BREAKING: Ohio State safety Ja'Had Carter commits to NC State
Ja’Had Carter is officially returning to the ACC to bolster the Wolfpack secondary. The former Ohio State and Syracuse safety announced his NC State commitment Monday after officially visiting the program last week.
He is the third transfer portal prospect to join the Wolfpack this week. Akron safety Kerry Martin Jr. and Colorado defensive lineman Chazz Wallace also committed during their respective official visits.
NC State is now done recruiting the spring transfer portal and heads into the summer with one open scholarship, per TheWolfpacker.com’s count.
Carter was one of the nation’s most highly-touted defensive backs in the 2023 transfer portal when he transferred from Syracuse to Ohio State. He played 124 snaps in a limited rotational role last fall and recorded 5 total tackles.
Prior to his one season with the Buckeyes, the 6-2 defensive back from Richmond, Virginia, was an honorable mention All-ACC player after he led the Orange with 3 interceptions. He recorded a solid 68.7 PFF grade in 2022. The safety finished the year with a standout 70.7 coverage mark after allowing 22 catches on 33 targets for 7.7 yards per reception.
He played all over Syracuse’s defense that season, logging 100 or more snaps at free safety, in the box and in the slot.
As a freshman in 2020, Carter earned freshman All-American honors after starting 10 games and recording 65 total tackles (52 solo), 3 defended passes and 2 interceptions. In each of the following two seasons, he recorded 35 tackles.
The 6-1, 203-pound safety appeared in 6 games during his lone season at Ohio State, playing a rotational role at both free and strong safety. Carter allowed 2 receptions on 2 targets in a week 2 game and did not allow another catch for the rest of the year.
On3’s 88 transfer rating makes him the No. 41 safety in the transfer portal. Carter has 1 season of eligibility remaining.
