After a season of limited action as a rookie, right guard Ja'Tyre Carter has stepped into the spotlight with two consecutive starts in the NFL.
The 2022 seventh-round draft pick from Southern University has seamlessly replaced veteran Nate Davis in the starting lineup for the top-ranked offensive line of both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
"This opportunity has been a blessing to me," Carter said. "Nate being out for personal reasons, my prayers go up to him. But the opportunity has been a real blessing for me to just get those game reps and get better at what I need to do."
During his time at Southern University, Carter was a standout player, starting in 34 games over four years. In 2021, he received recognition as a second-team all-Southwestern Athletic Conference member.
Despite being a seventh-round pick from a smaller school, the 6'3", 311-pound guard always had unwavering confidence in his abilities to perform at the NFL level.
"I never doubted it, but coming from my school you have a little nervousness, a little anxiousness to see what you can do," Carter said. "But after that first play [against the Buccaneers], I was like, 'I can do this. I'm in here now, so let's go.'"
Carter's success has not gone unnoticed, as friends and family from his hometown of White Castle, Louisiana, have flooded him with calls expressing their pride in his accomplishments. He is thrilled to be a source of inspiration for the children in his community, showing them what is possible with hard work and determination.
Carter comically added his hopes for an endorsement opportunity from the White Castle hamburger chain, which shares the name with his beloved hometown.
"I hope one day, because I do like to eat," he said.
