Up Close with Nate Carter

Reprinted from football Gameday program guide, September 12, 2015

NICKNAME: Shaky, Nate Weight

FAVORITE CEREAL: Cinnamon Life

FAVORITE BRONCO MENDENHALL QUOTE: ““You can’t play your best on the football field if you aren’t living your life right off the field.” My least favorite is, “That’s not it!” That usually means whatever we’re trying to do isn’t up to his standard and we have to do it over again. (conditioning, perfect plays etc.)

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TOPLAY FOOTBALL OVER OTHERSPORTS: I’ve always loved football the most, baseball was a close second, but knew college baseball wouldn’t be as enjoyable as HS ball. And wrestling, I did it, and possibly learned the most from it than other sports, but never loved it like I do football.

BEFORE A FOOTBALL GAME, I: always send a text to my family members thanking them for all they have done for me to get where I am. Then I usually listen to some pretty chill music until we go on the field.

HOW DID I SPEND MYOFF-SEASON: training like crazy with my brothers and Coach Wintrich. When we had our short breaks from training I tried to spend as much time as I could with my family in St. George.

WHO IS THE BEST PLAYER I’VE EVER FACED: BYU’s very own Daniel Sorensen.  I faced him for two years on the scout offense. He may be the hardest hitter I’ve ever played against, and one of the most athletic as well.

IF I COULD PLAY ANOTHER POSITION, IT WOULD BE: If size wasn’t a factor, I’ve always though Tight End would be a fun position.

MY FAVORITE ACTIVITY AWAY FROM FOOTBALL IS: Anything with my family. I love fishing but don’t do it nearly as much as I want to. I also love training, and helping other people train to accomplish their goals

MY ADVICE TO YOUNGSTERS: Be nice to everyone, my sister hammered that into my head when I was young and it changed my life.

PEOPLE SAY I LOOK LIKE: Jason Statham (English actor)

SOMETIME IN MY LIFE: I’d like to compete in some type of a physical competition, just because I love training and accomplishing physical goals and the positive influence training can have on every aspect of your life. Something like Crossfit, or any high intensity fitness competition.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK I’VE EVER READ: The Hatchet

MY FAVORITE WEBSITE: Bodybuilding.com  I love studying sports supplements and nutrition.

IF I COULD INVITE ANY THREE PEOPLE TO DINNER, WHO WOULD THEY BE: Elder Holland, Adrian Peterson, Cael Sanderson

MY FAVORITE PROFESSOR OR MOST INTERESTING CLASS I’VE TAKEN AT BYU: I've enjoyed a lot of my classes at BYU and my professors. One that sticks out is LDS Marriage and Family with Mark Ogletree. Still working on the application part of the material though....  And Joseph Smith history class with Alexander Baugh.

IF I WERE HOSTING YOU ON A RECRUITING VISIT TO PROVO, THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THING I’D HAVE TO SHOW YOU IS: I'd say all of the football and academic facilities.  We have a lot of resource for success on and off the field.      

WHAT IS MY MOST MEMORABLE ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT OR MOMENT: I'd say winning a state baseball championship my sophomore year.  Or my senior year when me and my best friend and wresting partner both won state wrestling championships.

IF I HAD TO GIVE UP ALL OF MY POSSESSIONS EXCEPT ONE, WHAT WOULD BE THE ONE THING I KEPT AND WHY: My mission journal, some of those experiences are a lot more valuable to me than anything else.

ONE PLACE I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT:    I'd really like to go back to Taiwan to see the people I served on my mission.  Before I got anywhere else, I'd like to go there first.

MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURE: Ether 12:27

WHAT DO I WANT TO BE DOING 20 YEARS FROM NOW:  I hope to have a big happy family, have a meaningful career that helps people and I enjoy going to each day.  I also hope to be still be very active and have a healthy lifestyle!