Zachary Carter was drafted by Cincinnati on Friday night. (Photo: Isabella Marley/UAA Communications)
Gators DT Carter Drafted By Bengals in Third Round
Friday, April 29, 2022 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators defensive lineman Zachary Carter is headed to the reigning AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals.
Cincinnati selected the 6-foot-4, 284-pound Carter in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday night, making him the 95th overall player selected.
"I think for guards inside, I'm a mismatch — my quickness,'' Carter said on a conference call Friday night. "I watched that whole ride to the Super Bowl. I love that defense. I love how that defense plays. I can't wait to play with these guys. They play with fire and energy."
A fifth-year senior in 2021, Carter served as a versatile force for the Gators defensive line the past four seasons, breaking into the regular rotation as a sophomore.
He finished his senior season with 31 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, 7.5 sacks and forced one fumble. Carter concluded his college career in the Gators' home win over Florida State to conclude the regular season. A product of Hillsborough High in Tampa, Carter opted out of the Gasparilla Bowl to begin preparation for the draft.
Carter played defensive end and defensive tackle for the Gators. The Bengals, following the departure of Larry Ogunjobi, plan to use Carter on the interior line.
"Honestly, I heard I could have come out last year, but it was one of those things I knew there was more that I could do," Carter said last month at UF's Pro Day. "I just wanted to show that I was a complete player, I can stop the run, I can rush the passer and I wanted to lead my team. I came back and ended up being team captain for the first time, that felt good."
Carter becomes the 133rd defender and 51st defensive lineman drafted from Florida, which marks the 11th-straight NFL Draft that a Gator defensive lineman was picked, tied for the second longest active streak. The pick also ties Florida for the lead (25 picks) among DLs from SEC schools in the first three rounds from 1967. UF is second all-time in the SEC with 51 defensive linemen drafted since the modern draft era.
He is the second UF player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. UF cornerback Kaiir Elam went to Buffalo in the first round on Thursday night, the 23rd overall pick of the draft.
Elam was Florida's eighth first-round draft pick in the last nine years.
Meanwhile, Carter joins former Gators kicker Evan McPherson, who became rookie sensation for the Bengals last season by kicking multiple last-second game-winning field goals.
Cincinnati selected the 6-foot-4, 284-pound Carter in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday night, making him the 95th overall player selected.
🐊 @GatorsFB ➡ Cincinnati🐅 Let's get it, @_Zachattacks! #RuleTheJungle | #RuleTheDraft pic.twitter.com/8t76ECjXCQ
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) April 30, 2022
"I think for guards inside, I'm a mismatch — my quickness,'' Carter said on a conference call Friday night. "I watched that whole ride to the Super Bowl. I love that defense. I love how that defense plays. I can't wait to play with these guys. They play with fire and energy."
A fifth-year senior in 2021, Carter served as a versatile force for the Gators defensive line the past four seasons, breaking into the regular rotation as a sophomore.
He finished his senior season with 31 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, 7.5 sacks and forced one fumble. Carter concluded his college career in the Gators' home win over Florida State to conclude the regular season. A product of Hillsborough High in Tampa, Carter opted out of the Gasparilla Bowl to begin preparation for the draft.
Carter played defensive end and defensive tackle for the Gators. The Bengals, following the departure of Larry Ogunjobi, plan to use Carter on the interior line.
"Honestly, I heard I could have come out last year, but it was one of those things I knew there was more that I could do," Carter said last month at UF's Pro Day. "I just wanted to show that I was a complete player, I can stop the run, I can rush the passer and I wanted to lead my team. I came back and ended up being team captain for the first time, that felt good."
Carter becomes the 133rd defender and 51st defensive lineman drafted from Florida, which marks the 11th-straight NFL Draft that a Gator defensive lineman was picked, tied for the second longest active streak. The pick also ties Florida for the lead (25 picks) among DLs from SEC schools in the first three rounds from 1967. UF is second all-time in the SEC with 51 defensive linemen drafted since the modern draft era.
He is the second UF player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. UF cornerback Kaiir Elam went to Buffalo in the first round on Thursday night, the 23rd overall pick of the draft.
Elam was Florida's eighth first-round draft pick in the last nine years.
Meanwhile, Carter joins former Gators kicker Evan McPherson, who became rookie sensation for the Bengals last season by kicking multiple last-second game-winning field goals.
@McPherson_Evan LETS GO 🔋🤞🏾 #WHODEY
— Zachary L Carter (@_Zachattacks) April 30, 2022
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