Film Room: Martels Carter

Kentucky’s defense is on the board in the 2025 recruiting cycle. The first win on that side of the ball is a big one. For the fourth time in five years, the Wildcats have landed the No. 1 player in Kentucky. Martels Carter became a Cat on Saturday when he picked the Big Blue over Auburn.

The safety is a top-200 recruit who transferred from Chattanooga (Tenn.) Brainerd to Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman for his junior season. In 2023, Carter was a three-way threat who made a huge impact on offense, defense, and special teams. The prospect quickly became a top target for Kentucky and will join the class before a big recruiting month begins in Lexington.

What will Martels Carter bring to the field in Lexington? The blue-chip defensive back will bring a playmaking skill set to the Kentucky secondary as a rangy cover safety with good instincts.

Play speed

Martels Carter (6-1, 185) was a true threat in all three phases for Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman as a junior. The blue-chip prospect reeled in 43 receptions for 1,066 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. Carter chipped in three more rushing touchdowns to go along with six return touchdowns. That playmaking also showed up on defense.

The play speed of Carter is impressive as the prospect shows burst, long speed, and change of direction.

On offense, Carter shows both burst and long speed as a receiver. We also see change of direction in YAC situation to go along with some contact balance. All of those play traits should translate to defense at the next level.

The 2025 prospect projects to become a post safety who can patrol the deep center of the field while also having the range to get from hashmark to hashmark quickly. Short-area burst, long speed, and change of direction will all be needed. Carter has recorded sub-11 second times in the 100 meters in track. That shows up on tape.

Kentucky’s latest safety commit has speed and is a true fit in defensive coordinator Brad White‘s single-high structure when the Wildcats shift into their Cover 3 variations.

Instincts and playmaking

Speed is a requirement, but completing plays is a different skill set. At the next level, Martels Carter will be asked to diagnose and finish in a short window of time. That requires open-field tackling and making competitive plays at the catchpoint against good receivers. Playing with good eyes and not getting caught up in window dressing is also needed.

Good defensive backs in the SEC must have instincts and playmaking. Martels Carter showed both on his junior tape.

In coverage, we see Carter play centerfield at safety allowing him to read the quarterback’s eyes and make a play on the ball. The four-star prospect also shows good ball skills down in the box reeling in an interception in traffic. On offense, we see Carter flash his ball tracking ability by reeling in a long throw without breaking stride and adjusting his path to get in the catch position.

As a deep safety at the next level, those instincts will all be needed. Carter checks a ton of boxes as a prospect.

Martels Carter will bring translatable skill set to Kentucky

Martels Carter is a rangy safety with good instincts, legit play speed, and impressive ball skills. All of those jump off the screen when you watch the tape. The top-200 prospect appears to be a clear fit to play deep safety in a single-high coverage structure. The Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman can close and finish.

Those are all reasons Vince Marrow and Kentucky gave the in-state prospect the full-court press this spring.

Expect Carter to have a chance to find a role as a true freshman in 2025 thanks to the translatable physical traits that he will bring to the secondary. The latest Kentucky commit projects to be a multi-year starter who will bring a playmaking skill set to the defense. Turnovers change games, and Carter’s player profile tells us that this will be a safety who will likely force some turnovers playing post safety.

Kentucky’s first defensive commit in the 2025 class appears to have a very safe floor and gives the defense a true future building block at safety.