Meet The 2019 IUFB Recruiting Targets: Ajani Carter

Image: Twitter.com

Written by: Kris Shankle (@Hoosierkris)

It’s that time again. As the Hoosiers have wrapped up their first commitment for the class of ’19 in Emery Simmons, coach Tom Allen and the Hoosiers are looking for others to join him. The next target that will be profiled is from Houston, Texas. Ajani Carter is a 6’2 receiver that plays for North Shore High School.

As previously mentioned, Emery Simmons is also a receiver and the coaching staff at IU has made the position a priority of sorts. Nick Westbrook is back after his season was ended last year due to injury, but this is his redshirt junior year. They have a few players who can step up, but depth is a concern. This is where Carter comes in. He’s a solid prospect that can fill a role as well as a need. The Hoosiers have had a six-foot or taller wideout for what seems like forever and Carter would continue that trend. He’s been playing football ever since flag football in middle school and has fell in love with the game from the start. It wasn’t until this year that he believed he could make a future for himself playing though. Advice from his coaches and his aggressiveness led him to start taking the game even more serious though and now he’s just looking to improve his game and get better.

As far as his recruitment goes, Carter is flying under some radars. According to 247Sports, he doesn’t have a ranking and as far as schools being interested or offers go, the Hoosiers were the first to offer as of March 1, they are also the only offer. It’s still very early in the process though and there is plenty of time for him to add some more, which is likely to be the case coming out of a recruiting hotbed like Houston.

When asked about how his recruiting process he said, “the recruiting process is still in the early stages for me, but with Indiana taking the first chance on me they would no doubt be my top school.”

As a junior at North Shore, Carter helped lead his squad to a 9-4 record and looking back on what he accomplished team wise as well as an individual perspective, all Carter wanted to do was play football. He didn’t set any goals for himself. He wasn’t worried about the typical goals of winning a state title or getting a 1,000 yards receiving or a certain number of touchdowns. He just wanted to play ball.

Even now heading into his senior year, his goals haven’t changed much. He did tell me if he had any goals that it would be to just make things happen when he has the ball in his hands. It’s not hard to see the type of player he is by little statements like those.

Let’s rewind a bit though and get back to the Hoosiers interest in Carter. Carter said, “My lead recruiter from Indiana has been Taylor Brown, he’s been in touch with me everyday to check on me. He’s trying to set arrangements up for me to come up there and visit. I’ve also built a relationship with coach (Grant) Heard who is the receivers coach. I look forward to building on those relationships and creating others with the rest of the staff."

Indiana's recruiting pitch to Carter has made an impression on the young Texan. "They have just been showing a lot of love and that they want me to come there to attend their school, so I mean that means a lot.”

It certainly sounds like IU is in good standing as far as his recruitment goes and Carter as mentioned will find a way to make it to Bloomington. Like many high school recruits, his timeline hasn't been set in stone. “I’m not sure," Carter said when asked about when he would like to make a college decision, "I’m excited about the opportunity that Indiana has provided and I will make a decision when the time feels appropriate.” 

Everyone has a story. No matter who you are or what you do it doesn’t matter. I’ve talked with a lot of recruiting prospects and part of my job is to find the things that stick out and separate their stories from others. It’s the part of this that I love the most. I love hearing how kids come out of the situations they were put into.

When it comes to Ajani Carter that is especially true. No matter what has happened to himself or those closest to him, he has never let it define him or derail him off his path. Take for example his brother who he says is his biggest role model and the person he seeks out when he needs to go to someone for advice.

Keith Carter is his oldest brother and Ajani’s rock. Keith played football just like Ajani and had hoped that he would be in the position his little brother is in now. That plan took a vicious turn when a neck injury led to him being paralyzed and immediately putting an end to his football career. He hasn’t let that stop him in being a role model for Ajani.

“He hasn’t let it stop him from encouraging me and always keeping me out of trouble. Everything he tells me ends up being right and I appreciate him for that”, Carter said. No one would have questioned Ajani for calling it quits after being up close and personal to something like that and seeing the affects it can have on a day to day basis. Instead he uses that to fuel him. I believe he plays for himself as well as his brother Keith. If he makes it, so does Keith.

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