Former Michigan State RB Nate Carter makes Falcons’ 53-man roster

Michigan State rookie running back Nate Carter has made the Atlanta Falcons’ 53-man roster after a strong preseason.

Former Michigan State running back Nate Carter has made the Falcons’ 53-man roster.

Earlier this morning, it was reported by multiple outlets that Carter has made the Atlanta Falcons’ initial 53-man roster. Carter will break camp assuming the RB3 role in Atlanta, behind the dynamic tandem of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.

In December, Carter announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility, and declare for the NFL draft. He waited through seven long rounds and 257 total picks to hear his name called, to no avail. Carter went undrafted, and ultimately signed a UDFA deal with the Falcons in April.

After grinding through training camp, Carter made the most of his opportunities in the preseason. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry on 16 rushes for 85 yards. He added two receptions for nine yards. The highlight of his preseason was his lone touchdown, a 43-yard rip through the middle of the Titans defense.

Nathan Carter 43 yards up the middle to the 🏠

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Time at MSU

Carter came to Michigan State by way of the transfer portal. He arrived in East Lansing after two fairly productive years at UConn, in which he combined for just under 1,000 rushing yards.

In the disaster that was the 2023 Michigan State football season, Carter was a bright spot. He ran for 798 yards on 185 carries (4.3 yards per carry), and scored four touchdowns. In that season he ran for 100-plus yards in three of the first five games, and added 103 receiving yards throughout the year.

This past 2024 season, Carter’s carry share was cut into by Karon Lynch-Adams. He still logged 16 carries, totalling 499 rush yards, and punching in five touchdowns on the ground. His receiving game took a step, as he hauled in 18 receptions for 173 yards, and added two more touchdowns.

While the team success was not there for Carter at Michigan State, he left his mark. First-year coach Johnathan Smith named him a captain for the 2024 season, and he filled that role perfectly. Carter fostered positive energy, and played a significant role in mentoring the young running backs in the program.

Future outlook

Naturally, being slotted behind Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, it is hard to envision many carries for Carter this upcoming season. However, you can be sure that he will make the most of his opportunities.

Third-string running backs in the NFL will typically secure a pretty significant role on special teams, and it would be no surprise to see Carter take that in stride.

If nothing else, the Falcons can be assured they are getting a player that will be a great “locker-room guy”. He helped fix a broken culture at Michigan State, so one can only imagine how he will contribute in Atlanta.

Plus, it seems Robinson and Allgeier have already built a great relationship with Carter. See for yourself on this Instagram post.

I cannot wait to see how Carter’s NFL journey develops. He will always be a SD4L.

Go Green.