May 7, 2019

Carter aiming to convert doubters at East-West Bowl

Valerie Wutti/Carleton University

Nathan Carter has spent the last few years turning doubters into believers.

The Carleton University running back will look to continue that trend this Saturday in front of Canadian Football League scouts at the U SPORTS East-West Bowl (12:30 p.m. ET).

“The best of the best are picked for this game, and it’s a chance to show my skills against what would be considered the best in my generation of players,” said Carter, one of the OUA conference’s top running backs. “The way our league’s set up, you play in your own little division — you don’t see what’s happening outside that, (so) I’m excited to play with players from all over.”

RELATED: 2019 East-West Bowl rosters announced

Listed at 5-foot-8, Carter finished fourth in the OUA conference in rush yards (756) and touchdowns (5) last year.

Carter in action against Queen’s last season. (Valerie Wutti/Carleton University)

Averaging just shy of 100 yards on the ground per game, the speedy back defers all credit to his blocking team.

“Any running back’s success comes from their line, and getting comfortable with them,” explained Carter. “We had a fairly new line (in 2018), so had a rocky start, but as soon as we gelled together it became fairly easy to know what was opening up (and) how they were going to block it.”

As part of the second generation of modern-era Carleton pro prospects — the first featuring current Ottawa REDBLACKS Nate Behar and Justin Howell, along with Hamilton Tiger-Cat Tunde Adeleke — Carter points to the standard set by CU’s first class.

“They brought a certain level of intensity to the program that for me, coming out of high school, I’d never experienced,” said Carter. “That definitely impacted me in a way where I was like, ‘yeah, I want to be like them,’ (and) they set an example of what I’d need to do to get where they are.”

Carter makes a catch in front of uOttawa fans at last year’s Panda Game. (Valerie Wutti/Carleton University)

And for the scouts who might be inclined to write him off based on his stature?

“Watch and see what I can do,” said the Ottawa, Ont. native confidently. “I’ve been doubted a whole lot, ‘you’re small’, then I’ve shown that height doesn’t matter for me.

“I can play aggressive, (and) I can play with the best of them. Just watch what I can do.”