FAYETTEVILLE — Taurean Carter came to the realization during a start against LSU last season that he belonged in the SEC.
In that game, a 27-24 loss for the Razorbacks, he tied a career high with three tackles, which capped a solid three-week stretch in which he totaled seven stops. Carter also had three tackles in Arkansas’ home victory over Tennessee.
Through the first quarter of the team’s 2021 schedule, teammates believe the defensive tackle has at last realized the caliber of player he can be.
"He, honestly, this offseason just kind of went to work,” linebacker Bumper Pool said Tuesday. “He got bigger. He's so strong. He now has a bunch of confidence in himself.
“It's great to see him finding the ball. He's got a great coach. I love seeing him play. Excited that it's coming to fruition."
After serving on Arkansas’ scout team in 2019, Carter played 155 snaps as a redshirt freshman, according to Pro Football Focus. He finished with 11 tackles (4 solo) and 1 pass breakup in 8 games.
He used those contributions as a springboard into spring practices, when he was able to move up the team’s depth chart.
Carter did not get lost in the shuffle when the Razorbacks added three defensive linemen from the NCAA transfer portal following spring ball. He simply raised his level of play.
And with 11 tackles in Arkansas’ first three games, Carter has earned a place in position coach Jermial Ashley’s rotation on the interior.
“I just try to play my hardest and I try to do my part and contribute to Coach (Barry) Odom’s defense,” Carter said. “He has a great scheme lined up for us. We’ve got to hold ourselves accountable.
"And every time we step on the field it’s like you are the starter. There can’t be any falloff if you want to be the great team that you want to be.”
According to PFF, the Mansfield, Texas, native owns an overall defensive grade of 76.5 this season in 67 snaps. That is the second-best mark among the Razorbacks’ interior defenders, trailing only John Ridgeway, the transfer from Illinois State who missed the season opener.
Ridgeway and Carter are also Nos. 1 and 2 among Arkansas tackles in run defense grade at 71.9 and 71.4, respectively.
“I think spring ball helped him a lot,” offensive lineman Ty Clary said of Carter. “He got a lot of reps in the spring. He really took it serious. He didn't take spring off. I think that helped him a lot.
“In the offseason, he got bigger in the weight room. I think he has gotten a lot better."
Carter and Arkansas’ front will have their work cut out for them Saturday against No. 7 Texas A&M.
The Aggies’ offensive line features two of the SEC’s top eight guards, according to PFF, in Layden Robinson (6-4, 320 pounds) and Aki Ogunbiyi (6-4, 315).
Arkansas’ Beaux Limmer is the lone guard in the league with a higher overall grade entering Week 4 than Robinson.
Asked about Texas A&M’s offensive line as a whole and if he has in game prep spotted potential weaknesses to exploit, Carter paused then smiled.
“We’re just trying to prepare for them the best way we can," he said. "They’re a great team. We’re just looking forward to Saturday.”