When Todd McShay referenced character concerns for Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter his teammates and Dawg Twitter let him have it.
Jalen Carter just picked up unanimous All-American honors and he’ll have the chance to help lead Georgia to a second national championship in a row in just a couple weeks.
When his college football contributions are settled, he’s expected to enter his name into the 2023 NFL Draft with the chance to become a Top 5 draft pick.
There’s little question Carter will be a coveted draft prospect given his size and playmaking ability in the trenches. The only wrench in the works could be the alleged “character issues” Todd McShay tagged him with on ESPN.
“With Carter, there are some character issues,” McShay said. “Does he get along with everybody? What’s he like to deal with in the locker room? Those sorts of issues. I know it’s early in the process, but I’m forewarning everybody out there, Carter is going to be a hot-button name when we talk about some of the intangible aspects of it.
“I think though with Pete Carroll sitting here at No. 2, who has a long history of taking guys with questionable character and then developing them and having them work out, that would make a lot of sense to me. That will be the big discussion. It’s not about his talent, his size or his explosive take off or finishing as a pass rusher, it’s about the character and do we want to bring that guy into the building.”
Jalen Carter character issues don’t make sense to Georgia teammates, fans
McShay’s words had folks in and around Georgia tilting their heads to the side and saying, “Huh?”
There bing character issues around Carter is news to his teammates, many reporters and certainly Georgia fans. They jumped to the defensive lineman’s defense.
What’s he like in the lockeroom you ask? One of my favorite guys to be around. ALL-AROUND STUD as a player and as a friend/teammate. https://t.co/n1MOIOECwF
— Ryland Goede (@RylandGoede88) December 15, 2022
Ion ever entertain what y’all say but you don’t know this man. That boy been a real one since day one!! https://t.co/St0FI3CPF7
— •Jack• (@_7JMEEKS) December 15, 2022
These @GeorgiaFootball players are straight killing Todd McShay. It is almost like they are the ones around Jalen Carter everyday or something.
— Rusty Mansell (@RustyMansell_) December 15, 2022
Where is this Jalen Carter character issues thing coming from? I've never heard of him causing issues.
— UGA United (@UGAUnited) December 14, 2022
This summer, Jalen Carter and his mom put on a football camp for kids at the high school where Carter graduated.
— Jon Tweets Sports (@jontweetssports) December 14, 2022
Big red flag character issue here. pic.twitter.com/wkqa2kLOWC
“Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Jalen Carter has character issues that could slide him down in the 2023 NFL draft” -Todd McShay
— Back2Back 704 Dawg ➐ (@FSFRecruits) December 15, 2022
Also Jalen Carter, doing a back-to-school back pack giveaway with school supplies and food in his hometown in Florida
pic.twitter.com/FYikhORnRX
Smh. Jalen Carter and character issues don't even belong in the same sentence. The kid is quiet, a competitor, and is a great young man!!! https://t.co/duezMoLQhA
— Trent Smallwood (@SmallwoodTrent) December 14, 2022
Have never heard one negative thing about Jalen Carter. And through the years, there are whispers about players here and there. Outstanding young man, great player, great teammate, zero negative off field chatter. Winner. Go @breadmanjalen! Go Dawgs!
— Jeff Dantzler (@jeffdantzlertv) December 15, 2022
The only issue Jalen Carter has is deciding what hand to hold up the #1 finger when sacking opposing quarterbacks ☝🏼 https://t.co/aJ5C2Wl8ny
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) December 15, 2022
The LSU QB says he’s quite encouraging. Even uplifting.
— Adam Wynn (@42cobras) December 14, 2022
I’ll say this about this Jalen Carter “story”
— Brooks Austin (@BrooksAustinBA) December 15, 2022
This is the type of info that often screams “The source is drafting 5th and wants Jalen to fall to him. Todd, we heard he’s a problem. Go tell the people.”
"A team outside of the top 10 is making shit up at the pipe dream of drafting Jalen Carter" https://t.co/inENTbKRW2
— ᕕ(⌐■_■)ᕗ (@Ferd_Turgeson) December 14, 2022
McShay is taking the L on this one so far. Maybe he knows something all those people around Carter don’t. It’s doubtful though.
More likely, the draft guy made the cardinal mistake of believing what he was told by someone with an agenda.
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