Breaking through

Bruce Carter waits for the right opportunity to attack and then bolts through the opposing offensive line with a fierce presence.

Last season, the University of North Carolina linebacker developed a knack for blocking kicks, leading the nation with five.

Carter was fourth on the Tar Heels with 68 tackles, and returned an interception for a touchdown.

This season, Carter enters his junior campaign with even larger plans.

“I want to try and do what I did last year, just a whole lot better,” said Carter, a former Havelock High School standout. “I am going to have the same intensity. I’m going to go out there and work as hard as I can and just give it my all for the fans, my teammates and for myself.”

This offseason, Carter has worked with strength and conditioning coach Jeff Connors to add five pounds of muscle. He is up to 235 pounds and is ready to contribute in a big way for the Tar Heels.

“The offseason workouts have been going good,” Carter said. “I’ve just been working hard and trying to put on more muscle, just getting faster and stronger. I just keep trying to get better.”

Carter started all 13 games for UNC last season. In two seasons, he has started 20 games.

Carter’s 2008 season was headlined by two big games. He had a 66-yard interception return against Rutgers and blocked three-consecutive punts against Connecticut.

 “(Last season) gave me a whole lot of confidence,” Carter said. “Not only by blocking punts, but by making plays on defense. Once you go out there and get comfortable when you make a play, you want to keep on making plays to get the teammates excited and the fans excited.”

Carter feels his experience and knowledge have earned him the chance to take on a more vocal role with the team.

“My goal for this year is to become more of a leader on the defense, just to be another voice on the team and carry these guys,” he said. “You need leadership in anything. That is one of the factors I am going to bring this year.”

The Tar Heels’ defense lost just two players from last year’s 8-5 team — Trimane Goddard and Mark Paschal. With young players like New Bern native Kevin Reddick joining a group of veterans, Carter thinks the Tar Heels will have a top-10 defense.

Carter is listed on the preseason depth chart as the starting Sam linebacker. Quan Sturdivant and Zach Brown are slated as the other leading candidates to start at the other linebacker positions.

“Everybody has got high expectations,” Carter said. “As humble as we are and if we keep working hard, I don’t think we will have a downfall on defense.”

The Tar Heels will hold their first team practice on Aug. 1. They open the season against The Citadel on Sept. 5.

Adam Thompson can be reached at (252) 635-5670 or at athompson@freedomenc.com.

College career at a glance

Year — Junior

2007 — Played in all 12 games as a freshman, started seven. Had 25 tackles, a fumble recovery and blocked a punt. His blocked punt was against James Madison in his college debut on Sept. 1, 2007.

2008 — Started all 13 games as a sophomore. Carter led the nation with five blocked kicks. He blocked three-consecutive punts against Connecticut on Oct. 4. Returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown against Rutgers Sept. 11. Was fourth on the team with 68 tackles. Recorded five sacks and 11 tackles for a loss.