It’s not truly NFL Draft season until a college football player’s character gets questioned for dubious reasons. ESPN’s Todd McShay has officially kicked things off with his criticism of Georgia’s Jalen Carter.
McShay has Carter going No. 2 in his 2023 NFL Mock Draft to the Seattle Seahawks. However, that doesn’t mean he thinks the defensive tackle is a sure thing. During a recent appearance on ESPN, McShay discussed some of the potential narratives out there for the phenom, citing a concern about his character.
“With Carter, there are some character issues, does he get along with everybody? What’s he like to deal with in the locker room? Those sorts of issues,” McShay said. “I know it’s early in the process, but I’m forewarning everyone out there. Carter is going to be kind of a hot-button name when we talk about some of the intangible aspects of it. I think Pete Carroll sitting there at No. 2, who has a long of history taking guys who have quote-unquote questionable character and then developing them and having them work out, that makes a lot of sense to me.
“That will be the big discussion. It’s not about his talent. It’s not about his size. It’s not about his explosive take-off or finishing as a pass rusher. It’s about the character and do we want to bring that guy into the building.”
Pretty soon, lots of people were clamoring to defend Carter from these character concerns, especially given how it’s unclear where McShay is getting this information from.
“What’s he like in the lockeroom you ask? One of my favorite guys to be around. ALL-AROUND STUD as a player and as a friend/teammate,” said Georgia teammate Ryland Goede.
What’s he like in the lockeroom you ask? One of my favorite guys to be around. ALL-AROUND STUD as a player and as a friend/teammate. https://t.co/n1MOIOECwF
— Ryland Goede (@RylandGoede88) December 15, 2022
“Ion ever entertain what y’all say but you don’t know this man. That boy been a real one since day one!!,” said Georgia WR Jackson Meeks.
Ion ever entertain what y’all say but you don’t know this man. That boy been a real one since day one!! https://t.co/St0FI3CPF7
— •Jack• (@_7JMEEKS) December 15, 2022
“88 is one of the best people and most down to earth dude I’ve ever been around. This is absolute bull and slander,” said Georgia’s Randon Jernigan.
88 is one of the best people and most down to earth dude I’ve ever been around. This is absolute bull and slander. @McShay13 https://t.co/VUXvCxCE07
— Randon Jernigan (@r_jernigan3) December 15, 2022
And plenty of other people around the football world reacted to McShay’s comments wondering where the proof is.
McShay better produce some receipts fairly soon. Or retract the slander https://t.co/caBxHDW5ec
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) December 15, 2022
That McShay went from “character issues” to “questionable character” halfway through that video, with no sources, named or unnamed… isn’t a good look for McShay. https://t.co/JsHeoIbF4n
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) December 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/falcfans/status/1603429724843569152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1603429724843569152%7Ctwgr%5E203ccbdfbf99820034d7b467c68029bc8b9e5087%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.audacy.com%2Fnational%2Fsports%2Ftodd-mcshay-under-fire-for-flagging-jalen-carters-character
We’ll see if McShay explains himself or just keeps on talking without any proof.
