Jets Country

Jets' Running Back Michael Carter Wants to Be the 'Best in the League'

As his rookie year comes to a close, Michael Carter revealed his ultimate goal: to be the best running back in the National Football League.

Max Goodman

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Michael Carter's rookie season with the Jets this year has been nothing short of superb.

The fourth-round pick has rushed for 620 yards with four touchdowns across 13 games played, leading the team with 945 total yards from scrimmage. He's flashed his playmaking ability, showing his elusiveness and explosiveness coming out of the backfield and still has one more contest in Week 18 to finish the season on a high note. 

As his sophomore season fast approaches, however, Carter isn't shooting for incremental improvements. His ultimate aspiration is about as lofty of a goal any young player in the NFL could possibly have.

"I'm working everyday to be the best in the league. That is my ultimate goal, to be the best in the league," Carter told reporters on Friday. "I'm just trying to compete everyday and get better at everything because no one is ever going to be perfect. I'm striving for perfection knowing that I'm never going to reach it."

That's a taste of Carter's unwavering confidence, a personality trait that's been on full display each time the back takes the field or addresses the media. He's played in only 13 NFL games so far, but truly believe that he has what it takes to be the best at his position one day.

READ: Jets' Michael Carter: 'I Really Never Felt Like a Rookie'

Whether or not that comes to fruition, it's clear that New York secured a steal in the fourth round of last year's draft, picking Carter out of North Carolina. 

Imagine if Carter didn't start slow and wasn't sidelined for a few games with an ankle injury, playing only eight snaps this past Sunday before leaving the game with a concussion. Who knows, we could be talking about a 1,000-yard rookie season on the ground for Carter.

"When you look all the way back to when we played the Panthers [in Week 1], I'm not even the same player," Carter said. "I think I had six yards in that game. That's like, 'wow, I can't believe that. I still can't believe that.' But I've grown so much and we've gotten closer together as a team."

On Sunday, Carter will face the Bills in a hostile environment up in Buffalo. Last time New York faced their division rival, Carter was held to 39 rushing yards on 16 carries.

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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