It is no secret West Virginia lacks depth at the wide receiver position. A group which was one of West Virginia’s strongest areas a year ago is now searching for help after the transfer portal and NFL aspirations took out the top four receivers in yards from last year.
One of those answers as for being the top guy in the wide receiver room is NC State wide receiver transfer Devin Carter. Carter, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, will be in his sixth collegiate season in 2023. Last year with the Wolfpack, Carter caught 25 passes for 406 yards and two touchdowns, while missing four games due to injury.
“We’ve got to replace a lot of those catches, a lot of those targets,” West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said. “We brought Devin in because we felt like he could be a foot line guy and be a one. And through three practices it’s only been the truth so far. He’s delivered, he’s made some big time plays.”
Over his career at NC State, Carter caught 118 passes for 1,906 yards and 10 touchdowns across 42 games played.
“I think he’s done a great job in the offseason attacking,” Brown said.
With Carter’s experience, comes the fact that he has been through multiple seasons and situations. This has allowed Carter to turn into a leader in the wide receiver room throughout the offseason.
“He’s really led that room from a work ethic standpoint — him and Graeson [Malashevich],” Brown said. “He’s been humble in his approach but I think he’s really helped that group. There’s seem guys in there that are a little bit younger. I think he’s done a good job setting the standard. And he’s gone out and made a bunch of plays in the first three days.”
New wide receivers coach Bilal Marshall spoke on Carter’s leadership saying since Carter arrived in Morgantown, he has become a leader of that room.
“Devin Carter got here and ingratiated himself really well with the players,” Marshall said. “They all hang out with each other all the time and he’s very vocal. He’s going to be a leader this fall.”
The Mountaineers hope Carter will be able to help them after losing as much production as they did this offseason. His ability to get down the field become a vertical threat is obvious to the coaching staff, but Carter being experienced playing power five football is equally important.
“It’s crucial to have somebody that has been a four-year starter and he knows what big time football looks like and he’s able to lead by example and pull guys along,” Marshall said.
Photo by Aaron Parker, Blue Gold Sports
