Rhode Island DB transfer Antonio Carter visiting Kentucky in May

One of the top defensive backs on the transfer portal market is making a trip to Lexington soon.

Rhode Island safety transfer Antonio Carter will take an official visit to Kentucky the weekend of May 13-15, he tells KSR. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defensive back entered his name into the portal back on April 17 and quickly began to haul in offers from the likes of UK, Baylor, Louisville, Texas A&M, Oregon State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Washington, Ole Miss, and several others.

Carter already visited Wisconsin and Ole Miss during the month of April and will take his next trip to Kentucky in less than two weeks. He plans to take two more visits after UK and will choose between a trio of Iowa, Washington, and Texas A&M for those stops. A decision is expected after he completes his visits.

According to the On3 Transfer Portal rankings, Carter is the No. 12 available safety. He’s been hearing from multiple Kentucky coaches, including defensive backs coach Chris Collins, defensive coordinator Brad White, and safeties coach Frank Buffano.

Considered one of the best defensive backs on the market, Carter’s positional versatility would make him an adaptable piece to the Kentucky defense. He would likely compete for a starting cornerback spot if he were to choose the Wildcats.

In 2022, Carter started all 11 games for Rhode Island, finishing fourth on the team in tackles with 60 in addition to 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, and 10 pass breakups. He spent three seasons with the Rams and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Carter played his high school football at Oak Ridge (FL), where he earned Second-Team All-Metro honors in 2018. He held offers from the likes of Wagner, Fordham, and Gardner-Webb before ultimately landing with Rhode Island as a member of the 2019 class. But after impressive redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons, Carter is in search of a bigger opportunity. He started in 10 of 11 games for the Rams in 2021, totaling 52 tackles, one sack, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire and the Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Tracker.