Carter Meadows

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-6, 225 lbs. Taller than 93% and heavier than 24% of 2026 Edge Rusher prospects in the SEC Scouts database (169 with a listed size).

Play Style

He is a long, athletic rusher who does most of his damage from a wide alignment. He uses his arm length to beat tackles to first contact, then flattens toward the quarterback with bend you rarely see in someone 6-7. He looks best in space: rushing from a two-point stance, dropping into the flat on zone blitzes, and chasing plays down from the backside. Against the run he currently relies on length more than leverage. He can stack a blocker and shed him, but he gets too tall when blocks come at him. Scouts attribute the inconsistent effort on his junior film to his split basketball schedule, not a lack of competitiveness.

Strengths

• Elite length (6-7, ~35" arms). He gets his hands on offensive tackles first and can keep blockers off his chest. That tool can't be coached, and it is the main reason he rates as a top-10 national prospect.
• Basketball-level movement. His first step, bend and footwork on counters play above his size, and the hoops background shows in how he changes direction and closes on the quarterback.
• Proven ability to add weight. He went from about 225 in high school to 252 on Michigan's roster without losing his burst, which lowers the physical-development risk most long, thin edge prospects carry.
• He grades out as an elite prospect across services. Rivals/On3 had him No. 6 overall and No. 2 DE, and Rivals called him a five-star from February 2025. 247's own ranking was lower (No. 34 overall, No. 5 EDGE) but still top-35, with an NFL comparison to Brian Burns.

Areas to Improve

• Pass-rush plan and hand usage. His junior film was flagged as raw technically because he split time with basketball. He needs a counter to go with his speed-to-power move and more consistent use of his hands to swipe or rip past blockers.
• Holding up against the run and playing with low pad level. At 6-7, staying low against down blocks and double teams will be a fight. He needs to keep adding strength and learn to set the edge before he can play every down in the Big Ten.
• Motor and availability. Some evaluators noted his effort ran hot and cold in high school, and the preseason injury cost him two games. Staying healthy and playing hard every snap are what will earn him more snaps as a freshman.

College Projection

Year 1 (2026): he is a situational pass rusher in Michigan's defensive line rotation and has one tackle since debuting in Week 3 against UTEP. His snap count should grow over the season, mostly on passing downs. Year 2 (2027): if he gets to about 260-265 lbs and adds a reliable counter move, he should start at weakside end. Years 2-3: he has the traits to be an All-Big Ten pass rusher and could turn pro after his third season.

NFL Outlook

His traits project to the first round. Length, bend and rare movement for his size are what NFL teams draft edge rushers for, and 247's Brian Burns comparison fits a long, bendy weakside rusher. The earliest he can enter the draft is 2029, after three college seasons. Whether he goes early in round one depends on adding strength against the run and building a complete set of pass-rush moves. If his technique stalls, he projects more like a Day 2 pick valued mainly as a situational rusher.

Best Fit

A multiple front that lines him up wide at weakside end or stand-up outside linebacker, keeps him out of tight head-up alignments and moves him around on passing downs. Michigan's pro-style front fits that. The program also has a strong recent record of developing edge rushers, a strength program suited to adding weight to his frame, and enough veteran defensive line depth that he can learn as a situational rusher before taking over an every-down role.