It was a choice Avion Carter was going to have to live with on his own, but he definitely welcomed what advice he could take from others.
That’s the formula that Carter, a highly touted defensive end still two months from starting his senior year at Tascosa, used in deciding he was going to play college football at TCU. Carter made a verbal commitment to the Fort Worth school shortly after the end of his junior year.
By no means did Carter have his mind made up over where he wanted to play in college before he visited TCU’s campus. But he did as soon as that visit was finished.
“I’d been to many colleges and to all my top four, but I hadn’t visited TCU until the last two weeks,” Carter said. “It was just different from any other school I went to. The culture was different and the new coaching staff was very welcoming. They were like family.”
Next fall will be the first year for the TCU program under new coach Sonny Dykes. Although Carter won’t arrive on campus until the next year, he got an idea of what his role in the program will be.
Just as importantly, Dykes left an impression on Carter’s mother, Angela Schultz.
“They showed me how they would use me and my mom agreed with all that,” Carter said. “She was very excited. She loved it there.”
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Carter has been on the radar of college recruiters practically since cracking Tascosa’s starting lineup as a sophomore. Last season he was the District 2-5A Division I defensive player of the year, totaling 66 tackles, including 10 for losses along with eight sacks.
Carter had narrowed his college choices down to Texas Tech, Texas and Oklahoma State along with TCU. But it was the Horned Frogs who ultimately won him over.
“When I was about to leave the facility I thought ‘This is the place for me,’” Carter said. “I did not regret that decision.”
While his mother encouraged Carter to commit to TCU, he also had some influence from an onfield source. Former Tascosa teammate Major Everhart, the speedy two-way standout who was the district MVP last season and has since graduated, will be playing at TCU next fall as a receiver.
Since Everhart also went through to recruiting process, Carter listened to what he had to say.
“He always told me to come to TCU, but he said anywhere I go he’d be happy for me,” Carter said. “I never knew why Major committed there until I went there. It’s a great fact that he’s there too. It’s a nice thing he’s my teammate again.”
That reunion will have to wait a year. Carter still has an obligation to Tascosa this fall, and standards for the Rebels have been high the past four seasons.
He’ll be counted on to terrorize opposing offenses again, and now he can do so without a college decision on his mind.
“I feel like I’m more relaxed now,” Carter said. “I feel it’s more of a breeze. I can focus more on my senior season without recruiting and it’s a good feeling. This is probably going to be one of the best teams we have.”