JUCO safety picks Utah

Los Angeles Southwest College safety Tevin Carter has emerged as one of the best defensive playmakers in California this season. With a pair of Pac-12 offers in hand, the 6-foot-2 inch, 200 pound safety made a commitment to Utah on his official visit to Salt Lake City.

Once he saw how Utah runs its program, it was an easy decision for Carter to commit to the Utes. "I felt at home. When I got out there and once I got around the guys, it felt like everything was true. Everyone was just being honest. They tell me the truth, not just what I wanted to hear. The visit was all laughs and I was able to be myself when I got there," Carter said. "The visit was real nice. It was more than I expected. Utah is one big family out there. I enjoyed my time up there."

Carter was also impressed with Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham. "He's real cool, really down to earth. He's honest. All of the players like him. They show him a level of respect. He's so down to earth, he just goes with the flow. I like the way he runs his program. It's real nice," he said.

"The [Utah coaches] just talk about the chance to play right away. Nothing is given, and you still have to work. But the coaches are real cool guys. I got a good vibe from them. They stress academics also," he said.

Carter, who played a season for Cal before enrolling at Southwest Los Angeles, was impressed with the family atmosphere at Utah. "What I liked most was the way the whole team is one. Everybody had a level of respect for each other, and the coaches are real cool," he said.

After going through the process once already, Carter feels much wiser about what to look for this time around. "Now I know what I want and how to get it, so I know the questions to ask and I know what I look for when I take my trips," he said.

In addition to the Utah offer, Carter also has an offer from Oregon State, and is getting serious looks from Georgia and Texas A&M. "I committed on the visit, but I'm still going to take my trips and look around," Carter said. "Right now for sure I think I'm going to visit Oregon State. After that I have no idea."

Although he plans on taking visits, Carter maintains that it will take a lot to sway him. "Right now I couldn't even tell you [what would change my mind]. It was just the way I felt when I committed, the fact that I felt at home," he said.