The veteran coach chuckled in delight as he recalled watching Jalen Carter's Hudl highlight video from his time at Apopka High School.
At 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, Carter curated football violence in the most unusual ways. In the opening clip of the video, he hurdles a defender as a ball carrier, then later drags would-be tacklers as they flail helplessly behind him. As a blocker, he casually swats opposing players like a cat playing with a ball of yarn.
Carter eventually settled in as a defensive tackle in college, and those skills are evidenced by his rolls through opposing offensive lines like a human Zamboni.
"That may be the best high school highlight tape I've ever seen," the veteran coach said. "He's 300 pounds and playing fullback and tight end and defensive end. ... It looks like a grown-up versus little kids."
The coach paused to chuckle: "Still looks that way."
This year, Carter inhaled Tennessee's offensive line in Knoxville, forcing two fumbles in a 27-13 rout. That kicked off a run that's seen seven tackles for loss in the past five games, thrusting Carter back into the conversation for the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
We spoke to more than a dozen coaches and scouts about the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Ohio State (Saturday, 8 p.m., ESPN) as the Bulldogs attempt to become the sport's first back-to-back national champion in a decade. Ohio State, meanwhile, attempts to pull off an upset as a 6.5-point underdog.
Carter, looming over the middling interior of Ohio State's offensive line and poised to harass star OSU quarterback C.J. Stroud, could swing the game. Can he continue his run of dominance that has slingshot him to the top of draft boards? Can Ohio State play quick game, spray the ball to the perimeter and move the pocket to minimize his disruption? Here's a look at four keys to victory for each team, according to a variety of opposing coaches and trusty NFL scouts.
