Terrance Carter Jr. ready for Houston after breakout Utah game
After battling through Utah’s hostile environment, Terrance Carter Jr. believes he and the Red Raiders are ready for another test. The tight end spoke this week about Houston’s pass defense, his growth, and the importance of leadership in Texas Tech’s locker room.
Carter Jr. on Texas Tech confidence, leadership, and preparation
Carter knows the challenge ahead. “Very, pretty good defense,” he said of Houston. “So you just have to go out there and execute.”
The Cougars boast one of the better pass defenses Tech has faced this season. Carter stressed that success will depend on sharp execution and discipline at every level.
He also pointed to Behren Morton’s toughness as a rallying moment for the team. After taking a big hit, Morton wanted to return immediately. “It shows like he really cares,” Carter explained. “He wasn’t just laying down. He still gathered us, kept our heads up, and told us to keep playing.”
Coming off the bye week, Carter admitted the rest was critical. “Definitely worth it,” he said. “I feel way better. I’ve been attacking treatment every day.” The recovery period gave him time to heal and sharpen his focus for Houston, crediting the training staff for helping him prepare both physically and mentally.
Utah experience and growth at tight end
Carter described Utah’s atmosphere as “crazy” and unlike anything he had faced before. The noise forced Tech to adapt to silent counts, something the team worked on heavily during the bye week.
Despite dropping a potential score early, Carter responded with a touchdown. “Big-time players make big-time plays,” he said. “You just brush it off and keep going.” That resilience, he noted, comes from confidence built through practice and competition in the tight end room.
He praised the strength of the group. “JC, great player. Jason Llewellyn, great player. Trey Jackson, young player, going to be great,” he said. Carter also credited position coach Josh Cochran. “He pushes us to go hard every day. He doesn’t care who you are, he’s going to coach you the same.” For Carter, that relentless approach elevates the entire group’s standard.
At the same time, he admitted there is room for improvement. “Really just all the little things,” he said. “Run blocking, better routes, technique in the run game.” Attention to detail, he believes, will separate solid players from great ones.
Final thoughts
For Terrance Carter Jr., Utah was more than a road test — it was a statement. After shaking off a tough drop, the tight end answered with a touchdown that highlighted both resilience and maturity.
That response mirrors “The Brand” Joey McGuire demands — the toughest, hardest working, most competitive team in the country, built on Red Raider speed. When Texas Tech travels to Houston, Carter’s versatility at tight end could be critical against one of the nation’s stingier pass defenses.
Utah was the breakthrough. Houston is the proof. If Carter rises again, his impact will stretch beyond one game — it will cement him as a difference-maker in Tech’s push through Big 12 play.
