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Kirby Smart reveals how Jalen Carter has done handling lofty expectations

On3 imageby:Sam Gillenwater•08/15/22•

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Steve Limentani | ISI Photos | Getty Images

Jalen Carter will be asked to step up this fall for Kirby Smart’s defense at Georgia. With eight players from the Bulldog’s historic 2021 defense being selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Carter is one of the few who remain in Athens. Not only will he have to improve on his play this season. He will also have to step forward as a leader as well.

Smart says Carter has done exactly that during media after Georgia’s first fall scrimmage. He says Carter is currently the most mature version of himself and is practicing like it too.

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“He’s been the most mature he has,” said Smart. “His practice habits have actually improved this year. He’s practicing with more consistency and he has to continue to do that.”

Carter is the No. 6 player and No. 1 DL in college football according to On3’s College Rating. He posted 37 total tackles as a sophomore last season with three sacks. With Travon Walker, Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt all gone in the first round of the NFL Draft, Carter is all that remains from the championship winning defensive line.

He won’t be far behind, though, as a high projection for the 2023 NFL Draft. Kirby Smart went on to say Carter knows the positions he is in and hasn’t let the outside hype affect his work each day.

“I think that he knows that peoples eyes are on him in terms of other players. He knows he has to be a leader for our defense. I’m very proud of what he has done,” Smart said. “Most practices he has given us a full day’s work and competes not like a guy who’s been there and done it but like he’s hungry. That’s what we challenged him to do. He’s just got to do that every day, day in and day out and then maybe affect somebody else and bring them with him.”

If Georgia’s defense wants to avoid a major drop off, Carter will be key in continuing the disruption they caused at the line of scrimmage. If he can do that, Georgia may once again contend this season. On top of that, Carter will also get to follow his teammates to the pros come next spring.