Martez Carter: From Unlikely to Undeniable
When I was writing this article, I received news that the XFL was being suspended for the 2020 season. The unfortunate suspension comes due to the "Coronavirus" which is currently traveling around the world and infecting innocent people. Fortunately enough, the suspension has happened before any of the players became infected. This eliminates the virus from spreading across the league. Even though we couldn't experience the full season, this is a very smart move from commissioner, Oliver Luck. There is no need to wait for a player to get sick, he is eliminating the problem before it takes action. I hope you all enjoy this article!
The day is March 12, 2020. Currently Martez Carter is the star running back for the Los Angeles Wildcats. Carter is both a fan-favorite and a dynamic running back. The combination of his athleticism and contact balance makes you want to keep feeding him the ball. Carter is such a slippery runner and his energy is unmatched. Whenever I'm around the team I gravitate towards him. His joyful energy is contagious. Carter is one of the best running backs in the XFL, but his journey shows that he went from unlikely to now undeniable.
Growing up in Monroe, Louisiana, Carter was one of 11 siblings. He's the first of his direct family to graduate high school or college. This is a miracle considering, Carter was in a very serious car accident at just 9 years old. The accident left him in a complete body cast. This could explain, Carter's happiness and appreciation of life. Whenever I'm around him, he's always just happy. It's like he's made of pure joy. Carter credits his family for helping him become the man he is today. I asked him what life was like growing up in Monroe, he said,"I had a lot of family that were the same age so we would be outside most of the time, just being kids." Carter still has that kid-like energy in him in, which is one of the big reasons why I gravitate towards him. Carter is not only a guy that I look up to, he's also a role model for all the young kids growing up in Monroe. His message to the kids trying to go pro from his home town is, "Just stay out of trouble and stay focused. The best way is to stay out of the way." While his journey started in Monroe, his talents are taking him far past it.
Carter went to the local high school of Richwood and was a football star until his senior season. That's also where he got the nickname of Mr. Excitement. He told me that originally the name was "Mr. Excitement, Crowd Pleaser, Ball Squeezer" because he's "loose with the ball". Carter was Mr. Excitement until his senior season where he ran into eligibility issues due to age restrictions. That's when he decided to transfer to a prep school and pick up a basketball. You might be wondering, "how good can a 5'9 football player be at basketball?" The answer, really really good. So good, that he played basketball on scholarship at Wiley College, an HBCU. Part of what made him so good was his sheer athleticism. Not only could he dunk a basketball, but he could do "Aaron Gordon" type dunks.
Carter's athleticism doesn't just show on the court. It also shows on the field when he gets into the end zone. After he scores, he does all these different types of flips and back handsprings. He is so entertaining, which is why fans love watching him. Carter credits the Power Rangers, specifically the red one for his athleticism, "I was a little boy... and I wanted to be the best Power Ranger the world has ever seen and it was my goal to be the ultimate Power Ranger." The Power Rangers were freakishly athletic, so that's where the connection is.
After his recruiting coach at Wiley got a different job, Carter's scholarship got revoked. This left Martez Carter in somewhat of an awkward position. Thankfully, Carter received a call offering him a walk on spot on Grambling State's football team. Grambling State is one of the most prestigious historically black colleges in America. Carter gained his scholarship and became somewhat of a legend while at Grambling. He had over 2,600 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns in three seasons. Carter had an amazing career at Grambling State and now it was time to go pro.
Unfortunately, Carter didn't get drafted, but he still got picked up on draft day. Martez Carter became the newest running back for the Washington Redskins, as an undrafted free agent. Although he didn't make the 53 man roster, his presence was still felt. Chris Thompson, a veteran back for the Redskins, had a ton of compliments for Mr. Excitement and knowing Martez, he definitely built a ton of relationships with other guys in the Redskins' locker room.
The best thing that came out of his time with the Redskins didn't have to do with football. On August 1st, 2018, Martez Carter Jr. was born. Carter told me that he uses his son as motivation, "It's an extra mouth to feed and that's a necessity... so I use that to motivate me."
Carter also spent some time with the Saints before finding a home with the LA Wildcats. He has found himself as the face of the Wildcats offense. He is part of a high-powered running back group along with Larry Rose, DuJuan Harris, and Elijah Hood. Carter and Rose have an especially tight bond. Whenever I cover their games, I always see them together. After every win, I meet them outside the locker room and we hit the "Choppa Style", it's our victory tradition/celebration. After the DC Defenders game, they even did their post game presser together. I asked Martez about their relationship he said, " I love Larry. He has a great heart, a great personality, and he's just a great person. He's more of a brother to me than a teammate or a friend." If it weren't for the league being suspended, I would have expected both Rose and Carter to be in the top 5 of rushing yards.
Martez Carter was electric in every game he was given the ball. Carter was a baller this entire season and I genuinely think he will be on an NFL roster in the next couple of weeks. Offenses can use Carter in a similar role as the Bears use Tarik Cohen. He can return kicks, catch the ball out of the backfield, and can also make defenders miss as a runner. Carter was a great player and personality for the XFL this season, and this is my warning to NFL fans... Get used to seeing Martez Carter, Mr. Excitement on your TV screens. He is coming, get ready... Martez Carter is undeniable.
