Andre Carter II's Army commitment remains on hold while he continues chasing NFL dream with Lions

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Allen Park — On the anniversary of a day we’ve been told never to forget, Andre Carter II wasn’t old enough to remember the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

It was a moment in United States history that spurred a surge in enlistments, including NFL linebacker Pat Tillman, who turned down a contract to continue his playing career with the Arizona Cardinals to join the United States Army.

Carter, an edge rusher who currently resides on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad, holds the unique distinction of being the only player in the team's locker room to have committed to serve his country through military service.

Carter didn’t grow up with those aspirations. However, he had NFL dreams, even if his three-stop high school career, where he primarily played offense, didn’t point to that being a realistic possibility.

Regardless, with a fifth year of eligibility after a back injury cost him most of his senior season, Carter’s potential as a defender caught the attention of Army, which extended a scholarship offer.

“It was really through football, getting recruited, that I considered the option,” Carter said. “I didn't know much about it before. Once I started getting recruited, I started learning about the opportunity to serve, (the quality of) the education, and that's when I took it more seriously.

“I would say the opportunity to go to one of the military academies is one of the best things our country has to offer to kids coming out of high school,” Carter said. “You get a great education and get a chance to serve America's sons and daughters, to make a difference, and that's something that really intrigued me when I was coming out of high school.”

An unheralded football recruit, even by Army’s standards, Carter redshirted as a freshman in 2019. The following season, he saw the field sparingly in a rotational role while adding weight to his wiry, 6-foot-6 frame.

Everything clicked during the 2021 campaign when he exploded for 15.5 sacks and 59 pressures, becoming the program’s first AP All-American as a third-team selection. Despite generating early-round draft buzz, he returned to play another year for the Black Knights.

An inability to recreate his success as a senior, combined with legislation casting doubt on whether he could defer his service requirement, factored into Carter going undrafted in 2023. Signed to Detroit’s practice squad in late August, he’s now on his third NFL stop in three years. His service remains deferred as he continues to chase this dream, and he'll resume his military career once he hangs up the cleats.

“I'll be in the league as long as my career lasts, then get the opportunity to serve once I'm done. I'll be a field artillery. Once I'm done playing, I'll go down to Fort Sill in Oklahoma for BOLC (Basic Officer Leader Course), and I'll get assigned to a duty station after that.”

Carter, 25, came to Detroit looking to recapture some of the magic that once made him a top prospect. He still possesses exceptional length and speed for the position. However, he hasn’t been able to put the tools together at this level.

He came into the league with the Vikings and appeared in 12 games as a rookie. He also saw action with the Raiders last year. That’s provided him the chance to study alongside two of the league’s more productive pass-rushers in Danielle Hunter and Maxx Crosby. Now, in Detroit, Carter shares a locker room and meeting room with Aidan Hutchinson.

“You can just watch them and see what they do to be successful,” Carter said. “It's about the routine, how they go about being a pro, that's super helpful early on in my career. Then it's about seeing how they work, seeing how they win. When you see somebody doing it at a high level, you see what you can take from their game to add to yours.”

After being waived by the Raiders at the end of training camp and going unclaimed, Carter chose to sign with Detroit because the winning culture and hard-nosed mentality of the coaching staff appealed to sensibilities shaped at West Point.

Carter has made a strong initial impression with defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, and the young edge defender noted that Rodgers and the rest of the coaching staff have helped him acclimate quickly to the scheme. Now, all he can do is grind on the practice field and bide time for his next chance to perform on a Sunday.

“I feel really confident that when I do get an opportunity, I'll be ready for it,” he said.

Carter doesn’t know how long his NFL career will last, but he’s fighting every day to stay in the mix. Once it’s over, he plans to put forth the same effort for his country.

“I'm just taking it day by day, trying to make the most of this opportunity in the NFL,” Carter said. “Then, once I get to the Army, make the most of that opportunity, serving to the best of my ability.”