitant amount of information to take in as the game is always evolving, but I bring a certain level of intensity.”"

Perhaps that intensity was born from early adversity that Carter had to weather. As a result of his parent’s divorce, Carter had to face a challenge much tougher than anything the football field could throw his way.

"“There were times I slept in my car and behind the Blockbuster I worked at in Longview, and I decided at that point how I was going to get out of that situation. Football was in my opinion, my best option, so I started working harder and training harder.”"

Knowing what true desperation feels like, Carter became dedicated to making himself the best player he could be. He was known as one of the hardest workers in program has seen (both on the field and off) and those traits would be invaluable for the next generation of Texas Tech linemen to learn.

"“I desire to be the best at everything I do. I’ve always been like that, even when I was playing football, to wrestling (Carter pursued a career as a professional wrestler in the WWE), to training now. I work harder than most, and I will show up first and leave last, because if I feel like there’s a tiny minute advantage, I want to be the one to find it. I’m extremely driven in everything I do…”"

In the upcoming 2016 class, Texas Tech has four high school offensive linemen that have verbally committed to signing with the Red Raiders in February. Plus, the 2015 offensive line signees might have been the most decorated group in school history with five signees of which three were rated as 3-star prospects and one (Conner Dyer) was given a 4-star ranking.

For 2016, Texas Tech will have to replace three starters on the offensive line (including both tackles) as well as valuable backups that provided much needed depth when injuries hit. The young Texas Tech signees will be called upon to play significant roles in the offense.

Who would be better than Brandon Carter to help offensive line coach Lee Hayes instill discipline, toughness and a first-rate work ethic in the young Texas Tech offensive line?

Plus, Carter would cherish the opportunity to give back to the school that gave him so much.

"“Tech gave me every opportunity to be successful and they gave me an opportunity to go to a prestigious university that I never would have had the opportunity to go to without them taking a chance on me. When I earned my degree from Tech, it was one of the –if not the– proudest moment of my life."

Tech put me in the best situation I could be in to be successful from a football and academic perspective. It helped mold me into who I am, and has helped me find success. I learned what it’s like to work hard for respect and what it’s like to set and meet goals, which are tools that have helped me immensely in the real world.”

It would be fantastic to see Carter have the opportunity to share these lessons with the next generation of Texas Tech football players.

Next: Texas Tech Football: Top 10 plays of 2015

Wreck ‘Em Red would like to thank former site editor V.F. Castro for helping facilitate this interview with Brandon Carter. You can follow her on Twitter at @VFdoesfootball and read her work at SaturdayBlitz.com.

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