Friday, 7 a.m., Elliott Smith, 5, runs through the kitchen shouting about a video game. “There’s a character in this game named Carter,” says Elliott to his older brother, also named Carter. “He’s the . . . toughest!”
Although quiet in demeanor, Carter Smith stands 6 feet tall. With a 32-inch vertical and 220-pound bench press, Carter is Madison Southern High School’s star linebacker.
He also just turned 15.
At age 8, Carter put on his first football helmet. His father, a P.E. teacher, has been called an inspiration to his son’s athleticism, “and he hasn’t shut up (about it) since,” says Carter. His mother is willing to help out with any event, including the senior football banquet.
“They’re very giving people,” says football coach Jon Clark.
With his family’s support from a young age, Carter was pushed to meet every situation head-on.
He almost always received straight A’s, but his perseverance did not end in the classroom. One summer, determined to learn to live in the wild, Carter built forts in the woods and spent warm nights under the stars. Recently he has tried his hand at hunting squirrels.
On the football field, his coaches don’t shy away from challenging him to become a better athlete.
“He’s dialed in; he’s focused,” his coach says.
He has broken school records for both number of sacks in a season as well as in a game. Carter has been named a high school All-American and as an All-State linebacker.
The starting freshman, who has made an impact on and off the field, gives himself wholeheartedly to all his endeavors because those around him have given so much.
