New UK football staff considering two-way role for former KY high school star
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Redshirt freshman Martels Carter tested at running back amid depth issues.
- Staff weighs Carter’s two-way potential, likely picks one side by fall.
- Carter projects as special-teams piece and RB competitor when transfers return.
With more than 40 new players on the Kentucky football roster this spring, the challenge of learning everyone’s number is difficult enough.
But even a roster in hand might not be enough to identify every player this spring.
When observing UK practice, you might quickly notice a blue No. 4 jersey lined up on offense. A glance at the roster would suggest that player is LSU wide receiver transfer Nic Anderson.
Only Anderson is being held from large portions of practice as the staff works to ensure he reaches the season at full health.
This No. 4 is actually a returning player. But redshirt freshman Martels Carter has swapped his white defensive practice jersey for a blue one in recent weeks.
“When he first got over there (on offense) every time we looked at him, we would let him hear a little bit because he was just in our room,” senior safety Ty Bryant said. “But I’m proud of that kid. I told him the day that he transitioned to running back that you’re living out a lot of people’s dream.”
Carter holds the distinction of being one of the last blue chip high school recruits Mark Stoops signed at Kentucky.
He was the second-highest-ranked UK signee in the high school class of 2025, according to the 247Sports Composite. While Carter shined on both sides of the ball as a senior at Paducah Tilghman High School, the previous staff recruited him to play safety in college.
Carter played in four games while redshirting as a freshman in 2025. He entered spring practice as a projected backup behind Bryant and Florida safety transfer Jordan Castell.
But when coaches decided to hold CJ Baxter and Jovantae Barnes, the top two projected running backs on the roster, from contact portions of practice this spring, depth suddenly was an issue at the position. Junior Jason Patterson, little-used sophomore Tovani Mizell and freshman early enrollee Delvecchio Alston were the only other scholarship running backs on the roster, and Mizell has battled his own injury issues since missing his high school senior season with a knee injury.
As UK’s new coaches watched Carter fielding punts in practice, a plan began to form to let him attempt to duplicate his two-way status from high school.
“He’s got a natural knack to play running back,” coach Will Stein said. “He’s not shying away from it. I told him yesterday how proud I am of him and his ability to see growth and have a growth mindset and not be fixed on, ‘Hey, I’m at this position. I must play this.’”
Stein admits that by fall camp the staff will likely choose one side of the ball for Carter to focus on. He is still participating in some defensive meetings but is spending the bulk of his practice time at running back.
Carter, who has not been made available for interviews to discuss the move, will face additional competition for snaps at running back when Baxter and Barnes are brought back into the fold in preseason camp. But the fact that the staff is already being cautious with the two transfers who battled injuries at their previous schools is a stark reminder of the depth needed at the position.
“With the other two guys not on the practice field, this is a great opportunity for him to showcase his skills,” running backs coach Kolby Smith said. “He’s a playmaker.”
Whether he plays significant snaps at safety or running back immediately to open the 2026 season, Carter seems like a safe bet to be an important special teams piece. He is among the options being considered at punt and kickoff returner on a roster with little college experience in those roles.
Carter was not shy about voicing a desire to play offense and defense in college after winning MVP of the 4A state championship game as a senior, so the possibility he continues to receive snaps at both positions cannot be completely ruled out. Most of Carter’s offensive production in high school actually came as a receiver, but he did record 15 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns as a senior.
“He’s just got to keep his head down and do exactly what he’s doing right now,” Bryant said. “Because at the end of the day, he’s being unselfish and he’s helping us win ball games. We got a lot of running backs down, a lot of running backs out. He stepped up without any hesitation and was like, ‘I’ll go play running back for us.’”
This story was originally published April 8, 2026 at 6:01 AM.