Today's interviewee is Dexter Carter, a former NFL Player and FSU running backs coach and now co-offensive coordinator at Class AAAAAA Grovetown. Carter was an all-state running back at Appling County, a team-leading rusher and All-American at Florida State and a first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1990. Carter was a member of the 49ers' 1994 Super Bowl championship team and All-Time Team member of the 49ers. He has a weekly podcast covering the 49ers called The Grueling Truth - 49ers Radio Show with Matt Andruscavage.
Dexter Carter, former Florida State and NFL player
1. What are your best memories of playing at Appling County? Is there a single most memorable game or moment? "There were so many great games. I enjoyed playing against Wayne County, Fitzgerald, Ware County, Coffee County, Colquitt County. We played at Moultrie when I was a junior. Nobody expected us to compete with them and we almost beat them. [Colquitt County, ranked No. 9 in a higher classification, prevailed 24-22.] Their players and fans were congratulating us for the effort we put forth. Not that we needed that, but it was nice to see that they respected our team's talent and ability. There was another game at Wayne County, and I had six touchdowns and over 250 yards rushing. Over the years, that's a game remembered by many in the South. I was reminded of that game just last week by someone. It makes you feel good when somebody remembers. There are so many great players today that people tend to forget about the history of great players years prior. It's not an ego thing. It's just nice to know that the work you put in is still remembered. Recently being mentioned in the same article as current Georgia Bulldog Richard LeCounte as possible top players in AAA history in the state was also gratifying." [Carter was referencing a series of 2017 articles in GHSF Daily that recognized the all-time best player at each GHSA school. Carter and LeCounte, a former Liberty County standout, were mentioned prominently in the story on current Region 2-AAA schools and their best all-time players.]
2. What coach or coaches have had the biggest influence on your life? "Without a doubt, the coach that has impacted me the most from Pop Warner ball to now is Keith Johnson. I used to be timid to run through holes, but I was fast. Keith's dad was my first Pop Warner coach, and he used to take me by the back of my pants and thrust me through the line of scrimmage. I remember Dennis Howell saying, 'You can't do that! His parents are going to be mad at you!' Keith's dad said, 'Look over there. There's his mama. If she has a problem, she'll tell me.' She gave the thumbs up sign. I thank him for that because my quickness and speed were my assets, and his action made me realize that. I figured out I needed to run through defenses before they could get a hand on me. Fast forward to high school, and Keith becomes my offensive coordinator at Appling County. Keith was also my head baseball coach at Appling. We had one of the best three-year stretches in Appling County history. He continued to make an influence on my life like a father figure, even into the NFL. That's really why I coach today, along with positive influences from head coach John Stephens at Appling at the time. Coaching gives me the chance to have the same mentoring and teaching effect that great coaches had on me."
3. What are the biggest differences you've seen in high school football comparing now to when you played? "That's a question that will get me in trouble, but it's the truth. Is there great talent today? Absolutely. But there's so much instant gratification given to players today before earned. So many think they're four or five stars before putting in the effort and discipline to earn it. I don't see the commitment and trust in the process that we had back in the day. I couldn't fathom missing a practice or lack of effort or discipline seen too often today. Today they miss practice, especially in the summer. In spring, you have 80 players at practice, and by summer it dwindles down to 40, and numbers come back to 80 two weeks before the season. I'm used to doing it one way - the right way. I know that still exists because I see it in Lee County and Northside-Warner Robins and other teams that commit to the vision and practice the right way, these teams that win state championships. It's the discipline and expeditious way they practice. Many players today want to be part of a championship, but not enough of them want to be part of the process it takes to see it to fruition."
4. You played with several Pro Football Hall of Fame players. Which former teammate stands out as the most impressive to you? "I had a chance to play with so many great ones starting at Florida State. I played in college and won a Super Bowl with Deion Sanders. He talked a lot, but he never demeaned another player. He just said what he was going to do and did it. People thought he just had God-given talent, but he would arrive early and stay after everybody else was gone if that's what was needed. People didn't see that. Then I was in awe of Joe Montana. I was in middle school when he was winning Super Bowls, and then to be on the same team and catch balls and take hand-offs from him was surreal. Ronnie Lott and Roger Craig were awesome people and players, too. But if there was one, arguably the greatest player of all-time, it was Jerry Rice. He was not the fastest with a stopwatch, but put him on the field, and nobody could catch him. He practiced every day like somebody was trying to take his job. He would finish every play in practice by running 50 yards down the field. That's taking it to another level. Every skilled player emulated his effort, and it made a difference in our team and my own game itself. So I would say Jerry was the most impressive."
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