2022 Draft Prospect: Juwan Carter

NSU Senior QB Juwan Carter enters the season with high expectations for him and his team. Carter is the MEAC 2021 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and his team is projected to finish 2nd in the MEAC with the addition of former Southern HC Dawson Odums, who was 63-32 at Southern with 4 division titles. Carter set NSU records in 2019 with one of those being the total TD record with 29. Carter has been a starter for NSU since his freshman year and has improved each season, specifically his accuracy, he went from 53% as a freshman to 58% as a sophomore, then 61% as Junior. In Dawson Odums run-heavy offense I expect Carter to take another step in his efficiency. For run heavy offenses to be effective they need an efficient short and intermediate pass game and strong play action game. Carter excelled in making quick and decisive decisions in his short game and rarely forced the ball into small windows against zone defense. But a wrinkle that Carter adds to Odums offense that wasn't there at Southern is an accurate deep ball thrower who can get the ball to his speedsters downfield. In 2019, Carter connected deep many times with returning WRs Justin Smith and De’Kendall “DK” James. James averaged 15.1 YPC and Smith averaged 17.8 YPC. With Carter’s experience it shouldn’t take him too long to get comfortable with Odums’ system. Just like many I expect a big 2021 for Juwan Carter with many of his weapons from 2019 returning. I believe Carter has an opportunity to be in an NFL camp next season but he’ll have a lot to show to be the 14th HBCU QB drafted all time and the first since the late great Alabama State QB Tavaris Jackson in 2006.

Notes

• Elusive in the pocket; keeps eyes downfield before taking off

• Composed in pocket

• 60% completion percentage

• Deep ball accuracy

• Can be a dangerous runner when he wants to (numbers aren’t eye-popping but can beat you severely)

• Can throw off multiple platforms

• Tendency to stare down crossers vs zone

• Very efficient short game

• Too loose with ball outside of pocket

• Needs to slide more

• Good situational ball placement and touch

• Not afraid to throw with pressure in his face

• Doesn't try to do too much and plays within the system and his abilities