INKED: DT Kam Carter signs with Pitt

Kam Carter became the 14th player to sign with Pitt’s football program in the 2017 recruiting class on National Signing Day at 8:27 AM, joining his classmates signing today and four early enrollees who have already been in class at Pitt. Carter is a 6-foot-5, 310-pound defensive tackle who comes to Pitt by way of East Mississippi Community College and a player who originally signed with Penn State out of high school. Here’s a brief look back at his journey as a recruit and his history with Pitt:

First mention on Rivals: Carter was a standout recruit throughout his high school career and made his first appearance on Rivals way back in 2012 at the start of his sophomore football season. Carter was even a target for Pitt in the fall of 2013, but eventually committed to Penn State in February of 2014, near the start of James Franklin's tenure. Carter signed with Penn State nearly a year later as a 2015 recruit, but was dismissed in April of 2016 for a violation of team rules following a redshirt season. Carter moved to the junior college ranks at East Mississippi Community College, famously a part of the Netflix series "Last Chance U", where he picked up offers from Pitt, Texas, Texas A&M, Louisville, Virginia Tech, and others. Carter established an official visit to Pitt for the weekend of January 20th.

Carter commits to Pitt: Pitt landed a commitment from Carter on January 22nd, the Sunday of the weekend of his official visit to Pitt's campus. Carter became the first defensive tackle and third defensive lineman overall to commit to Pitt, choosing the Panthers over offers from Texas, Texas A&M, and the other schools mentioned above. He did not take any other official visits.

In his words: "It’s just the best decision for me and my family,” Carter told Panther-Lair.com. “There was a very good family-like atmosphere that I got the feeling for and I feel like I’ll be surrounded by great people. For them to accept me the way they did with the things I’ve struggled with, getting kicked out of Penn State and all of that, for them to welcome me into the family speaks volumes to me.”

Carter's impact: "Since Carter's high school days at Gaithersburg when he was a 6-foot, 257-pound player designated as an "athlete" rather than defensive lineman, he's physically matured significantly. Carter has added over 50 pounds to his frame since graduating high school, growing to a listed 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds in Scooba (Miss.). Carter compiled 36 tackles, two sacks, and an interception in his lone season with the Lions. That physical change has been prevalent in Carter's style of play. He looks much like a true defensive tackle right now and that's before adapting to the facilities of a Power Five program and the physical advantages those can offer." Read more in Kam Carter: The Impact.