GUNNISON, Colo. – Tristan Carter sat on the lobby floor of Angelo State's hotel on Friday listening to music and waiting for the Rams to load their buses for the final practice before the start of the season. The running back, who grew up in Georgia and went to junior college in California, was simply passing time in Gunnison, Colo. before showing anyone who cares what a football player going to college in Texas is able to do. When it's time for the Rams' offense to take the field on Saturday, Carter will be ready to carry the ball..

“I know it is important for me to step up right now,” Carter said. “The running game has never been more important than this week. I'm ready for the challenge.”

The challenge Carter is acknowledging comes at 2 p.m. on Saturday as ASU opens its football season against the Western State College of Colorado Mountaineers. Carter, who spent his first two years after high school at Santa Barbara Community College in California, is coming off a junior year where he led the Rams in rushing and was fourth on the team with 30 receptions. He rushed for 603 yards and five touchdowns and also scored six touchdowns on his receptions last year. The Tucker, Georgia native who is majoring in business administration, led the team in rushing on 138 carriers in his first year at ASU, including a 75-yard touchdown run against the West Texas A&M Buffs.

Carter also knows and has moved on from the fact that the Rams receiving core will be without some of its best athletes on Saturday. The senior running back isn't worried though. He is ready to show his work over the summer and in the preseason has made him into the running back that his coaches covet and opponents fear.

“I think I've improved a lot,” Carter said. “I've lost about 20 pounds and feel great every day. I'm faster and looser on the field. I've never felt better as a football player.”

The commitment to excellence and crossing the line by Carter hasn't been lost on his offensive coordinator. Russell Gaskamp has seen the numbers on the scale drop from his weight loss and the results in his running from being in peak condition.

“Tristan is in a lot better shape this year than he was last year,” Gaskamp said. “His weight is where it should be and he is about two steps quicker because of it. There's no doubt that we are expecting him to be an integral part of this team.
“He is a very versatile player who can run the ball and catch it out of the backfield. He's a great back to have in there for screen plays and check downs for our quarterback.”

Along with a number of receivers not making the trip to Gunnison, Carter knows that the entire season will be benefited by strong performances from him and other running back. Gone is Josh Neiswander, who set multiple Angelo State passing records as a quarterback, and in is Blake Hamblin who tops the opening-day depth chart. Carter is fully behind Hamlin and is ready to help him become one of the top ASU quarterbacks as well.

“It is very important for us to get off to a fast start,” Carter said. “I know there is no time to waste. It's important for me to step up right now because of our situation at quarterback and receiver. I believe in all of my teammates and am ready to help them in any way I can.”

Carter's ability has not been missed by first-year head coach Will Wagner. Despite deciding to start fresh and not dwell or labor over last year's performances, Wagner gave every player a fresh slate and the opportunity to show what they could offer. Carter didn't rest on last year's accomplishments and emerged as the first-string running back based on his work in fall camp and practice the last two weeks.



“Tristan is going to be very important, especially with a young quarterback in there,” Wagner said. “It will take a lot of pressure off the quarterback and everyone else when we are able to run the ball well. Tristan can make people miss, but he is powerful enough to run people over if he needs to. I like the versatility that he brings to the position. I've been looking forward to see him run in a real game.”

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