Martels Carter

High School • A unanimous four-star recruit by all the major recruiting services • The top-ranked recruit in the state of Kentucky, according to 247Sports Composite and Rivals • Rated as the sixth-best safety in the country, according to Rivals • A two-way player at wide receiver and defensive back • Coached by Sean Thompson at Paducah Tilghman High School • Through 12 games as a senior, combined for 25 tackles, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and three interceptions on defense • Also added 35 receptions for 490 yards and five touchdowns receiving and 12 carries for 122 yards and one touchdown catching on offense • Helped his team to a 15-0 record and a Class 4A State Championship title, just the fourth-ever state football championship for the school, and the first since 2009 when it was 3A • Named Most Valuable Player of the state tournament • Had nine catches for 169 yards along with five solo tackles, two assists and one tackle for loss in Paducah Tilghman’s 27-20 state championship win over Franklin County • Named to the Courier-Journal’s First-Team All-State defense in 2024 • Named to the “Class of the Commonwealth” team by the Lexington Herald-Leader • Was a preseason Mr. Football candidate • Prior to his junior season, was coached by Martels Carter at Brainerd High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee • Chose Kentucky over Auburn, Clemson, Oregon and Tennessee Personal • Born in Fulton, Georgia • Son of Martels Carter • Siblings are Deno Montgomery, Ameer Carter, Ameerah Carter, Grayson Carter, Kenya Carter, Kimia Carter and the late Kenndii Carter • Dad, Martels, played football at Austin Peay (1995-2000); brother, Deno Montgomery, played football at EKU (2011-15); sister, Kimia, played basketball at North Carolina Central (2019-23) Major is undecided Martels Says • Nickname is “C4” • One thing most people don’t know is that he is a good bowler • One word to describe him on the football field is “electric” • The highlight of his life so far was winning the MVP award after winning the state championship • If he could only eat one thing for the rest of his life he would choose chicken wings