East Carolina defensive
line coach Donnie Thompson was watching cornerback recruit Darryl
Reynolds of New Bern participate in a track meet last spring when
another member of the Bears squad caught his attention.
“He came to watch Darryl
and saw Julian running hurdles,’’ New Bern coach Bobby Curlines said.
“Julian was long and athletic and Donnie came away really impressed with
him.’’
Julian is Julian Carter, a
four-sport athlete who competes in football, basketball, baseball and
track at New Bern. ECU’s Thompson was so impressed with Carter’s
performance at the track meet that he returned to New Bern during the
football season to see what the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder could do on the
gridiron.
What Thompson found was a
ball-hawking safety who finished with eight interceptions, a solid wide
receiver and a pretty fair punter who helped the Bears to a 9-3 record.
Thompson’s report back to ECU head coach Skip Holtz resulted in a
scholarship offer, which Carter accepted.
He’ll join a trio of
former New Bern players in Greenville next fall. They include red-shirt
freshman safety Chris Mattocks, sophomore tight end Davon Drew and, of
course, Reynolds, who is enrolled at ECU but not playing this year.
Reynolds is expected to join the team this spring.
“Greenville is just a
great place for me,’’ Carter said. “There are a lot of faces I can see
from New Bern every day there, and that made it feel like home to me.
Those guys will be able to help me out. We’re all good friends.’’
North Carolina, N.C. State
and Virginia were also recruiting Carter, but the Pirates were the first
school to offer a scholarship.
Born and raised in New
Bern, Carter said he really didn’t get into football until about the
eighth grade. Basketball, baseball and track took up most of his time
until school friends talked him into trying out for the junior high
squad.
Oddly, Carter was
immediately placed at quarterback, a position he would play until he
reached the New Bern varsity.
“I was fast and I had a
pretty good arm, so I guess they thought I’d make a good quarterback,’’
Carter said. “But I just really wanted to be out there with my friends,
so it didn’t matter to me where I played. But I turned out to be pretty
good at it. I was the starter on the JV's my freshman year before they
switched me over.’’
Carter remained a backup
quarterback behind Drew, but saw lots of action in the defensive
secondary when promoted to the varsity at the end of his sophomore
season. The Drew-led Bears advanced all the way to the state
championship game for a second straight time that year.
A starting role on defense
awaited Carter as a junior, but it was in track, where he competes in
the high jump and hurdles, that he seemed to be making more of a mark.
He’s a 6-foot-2 high jumper and nearly reached the state finals of the
300-meter hurdles as a junior.
“Julian is just a natural
athlete, and most people saw that first on the track,’’ Curlines said.
“He’s so smooth and agile going over those hurdles. He really should be
one of the best in the state this year.’’
With ECU and other schools
watching, Carter started at free safety on defense for the Bears last
season and was a backup on offense at both quarterback and wide
receiver. He also averaged 37 yards per punt.
“He just does a little bit
of everything,’’ Curlines said. “I think his future is on the defensive
side at safety, though, because he’s one of those kids who could easily
put on about 20 pounds and be 6-2, 215 or 220, but can still run.’’
As for his future
position, Carter's inclination mirrors that of his coach.
“I think safety is
probably my best position,’’ Carter said. “I’m really good at reading
plays and being in the right place at the right time. I good at sticking
to receivers.’’
Curlines said Carter’s
ability to track the football is why he produced so many interceptions
as a senior.
“That may come from
playing outfield in baseball for so long,’’ Curlines said. “He has a
real nose for the football. He had those eight interceptions, but he
also had six or seven pass deflections or breakups, too. And he’s got
great hands, so if he gets a chance to pick one off he usually comes
down with the ball.’’
The Pirates will be fairly
deep at safety next season, so Curlines expects Carter to red-shirt next
fall.
“I think they’re leaning
towards that, but anything can happen,’’ Curlines said. “He’s just
starting to come on in the weight room. Playing so many sports here has
kept him from concentrating as much on that as he will at East Carolina.
He’s just scratching the surface of his potential right now. Once he’s
focused only on football he’s going to be something to watch.’’
Of course, Carter won’t be
able to concentrate on just football anytime soon. He’s currently
playing forward for the New Bern basketball team, which is off to a 10-4
start. Carter is averaging about 12 points and 12 rebounds for the
Bears.
This spring he’ll head
back to the baseball diamond where he’s the starting right fielder for
New Bern, and to the track where he hopes to reach the state meet in
both the hurdles and high jump.
“I just enjoy all my
sports,’’ Carter said. “This is the last time I’ll probably get to
compete in these others, so I’m going to take advantage of it. Plus,
I’ll still be working out in the weight room and getting ready for next
year at ECU.’’
