Even under the bright lights of the SEC, the road to an NFL career can be anything but predictable. For many former college standouts whose professional dreams have taken unexpected turns, the United Football League (UFL) has become a welcome second chance. One such player is TJ Carter, a former Kentucky Wildcat who continues to embrace his journey with resilience and determination.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, the Georgia native carved out a strong collegiate career at Kentucky from 2016 to 2019. Over four seasons, Carter appeared in 50 games with 28 starts, establishing himself as a dominant force on the defensive line. His career totals include 71 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, five passes defended, and 10 quarterback hurries. Carter was a key contributor in helping Kentucky secure 32 wins during his tenure—the most in a four-year span since the legendary Bear Bryant era in the early 1950s.
Carter played an essential role in guiding the Wildcats to four straight bowl appearances, including back-to-back victories—something the program hadn’t achieved since their Music City Bowl (2007) and Liberty Bowl (2009) wins.
After college, Carter entered the 2020 NFL Draft. Though he went undrafted, he signed as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals. Despite showing potential, he didn’t see regular-season action until 2022, when he briefly played for the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. Still, the consistency and opportunity he sought remained elusive at the NFL level.
That all began to change when Carter joined the Michigan Panthers of the UFL in 2022. He made an immediate impact, logging 24 tackles and 2.5 sacks in nine games, including six starts. As a cornerstone of the Panthers’ defensive front, Carter’s grit and experience have proven invaluable.
While his journey has had its share of twists and turns, TJ Carter continues to prove that perseverance pays off. Embracing his role in the UFL, he remains a reliable force in the trenches and a testament to the never-quit mentality of former SEC stars chasing greatness—on any stage.
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