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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: McKinney North stand-out DE, Zion Carter, commits to Lamar University
As the 2023-24 football season gets underway, athletes across the metroplex are still making decisions about their future. McKinney North stand-out defensive end, Zion Carter, recently announced his commitment to play football at Lamar University following his senior season. VYPE DFW caught up with the Bulldog regarding his decision in an exclusive interview:
Impactful on the field and a key contributor to McKinney North's defense, Carter has been focused on leaving a mark on the Bulldogs' program. With his senior season ahead, Carter is ready to make big plays and get the job done. Check out his exclusive interview with VYPE DFW below!
It's not easy making a decision to commit to a college program. What went into your decision? What was the biggest impact when choosing Lamar University?
"Lamar is an excellent school. It was the best decision for me to get on the field and have an opportunity to play as a true freshman. It was also a chance for me to get a good education."
What has been your favorite memory at McKinney North so far?
"My favorite memory at my school as of now is when my brothers (teammates) and I all hung out without any coaches or anyone telling us to."
Who is a professional athlete that you look up to? Why?
"A professional athlete I look up to is my cousin, Mekhi Garner. Makhi taught me that there will be ups and downs in your career, but you just have to find a way and trust God."
What would you say has been your biggest accomplishment in your high school career so far?
"My biggest accomplishment in my high school career has been leadership. I had to step up early. After the 2022 class left, I took the leadership role during my sophomore season during the offseason. After that, I progressed as a leader and as a player. I set high expectations for myself as a leader because I still want the best for my team."
Do you have a game day routine that you typically stick to?
"My game day routine mainly consists of lots of music. Music on game days is a true necessity for me."
What do you do in the off-season to prepare for the season ahead?
"I mainly prepare my mental state because, as a leader, you can't show yourself being tired. I prepare my goals. Every off-season, I set a weight goal and a max goal that I want to reach."
What is your mindset headed into the new season?
"My mindset is that I will put my foot on the gas every time I step on the field. Don't let up until the game is over. Every single game."
What are your goals this season?
"My goals this season are to lead the district in sacks and tackles-for-a-loss. I'd also like to earn First Team All-District and Defensive Player of the Year honors."
In your opinion, what has been the secret to your and your team's success?
"There's no secret. We come to practice every day and every afternoon. We grind our butts off for the Friday night games. My success is based on how I lead my team."
Katy four-star defensive end Malick Sylla, left, and four-star defensive back Bobby Taylor, right, pose for a photo together during Early Signing Day at Katy High School on Wednesday morning. Sylla and Taylor are part of a Texas A&M recruiting class that was ranked third nationally entering the day.
Texas A&M the hot spot for elite Houston area talent
Texas A&M football entered Early Signing Day on Wednesday with its 2022 recruiting class ranked third nationally, according to 247sports.com. It’s possible when it’s all said and done that the Aggies could have the top class in the country.
Texas A&M is a hot ticket these days among Greater Houston area recruits like Bridgeland five-star quarterback Conner Weigman, Fort Bend Marshall four-star receiver Chris Marshall, and Atascocita four-star offensive lineman Kam Dewberry, among others. Head coach Jimbo Fisher has serious momentum. He is a national championship coach, having won at Florida State in 2013, and has signature wins over Alabama and LSU during his tenure in College Station. His passion for Texas A&M and his approach toward players are difficult to ignore.
VYPE : @KamDewberry talks with VYPE after committing to the Aggies. \n#txhsfb #EarlySigningDay \n(@KPRC2RandyMc @DavidNuno @kbtxsports @TexAgs @BarstoolTexasAM @ConnerWeigman @AlexMill20 @AggiesToday @KBTXDonnie @MaxPreps @247Sports @Perroni247 @HumbleISD @HumbleISD_AHS)pic.twitter.com/FZVh7Iyjem— VYPE Houston (@VYPE Houston) 1639604389
But no matter how much success A&M has garnered in recruiting—and Fisher has three consecutive classes ranked in the top 10 nationally entering 2022—it hasn’t translated to meaningful postseason success. Under Fisher, the Aggies have been to the Gator Bowl twice, the Orange Bowl once, and the Texas Bowl once. A&M has not won a national title since 1939 and has won 10 or more games in a season just twice since 1999.
Even this season, the Aggies are ranked No. 25 in the country, 8-4 heading into the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
So, what is it, exactly, that makes the Aggies so attractive to recruits?
“The environment, for one,” Katy four-star defensive back Bobby Taylor said. “The 12th Man. Of course, the winning aspect of it. Coming from a winning program, of course I wanted to go to a program that was winning. I didn’t want to go somewhere to feed off the winning by itself, but somewhere I can be a part of something to build to it.”
Added Clear Springs four-star receiver Noah Thomas: “It’s the facilities, the bond with the coaches. A whole bunch of stuff. I know a lot of dudes going here and it’s going to be a lot of fun. They’re trying to bring in the Texas boys and represent. It’s going to be a big recruiting class. Just wait on it.”
VYPE #EarlySigningDay : @ClearSpringsFB WR @Thomas3Noah talks with VYPE about signing with the Aggies on Wednesday. #txhsfb #GigEm #NSD22 \n\n(@KPRC2RandyMc @DavidNuno @kbtxsports @TexAgs @BarstoolTexasAM @ConnerWeigman @AlexMill20 @AggiesToday @KBTXDonnie @ClearSpringsHS)pic.twitter.com/xJh3yTRNXT— VYPE Houston (@VYPE Houston) 1639598500
Texas A&M certainly has its perks. It is close to Houston, a little more than an hour and a half drive. And for the lack of significant postseason success, the Aggies do win. Since Fisher got to College Station in December 2017, Texas A&M has gone 9-4, 8-5, 9-1 and 8-4. Twice, the Aggies have finished second in a hellacious SEC West.
“It felt like a second home,” Katy four-star defensive end Malick Sylla said. “It was an environment I wanted to be in. I knew I could go in, work and hopefully win a national championship.”
Fisher knows how to appeal to players individually and their own goals, which worked with Taylor and Dickinson four-star tight end Donovan Green.
“I get to play early,” Taylor said. “That was the biggest thing for me. I could come in here my senior year, get things done here. One thing I benefited from was doing summer school last year so I could enroll early, play spring ball, develop my body. Stuff like that.”
“You can always say whatever you want, but actions are going to go farther than your words,” Green said. “He’s (Fisher) shown me how much they use tight ends and how they can produce them at a high enough level to go to the next level. You can’t beat that. Being that they are so close, and, again, they are at another level getting the ball to the tight ends, there’s just not a better place for me.”
The Aggies’ being oh-so-close to turning the corner and becoming a consistent force to be reckoned with is also endearing. Recruits like that A&M wins. But, as Taylor said, they want to be a part of the team that puts the program over the top and in the same sentence with the Alabamas and LSUs of the world.
“A couple of days before I committed, it was just me and (teammate) Donovan (Green) just talking,” Dickinson four-star offensive tackle PJ Williams said. “I had A&M in my top three and I told him I just wanted to commit. I wanted to build a dynasty there. So, after that day, we just talked and both agreed if it was A&M we both agreed on, we wanted to go there together. That was our chance and that was our ride.”
There is a distinct vibe at Texas A&M with recruits. It’s the spot. It’s the place to be. The Aggies’ Class of 2022, which includes nine Houston area talents, is proving it.
“It was the best family atmosphere I got out of everybody else,” said Dewberry, who chose the Aggies over Texas and Oklahoma on Wednesday afternoon on ESPN. “I felt home.”
(VYPE Media managing editor Joshua Koch contributed to this report).