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Toneil Carter is taking his talents elsewhere.
After two seasons on the Forty Acres — almost entirely in a reserve role — the Texas Longhorns sophomore running back will transfer from the program, as first reported by Orangebloods’ Anwar Richardson. The school has since confirmed the news to Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman.
Texas confirms this morning that RB Toniel Carter is no longer with the team and will transfer. First by @AnwarRichardson.
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) December 14, 2018
Just before noon on Friday, Carter announced his departure from the school:
Dear longhorns,
— T~Carter (@carter_toneil) December 14, 2018
Sometimes in life we have to do what’s best for us. In my life right now the best decision for me is to move on with my life . I really and truly want to thank every Longhorn fan for the support and all the negativity I will get from this.
Love y’all HOOK’EM
A former four-star addition to Tom Herman’s transitional class in 2017, Carter displayed flashes of the upside that earned his recognition as the No. 10 running back in his class, though those flashes were few and far between.
Joining a running back rotation that also included junior Chris Warren III, sophomore Kyle Porter, and fellow freshman Daniel Young, Carter saw only six carries throughout his first three games on the Forty Acres; one of which went for a touchdown in a 56-0 win over San Jose State. The following game, Carter registered his first career start in a 17-7 win over Iowa State, contributing to the outcome in the form of a 22-yard touchdown reception. Two weeks later, Carter saw his second career start in a 13-10 overtime loss to Oklahoma State, though he received only one carry.
The following game, however, Carter put forth what then appeared to be a potential breakout showing in a 38-7 road win over Baylor, leading the Longhorns with 15 carries for 70 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown scamper.
After missing the TCU game, Carter totaled 16 carries for 71 yards and one score throughout the final three games of the regular season slate before being forced to watched from the sidelines during the Longhorns 33-16 Texas Bowl win over Missouri due to a suspension. But nevertheless, given his brief flashes, in addition to Warren’s decision to depart for the NFL and Porter’s lack of productivity, Carter appeared primed to enter last offseason as a key building block in Stan Drayton’s running back rotation of the future, alongside Young.
However, between Carter being plagued by ball security issues throughout the spring and the summer arrivals of Keaontay Ingram, the top-ranked running back in Texas in the 2018 class, and Cal graduate transfer Tre Watson, Carter soon saw his name fall to the depths of the depth chart.
By the start of Carter’s sophomore campaign, the Houston Langham Creek product was positioned behind Watson, Ingram, Young, and even Porter. Consequently, Carter didn’t see the field at all in 2018.
Now headed for the exits, Carter capped his tenure at Texas with 53 carries for 252 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. He also hauled in six receptions for 31 yards and one score.