Ex-Gopher cornerback Michael Carter reportedly signs with Vikings

Dec 28, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Michael Carter (23) intercepts a pass against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the fourth quarter of the Care Care Bowl at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Ex-Gopher cornerback Michael Carter was not drafted by an NFL team last week, but the Florida native annoucned on Twitter that he’s signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

A four-star recruit from Pompano Beach, Fla., Carter was expected to make an instant impact on Minnesota’s pass defense as a freshman, but it really took until his senior year before he turned into the game-altering cornerback coaches had expected him to be.

In his first year as a Gopher he appeared in 12 games, earning his first start in the second-to-last game of the regular season. But despite the time on the field, Carter recorded 11 tackles. a sack and two pass deflections. He did not accumulate any statistics during Minnesota’s 14-13 loss to Iowa State in the 2009 Insight Bowl.

In his sophomore and junior seasons, Carter only saw the field 12 games combined.

Carter’s senior year took a turn for the better as he played in all 13 games while helping the Gophers reach the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

In his senior season, Carter made 49 tackles and was instrumental in Minnesota’s defeat of Purdue on Oct. 27. In that game at TCF Bank Stadium, Carter had six pass deflections and also scored his first and only career touchdown on a 43-yard interception return in Minnesota’s 44-28 victory. Because of his efforts in the victory, Carter was named the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

In the 2012 Meineke Car Care Bowl against Texas Tech, Carter snagged two interceptions off the Red Raider quarterback on back-to-back drives at a critical point in the game. Minnesota would still go on to lose.

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