Hillsborough High School (Tampa, FL) strong side defensive end Zachary Carter is still getting used to being on everyone's radar as he started out only getting an offer from Kentucky in April of 2015. The next month saw four more schools offer him and then one of his dream schools offered him the next month.
"When I got the Florida offer," Carter said, "I was like, 'Wow. It's about to get real.' I knew it was coming and it did."
He has over 40 schools offering him now after attending Florida's camp, but there is a clear group of schools trying harder than the others. The top-100 prospect and four-star DE says that Tennessee, Clemson, Florida, Notre Dame, Miami and Ole Miss are all in that group.
However, Carter says that his relationship with defensive line coach Chris Rumph of Florida is the difference maker right now.
"The first time I met him I could tell he was a good guy," Carter said of Rumph. "On all my trips there I've really liked his personality not just as a coach but as a person.
"I got to see him in action and I like his coaching style. He's comfortable with me, too. We talk like we're friends instead of coach and player. I think that's a big part of it."
While Carter doesn't have a leader, the lifelong Florida fan does believe that other schools will have to peel him away from the Gators.
"It's a pretty tough school to beat," Carter said. "I like a couple other programs too, so I want to wait on my decision. But Florida is making that hard."
Gator fans have to like the sound of that and should be looking forward to when he gives a verbal commitment.
[h/t SEC Country]
