PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) – Most athletes dream of competing on the biggest stages, but few get the chance.
For Dan River High School standout Robert Carter Jr., the road to the NFL has included a few detours—from a walk-on opportunity in college, to a viral highlight that landed on SportsCenter’s Top 10, to a bounce back in the Canadian Football League. Now, he’s on the verge of making that dream a reality with the Indianapolis Colts.
Before the internet-breaking catches, Carter was an undersized cornerback at Dan River, just looking for a chance to play college football.
“I knew I was good at ball… but it takes more than just being talented,” Carter said. “You gotta really want it… I didn’t get that fire until that last game, and it ignited something in me.”
That opportunity came when UVA Wise offered Carter a walk-on spot.
“They threw me on scout team… I started making plays… eventually moved to active, and once I was active, I got put with the starters,” Carter said.
Carter developed into a Division II All-American before transferring to Robert Morris University, where he continued to produce at the Division I level. He earned First Team All-NEC honors—and made a catch that took off online, landed on SportsCenter’s Top 10, and drew comparisons to Odell Beckham Jr.’s famous one-handed grab.
“I was humbly thinking about it,” Carter said. “I thought it was crazy, but I didn’t think it would be that big.”
After his time at Robert Morris, Carter got a shot with the Baltimore Ravens at rookie minicamp. But his first taste of the NFL didn’t last.
“When they cut me, I kind of knew I didn’t do enough… I regretted that for a very long time,” he said. “If I could redo it, I would overdo everything in practice.”
Carter says that experience helped fuel his next stop: the Canadian Football League, where he found his footing and turned production into momentum.
“I really had to kick into my brain aspect of football… and that’s sticking with me now because it helped me succeed in the CFL,” Carter said.
In his one season in the CFL, Carter started all 18 games and recorded five interceptions, including a pick-six. He was also nominated for his team’s Most Outstanding Rookie award.
That performance opened another door back in the NFL. Carter signed with the Indianapolis Colts and is now competing for a roster spot.
“It really feels really good to just be in the building… a lot of love and support,” Carter said. “But also knowing at the end of the day it’s a business.”
With another opportunity in front of him, Carter also has a message for the next generation of athletes in his hometown.
“Take advice,” he said. “Don’t be one of those people that don’t like to take advice… Advice goes a long way.”
Colts training camp begins July 29, and Carter will be looking to earn a spot on the team’s 53-man roster.
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