CONWAY, Ark. _ For the third time in the past five years, a University of Central Arkansas defensive end had his named called at the NFL Draft.
Markell Carter joined former Bears Jacob Ford and Larry Hart as an NFL draftee on Saturday when he was taken with the 194th pick of the sixth round by the three-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. Carter, a 6-foot-3 1/2, 240-pounder from Bartlesville, Okla., was the first player chosen from the Southland Conference in the 2011 draft.
“They came and worked me out and I got on the board and talked football with them,’ said Carter, who was a two-time All-Southland Conference selection and a two-year starter at UCA. “The workout actually went really, really well. Then I woke up this morning and told my roommate, ‘I hope New England picks me up.’ That’s where I really wanted to be, and it worked out.
“There’s really not a better place to go if you want to elevate your game.’
UCA head coach Clint Conque said Carter is as deserving as anyone because of his character and work ethic.
“I’m just super excited for Markell,’ said Conque. “He’s a four-year guy who came in and contributed as a freshman and continued to get better throughout his career. The last two years, he really reached his full potential at the collegiate level.
“Markell is on track to graduate, and that’s probably the one thing I’m most proud of with him. He grinded through the second semester here with one eye on his pro possibilities and still got his work done. He’s just a classy young man and I’m happy for his family.
“Certainly, he has a lot of work to do now, going to a tremendous organization, a championship organization like New England. But the one thing I can tell you about Markell is he knows how to work. I think his best football is ahead of him.’
Hart, who was UCA’s highest draftee ever when we went in Round 5 of the 2010 draft, and several other former UCA teammates were with Carter on Saturday when he received the phone call from New England head coach Bill Belichick.
“Those guys, along with Lloyd (Loggins) and Logan (Roubique) came over to watch the draft with me and support me,’ said Carter. “And Larry actually stayed until I got picked. It was really cool having their support. They’re my brothers and I was really glad they were here for that.’
Carter, who led the SLC in tackles for loss and fumbles recoveries as a senior, said the call from New England was a relief more than anything.
“I’m really just glad that I finally have a place to work next year,’ he said. “That was the big thing, not really knowing my future. If you know me, I like to have things mapped out and planned out. That uncertainty doesn’t sit well with me.
“But now, knowing I’ll be working in New England and knowing what they’re expecting of me... I’m glad that it’s finally over.’
With the drafting of Carter, Conque said UCA’s reputation as a solid producer of NFL talent continues to grow.
“I’m very happy for our program,’ he said. “This gives us four guys in the National Football League, as well as several more in the Canadian Football League. I think this continues to show recruits and their parents that they can come to the University of Central Arkansas, put forth tremendous effort, get a great education, and then have an opportunity to play at the next level.’
Former UCA tight end/fullback Marquez Branson, with the Atlanta Falcons, is the fourth Bear currently in the NFL.
