Former Ohio State Safety Ja’Had Carter Commits To N.C. State

Former Ohio State safety Ja’Had Carter will return to his native Raleigh, N.C., for his final collegiate season, committing on Monday night to N.C. State. 

Carter, who entered the transfer portal on April 28 after spending just one season at Ohio State, will return to the ACC this fall, a conference in which he had great success while playing at Syracuse from 2020-23. He started 28 of 31 games for the Orange in those three seasons, racking up 138 tackles, five interceptions, seven pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, a defensive touchdown and a forced fumble while earning one honorable mention All-ACC honor in 2022. 

Carter did not replicate that success in his lone season in Columbus, however. Despite being in the thick of the starting free safety role entering last summer, he saw limited time for the Buckeyes mostly on special teams, recording just five tackles in eight appearances. 

Carter was in line for a reserve role once again this season with the Buckeyes expected to start Caleb Downs at strong safety, Lathan Ransom at the bandit and Jordan Hancock at the nickel. Now, he will look to become a starter again on a Wolfpack secondary that is led by returning starting safety Devan Boykin. 

N.C. State also has another former Buckeye on its roster in wide receiver Noah Rogers, who transferred to the Wolfpack this offseason after one season at Ohio State.