LSU, Florida interest leads to change of plans for coveted defensive back transfer Antonio Carter

Two new offers have led to a change of plans for one of the top uncommitted defensive players in the NCAA transfer portal.

After receiving offers from Florida on Monday and then LSU Tuesday, Rhode Island defensive back transfer Antonio Carter now plans to visit both schools this week in addition to an already scheduled visit to Notre Dame, he told On3 Tuesday night.

Carter, who has already visited Wisconsin and Ole Miss, had previously been planned to visit Texas A&M, Kentucky and Iowa. However, the Florida native will no longer be taking those trips and will instead visit LSU and Florida later this week following the trip to Notre Dame, which he’ll arrive for on Wednesday.

“It’s kind of a quick decision I had to make,” Carter said. “Florida’s been my dream school growing up and then they’ve had a history of putting out DBs (defensive backs). They’re going through their struggles right now, but they’ve always been a really good program. LSU as well, always putting DBs in the league, and it’s kind of a business decision for me and I’m willing to go in and compete. 

“And if those visits don’t go well, then I still have schools that I’ve already seen that I like as well.”

The contact with LSU started this week. As for Florida, there has been communication for longer, but interest from the Gators picked up even more after they requested and received videos of Carter working out and doing field work.

Carter sent the videos to Florida’s staff Monday.

“I sent the videos and they loved them,” Carter said. “So that’s when they showed way more interest.”

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Carter was a starter at Rhode Island the last two seasons. As a starting cornerback last year, he posted 60 tackles, 10 pass breakups and an interception.

He also has the capability to play safety and has been recruited by at least some schools as a safety, including LSU. 

“Yeah, (good size) 6-foot, 200,” a Power Five personnel director recently told On3 of Carter. “You can see the physical nature he plays with. He’s got safety in his background. He’s got corner in his background. Extremely smart kid. Well spoken. You can tell this kid has thought through this decision. He’s going to play for higher exposure, which makes sense.

“I think what people probably like about him is the versatility piece, the fact that he’s done it and he’s a veteran. He’s got the size to play at the Power Five level and he’s been productive where he is. So he checks a lot of boxes for people.”

Carter has been looking to make a decision on a school in the range of May 20.

“That’s kind of my goal,” Carter said. “If not, not too long after that because I’m trying to get to whatever school I’m going to be at and start learning and getting used to the playbook.”