BREAKING: 4-star offensive lineman DeAndre Carter commits to Auburn
Auburn football has picked up a big commitment from four-star offensive lineman DeAndre Carter.
Carter, who attends Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Calif, announced his commitment to the Tigers on Sunday. He chose Auburn over Texas and Michigan State. He also claimed offers from Alabama, LSU, Georgia, USC, Florida, Penn State and Michigan, among others.
“I love the coaches and the environment,” Carter told On3. “I love the campus and the fans. Love the traditions there. Love what they have to offer for the education program.”
Carter’s commitment comes after taking two visits to Auburn during the summer. He first trekked to the Plains in June for an official visit before returning in late July for an unofficial visit.
“Family, I mean I love everything, but probably the thing that stands out more than the others is probably just like the family atmosphere,” he said. “A lot of colleges say they have it but I definitely feel it a lot (at Auburn).
“I liked everything when I went down there (June 16-18). It was my first time there and I really liked the coaches, the players, the atmosphere. It felt family-based and I just loved it a lot. Everything with the football program and education as well, I loved it.”
Relationships with coach big for Carter
Carter is being recruited by area recruiter Ben Aigamia, offensive line coach Jake Thornton, offensive analyst Kendall Simmons and even head coach Hugh Freeze.
“I talk to pretty much everyone: Coach (Hugh) Freeze, Coach (Jake) Thornton, Coach Ben (Aigamaia) … a lot of them,” he said.
Carter, who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds, is ranked the No. 8 interior offensive lineman in the country. He also ranks the No. 151 overall recruit in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, and No. 17 in California.
He is the 18th commitment for Auburn in the 2024 class and first offensive lineman.
“The coaches said I have the athletic ability to play tackle and my frame and how strong I am I could play guard as well,” he said.
On3 Personal Life tab
Carter has been a starter for national powerhouse Santa Ana (California) Mater Dei ever since his freshman season. In fact, his first start on varsity came against rival and nationally ranked St. John Bosco.
He then went on to start wire-to-wire at left tackle for Mater Dei in 2021, leading the Monarchs to a No. 1 ranking in the country. He generated a lot of national attention that season when he dominated against Duncanville (Texas) High School, a roster that was loaded with blue-chip defensive linemen.
Carter told the Valley News he has always had a big frame and wanted to play football since an early age.
“My mom tells me of not being able to make the birthdate cut the first year – I wasn’t 5 yet – and being extremely disappointed,” he said. “But she made sure to take me back the following year.”
Basketball was also a huge love for Carter growing up, where he even made his middle school team and was the MVP, plus an all-star. But football is his first love, and he owes a lot of his success to his parents, including his mom (Patty Carter).
“She’s on him just as much as I am,” his father, Antoine Carter, said. “If we notice anything that can be perfected, she will let him know. She even knows his plays, which drives him crazy.”
