Terrance Carter Jr
Texas Tech#80 overallDraft Movement
Down 5 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Terrance Carter Jr is a flex tight end who wins as a receiver first, last, and always. The Killeen, Texas native arrived at Harker Heights High School as a quarterback before coaches moved him to tight end, and the position change unlocked one of college football's most productive pass-catchers at the spot. A modest three-star recruit, he broke out at Louisiana with 28 catches as a redshirt freshman in 2023, then dominated the Sun Belt in 2024 with 48 receptions for 689 yards while catching 77.4 percent of his targets and averaging 14.4 yards per catch. His 404 yards after the catch that season ranked fourth among all FBS tight ends, and he graded among the nation's top tight ends as a receiver. He transferred to Texas Tech to prove it against Power Four competition and delivered, posting 55 catches for 624 yards and five touchdowns in 2025 and earning a spot on an All-American first team. Quarterbacks posted a 113.6 rating when targeting him, and his short, intermediate, and deep receiving grades all sit at the 91st percentile or better among the 2027 tight end class. He is a natural hands-catcher who plucks the ball away from his frame, finds soft spots in zone, and sits down in windows against man coverage. Once the ball is in his hands he turns short completions into explosive gains with vision and sharp cutting ability. Aligned in the slot, he is a genuine matchup nightmare for linebackers and safeties, and some scouts peg him as the next Harold Fannin Jr from an athletic tools standpoint. The flip side is a 6'2", 245-pound frame that sits in the ninth percentile for height at the position and lacks the bulk to anchor in-line. His blocking strength and technique are both below NFL standard, which caps his three-down projection until he adds functional strength. He also managed just two catches in Louisiana's Sun Belt Championship loss to Marshall, a reminder that his impact can be schemed away. He grades as a top-five tight end in the 2027 class with a third-ro
The Tape
Strengths
- Natural hands-catcher who plucks the ball cleanly away from his frame and finishes contested catches in traffic
- Elite yards-after-catch creator whose 404 YAC in 2024 ranked fourth among all FBS tight ends
- Route precision rare for the position, creating consistent separation against linebackers and safeties
- Savvy zone-beater who finds soft spots and sits down in windows against man coverage
- Deceptive seam speed with a 94th-percentile deep-threat grade that creates vertical mismatches
- Hyper-efficient target who caught 77.4 percent of his 2024 targets and generated a 113.6 QB rating when thrown to
- Slot-flex versatility that forces defenses into losing personnel decisions
- Tough over the middle, absorbing contact while securing the ball
Weaknesses
- Below-average blocking strength that fails to anchor against power rushers
- Frame lacks the bulk and mass to handle NFL edge rushers in-line or in pass protection
- Undersized at 6'2", ninth-percentile height for the tight end position
- Raw blocking technique with inconsistent hand placement and leverage
- Modest 4.75 long speed for a receiving-first profile
- Bulk of his production came against Sun Belt competition
- Can be schemed out of games, managing just two catches in the Sun Belt Championship against Marshall
- Three-down viability hinges on adding functional strength without losing quickness
NFL Comparison
Harold Fannin Jr (comparable athletic tools and slot-flex production profile); Isaiah Likely (undersized YAC-driven receiving tight end); Eli Stowers (same move-TE archetype)
College Stats
2025 Texas Tech: 55 rec 624 yds 5 TD (11.3 avg). 2024 Louisiana: 48 rec 689 yds 4 TD (14.4 avg, 77.4% catch rate). 2023 Louisiana: 28 rec 255 yds 3 TD.
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $1.04M on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Texas Tech's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
The college fantasy model projects 8.0 PPG (TE1), after 8.4 PPG across 12 games last year.
Every P4 player priced, math public: College players & NIL · Roster spend
Measurables
Awards & Honors
All-Sun Belt First Team (2024); SIS Preseason All-American First Team (2025); District 12-6A Offensive MVP (high school)