Be Disruptive”: Jahmeer Carter’s Full Comments from ACC Media Day

At the 2025 ACC Football Kickoff, sixth-year defensive tackle Jahmeer Carter made it clear—this isn’t just another season. For one of Virginia’s most experienced players, this fall represents more than football. It’s about legacy, leadership, and laying the foundation for the next generation of Cavaliers.

Carter showed up to Charlotte looking leaner and more explosive, revealing that he dropped four percent body fat since January while maintaining a playing weight between 305 and 310 pounds. “My goal this offseason was to be as disruptive as possible,” he said. “Not just through stats, but by consistently collapsing pockets and shedding blocks.”

The transformation isn’t just physical. Carter’s stepping outside his comfort zone as a leader, embracing a more vocal presence on and off the field. "Coach Downing really challenged me to speak up more. If that’s what it takes to help this team get to an ACC Championship, I’m going to do it."

With a deep and competitive defensive line group—including returning contributors like Jason Hammond and Anthony Britton, and new faces like Hunter Osborne—Carter emphasized how internal competition is driving performance. “There’s never a day where someone’s spot is guaranteed,” he said. “That edge is pushing all of us to get better.”

But Carter’s value to this team goes beyond production and leadership in the trenches. He’s one of the few remaining Cavaliers who experienced both the tragedy of 2022 and the coaching transition to Tony Elliott, and he sees it as his responsibility to pass along the soul of the program to newer teammates. “Some guys don’t know the full history of UVA. I take it upon myself to educate them on what we’re about, where we’ve come from—from McCue to the new facility—and what it means to be UVA Strong.”

That education includes explaining the Commonwealth Clash. “I don’t think there’s another rivalry in the country like it,” Carter said. “It’s a game that divides the entire state. If you're here, you need to understand what that game means.”

Carter’s belief in Coach Tony Elliott remains strong, echoing former QB Brennan Armstrong’s statement that Elliott is “a leader of men.” For Carter, that leadership was pivotal in his decision to stay. “He genuinely cares about your development as a person. That’s rare. That’s why I never had a doubt.”

Now entering his final season in orange and blue, Carter is determined to lead with both fire and purpose. Whether it’s refining his pass rush or mentoring younger teammates, his mission is clear: leave UVA better than he found it.