Martels Carter will play for Mark Stoops in college. (X Photo)
He’s a top 200 player nationally who had over 50 scholarship offers and now Paducah Tilghman standout Martels Carter has decided to play his college football at the University of Kentucky.
Carter, who picked UK over Auburn, is ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 — behind Western Hills’ Javelin Campbell — in Kentucky by various recruiting rankings.
The 6-1, 190-pound safety played his freshman season in Georgia before going to Chattanooga for his sophomore season when his father got the coaching job.
In 2021, Carter played in the secondary as a freshman for Rome, Ga., and earned second-team all-region honors as a defensive back. In 2022 at Brainerd High School in Chattanooga, he had 47 tackles, seven pass breakups, three interceptions and four forced fumbles on defense but also had 1,806 yards of total offense and 21 touchdowns while playing quarterback.
His family moved to Paducah for his junior season because of his father’s health issues. He had 43 catches for 1,066 yards and 10 scores in 13 games and also ran 17 times for 214 yards and three scores. He returned five punts for scores and had one kickoff return for a touchdown. On defense, he had 44 tackles and three interceptions to help Tilghman reach the Class 4A semifinals.
Marrow had made Carter a recruiting priority but it could have helped that he is friends with UK freshman quarterback Cutter Boley and junior receiver Barion Brown.
Paducah Tilghman coach Sean Thompson said in February that as good as Carter is on defense, he could have played offense in college. However, his quickest impact might be on special teams.
“He’s definitely a defensive back first. He plays offense and special teams and probably his most immediate impact in college will be on special teams. You can’t kick it to him. If you kick him the ball it is immediate offense,” Thompson said then. “He is big, physical, fast and just different from most kids you see. He should be able to play anywhere in the secondary because he’s a very physical kid.
Carter visited UK several times and will make another visit in June with several other top prospects including Campbell and Louisville Male offensive lineman Isaac Sowells Jr. Carter is already planning to enroll at UK in January but indicated he will also take a visit to Michigan with a friend.
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Carter joins Ohio running back Marquise Davis as a top 200 commit in UK’s 2025 recruiting class. Other verbal commitments are quarterbacks Stone Saunders and Bernie Ward, receiver Quintin Simmons and offensive lineman Tucker Kattus.
One Response
Stoops, Marrow & other coaches continue to recruit and land higher rated players. A 10-win season in 2024 would sure enhance their results and maintain the elevating recruiting year by year.
A Top 200 player is impressive. To land both of the top 2 players in KY would be a big reward for the dedicated recruiting efforts by the UK staff.
On the brink of back-to-back break-out seasons with one of the best QB’s in the nation, one of the best DL (BIG DEONNE) and many more talented players on both sides of the ball.