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Former Alabama CB Scooby Carter headed to JUCO – for now
The formerly elite recruit still hopes to rejoin the Crimson Tide soon.
247sports.com
Former Alabama cornerback Scooby Carter will transfer to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, he told 247Sports on Saturday. The former five-star recruit intends to play one season of junior college ball before rejoining Alabama as part of the 2021 or 2022 class.
Carter spoke to Alabama’s coaches on Friday to discuss his future. Both parties decided Carter would be best served with a fresh start, an opportunity to prove himself after an up-and-down debut season in Tuscaloosa.
“I talked to everybody yesterday,” Carter told 247Sports, “They’re really supportive about everything. They talked to the coaches at Gulf Coast and were helping to get everything ready. Me and Coach (Nick) Saban were getting on the right page.
“If I go there and do everything I’m supposed to and all that, we’ll go from there.”
Carter played three games as a true freshman. The Mansfield, Texas product was reportedly suspended for Alabama’s game with Mississippi State on Nov. 16 after missing class. Two days later, his name appeared in the transfer portal. Carter eventually pulled his name out of the portal on Jan. 16 with the intention of returning to Alabama. But he ultimately reentered the portal on Feb. 28.
A few weeks later on March 11, Carter was arrested in Tuscaloosa on a third-degree domestic violence charge. The case has since been dismissed, court records show.
Carter said waiting for the legal process to close was a big reason he’s gone without finding an official landing spot for a few months.
Moving forward, Carter plans to play the 2020 season at Gulf Coast this spring. Following that campaign, he hopes to rejoin the Tide.
“I’m still wanting to be at Alabama,” Carter said. "I wasn’t always on the right foot. … It’s having a clean slate and showing that I can have my head down and focus on the right thing.”
Saban never closed the door on Carter returning to Tuscaloosa. When asked about Carter last season following the Citrus Bowl, Saban said Carter would have another opportunity on the team “if he wants.”
“Scooby can have another opportunity to be on the team, and if he wants to start with the team next semester in school, we’ll give him another opportunity at that time,” Saban said. “He did OK in school, and we’re trying to be supportive and helpful to get him to do the things that he needs to do to have a chance to be successful as a person, as a student and as a player, and we’ll give him an opportunity to come back next semester, if he wants to do that.”
The 6-foot, 186-pound Carter totaled one tackle in three games last season. He’ll enter Mississippi Gulf Coast as a redshirt freshman. Carter told 247Sports he plans to arrive at Mississippi Gulf Coast on Monday or Tuesday.
Carter ranked as the No. 30 overall prospect in the 2019 class, according to the Top247. He picked Alabama over Texas A&M, Oregon, Oklahoma and several others.
Here’s 247Sports’ evaluation of Carter coming out of Mansfield Legacy High School.
“Long, lean, and very athletic prospect who projects as a true cornerback at the high-major level. Wiry strong with the frame to add bulk and strength at the next level. Long-armed and gets hands on a lot of throws, despite often being avoided by opposing QB's. Explosive athlete who tested through the roof at The Opening Finals. Blazing speed in a combine environment combines with dynamic leaping ability. Experience playing receiver and ball skills show it. Turns and runs with terrific speed and tracks balls like a wideout. Requisite athleticism to be left on an island in man coverage. Shows awareness and breaking ability to thrive in zone. Confident and plays with swagger. High effort as a tackler. Will sometimes take unnecessary risks. Narrow-framed. Bigger, stronger receivers in college may be able to post him up, particularly in the red zone. Needs to add bulk and strength going to the high-major level. Senior season cut short by shoulder injury. Potential first-round draft ceiling.”
