Coach: Syracuse football prioritizing 3-star DB Jahad Carter ahead of official visit

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse football is prioritizing Class of 2020 defensive back Jahad Carter ahead of his official visit on the weekend of Feb. 1, according to his head coach.

Ryan Williams of Jireh Preparatory Academy in Matthews, N.C., said SU defensive assistants Steve Stanard and Nick Monroe have built relationships with Carter since doing an in-person evaluation over the summer at a UNC Charlotte camp. Carter has been told that he’s at the top of the Orange’s safety recruiting board.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Carter is rated three stars and the No. 2 prep school prospect in the Class of 2020 by 247Sports.com’s composite rankings. A former Virginia Tech commit who did not qualify in the Class of 2019, Carter is projected as a safety, but has the versatility to play cornerback, Williams said. His recruitment has picked up late this cycle after it became clear that he would qualify.

Texas Tech, South Carolina, Florida Atlantic and Marshall are also actively pursuing the former Henrico (Richmond, Va.) High School standout. He’s scheduled to visit FAU this weekend and hosted coaches from TTU and Marshall over the weekend, Williams said. Stanard’s in-home visit has been pushed to Thursday due to travel issues stemming from inclement weather.

While Syracuse has yet to officially offer Carter, Williams said there is strong mutual interest. One of the last boxes to check is Carter meeting SU head coach Dino Babers for the first time in two weekends.

Carter’s length and versatility appear to fit the 3-3-5 scheme that recently hired defensive coordinator Zach Arnett is bringing to Central New York. Williams noted that in addition to strong ball skills and a 4.5-second 40-yard dash time, Carter has an exceptional football IQ -- a trait that would benefit him in learning and executing the wide variety of calls and coverages that Arnett is bringing to Central New York.

“He basically coached our secondary this year,” Williams said of Carter.

For Carter, part of Syracuse’s appeal lies in its geography, Williams said. Carter is originally from New Rochelle, N.Y., a city in Westchester County, and has a grandmother who lives about three hours from Syracuse. Williams’ familiarity with Babers -- Jireh Prep has sent a handful of players to Bowling Green and Syracuse -- has also helped bolster Carter’s relationship with the Orange staff.

SU currently has 18 signees, one verbal commitment and a transfer enrollee (Chris Bleich) in its Class of 2020. That group includes two defensive back signees -- Ben Labrosse and Robert Hanna -- as well as a third cover man in pledge Chase Atkinson.

Syracuse is set to host another unoffered defensive back prospect, Durante Jones, on an official visit this weekend.

Stephen Bailey covers Syracuse football for The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com. You can follow him on Twitter @Stephen_Bailey1 and on Facebook. He can also be reached anytime via email.

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