DeAndre Carter (72), a Temecula native that just started his junior year at Mater Dei, is on the radar of every top Division 1 college football team across the country. Valley News/David Canales photo
— TEMECULA – Football and religion. Two things that Temecula’s DeAndre Carter knows best. Of course, add in schooling, respect, family values, work ethic and everything else that comes with being one of the nation’s top 4-star offensive lineman recruits.
Born in Poway and living his first couple of years of life in Escondido, DeAndre and his family moved to Temecula when he was two years old and have been there ever since. Listed on MaxPreps at 6 foot 5 inches tall, and 340 pounds, Carter just started his junior year at Mater Dei, in Orange County, and is on the radar of every top Division 1 college football team across the country. Carter said he has always had a big frame and wanted to play football since a really early age.
“My mom tells me of not being able to make the birthdate cut the first year (I wasn’t 5 yet) and being extremely disappointed,” he said. “But she made sure to take me back the following year.”
He has been playing ever since. Flag football was where it started for Carter, so he could get the fundamentals down, before moving on to play tackle football. When he was 12, he went from Rancho Panthers (Temecula) to play for the OG Ducks (IE ducks back then) and stayed with them until he was 14. Basketball was also a huge love for Carter growing up, where he even made his middle school team, and was the MVP, plus an all-star.
Carter did not get to play in that all-star game though because he was chosen to play for the USA football team and represent the US against Mexico at the Dallas Cowboy stadium that year.
“I’m a huge Cowboy fan so of course that was my dream,” Carter said.
Basketball season is too close to football season, so you won’t find Carter on the courts anymore, but he says he is going to try out for track this season to see how he does with shot put and discus.
Football is what runs deepest in the Carter family bloodline. His maternal grandfather played in high school, his great uncles played the game, as did his father, Antoine, who played in high school and then again for the Marine Corps.
“I have a cousin on my mom’s side who also played OL for the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV, and I have cousins who currently coach high school football as well,” Carter added.
There is even an uncle who used to be the Executive Chef for Oregon State before transferring to Washington State.
“He did a lot of the athletes’ nutrition programs,” Carter said. “If they played nearby, I was lucky enough to go watch the game. So yes, football is huge in our family one way or another.”
This past summer was one of the busiest for Carter and his family, full of football camps, campus visits and phone calls with college football coaching staffs, who are eager to sign one of the top prospects on the 2024 recruiting board. Currently DeAndre holds 21 Division 1 college offers, including schools like Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Michigan and Oklahoma to Pac-12 programs USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington, Cal and more.
Carter got on the radar after earning a starting spot at Mater Dei toward the end of his freshman year and has since been named First Team for almost every media outlet. He was First Team offense (All-Trinity League), made the MaxPreps sophomore All-American team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State and won Offensive Lineman of the Year last season for Mater Dei. Earning a spot to the 2024 Under Armour All-American Bowl also doesn’t hurt one’s chances at being recruited either.
There have been many coaches that took to bringing up DeAndre through his youth years, including his dad and mom, Patricia.
“She’s on him just as much as I am,” his dad joked. “If we notice anything that can be perfected, she will let him know. She even knows his plays, which drives him crazy.”
“I’m very thankful for the sacrifices they have made for me,” DeAndre stated.
One coach in particular, has been training DeAndre since he was 7 years old. Coach DeChon Burns, who also coaches football at Linfield Christian School, had a tremendous impact on him.
He made me do drills 50 million times until I got it right, Carter said. “I did it until it became habit, and I am so grateful now. He has done a lot for me.”
Burns leads a CIF championship program at Linfield, coached countless top recruits, coached in the NFL, raised professional football players in his own household and is training DeAndre for the next level.
“DeAndre has been working with me since the 5th/6th grade and has embraced the rigors of hard work and stayed with it,” Burns said. “He has worked amongst older guys that are now playing professionally (Kevin Atkins – Vista Murrieta/Fresno State/49ers; Dwayne Johnson Jr. – Vista Murrieta/SDSU/ATL/NYG; Lorenzo Burns – LCHS, UofA, AZ/JVILLE/Bham Stallions). He did this all at a young age and the tempo was high and unforgiving. He comes to work and asks the right questions, makes the adjustments and doesn’t complain.”
“I get compliments all the time on my footwork and advanced technique, and I still train with him when time permits,” Carter said. “Other coaches that stand out were from the OG Ducks (Coach Keefe, Coach DJ, Coach Nate, Coach Dool, Coach TC, Coach Lamar, Coach Alex); they all played a key part in my development. And of course, my coaches at MD now; I spend a lot of time with them. Coach Rollo, Coach Holmes and many more they develop me daily and are always there for me.”
As for now, Mater Dei started their 2022 campaign at No. 2 in the MaxPreps Top 25, won their first regular season game (Zero Week) over a visiting Utah West team, 42-0, defeated Bishop Gorman 24-21 in Week One, and yield one of the top offensive lines in the country. Along with Carter, other names like B.J. Tolo, Brandon Baker and Sione Tohi all return for the reigning MaxPreps National Champions.
For this season, he hopes to improve more, become more of a leader and help the underclassman, just like the seniors did with him when he started.
“Of course, I wish my brothers (teammates) and I could win another national championship as well,” he said.
Carter could have gone to any of the local powerhouse schools, but there were a few factors besides just football in his decision.
“I also come from a very Catholic family,” he stated. “My grandfather is a Deacon in the church, my grandmother is a eucharist minister, not to mention most of my mom’s family also went to Catholic school, including my mom. That was one main factors in my decision. I’m also always looking to push myself to the limits, I like to go against others that are going to push me to make me better. The Trinity League definitely offers that intense competition.”
When it comes to making a commitment for college right now, DeAndre plans to narrow down his top list by early next year. Though it is still early for Carter, he has several factors he is focusing on during the recruiting process.
“I’m looking for a school and a coaching staff that can make me better,” Carter noted. “The education is important, and I would like to be a part of a winning program. I want to play for coaches that can get me right for the next level. These are the things I am looking for in a school.”
Humility was a major attribute even Coach Burns noticed when he first started working with DeAndre.
“Given how he is being sought after by high level college coaches, he is still a very quiet and respectful young man,” Burns said. “He loves his family and is willing to give back. As for college, he needs to go where God leads him. It is a life changing decision. All I can give is perspective and support. That is a Carter Household choice. I am incredibly happy for him and his family to have choices. All we talk about is KTMTTMT (keep the main thing the main thing) and being locked in to the “NOW” moments. Should he continue on his path of growing in the game and working…I feel he will set himself up nicely for a shot to keep dancing on the Big Stage. His measurables and ability to move them make him enticing…he will be just fine.”
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
