Gilmer’s McLane Carter Commits To Incarnate Word

East Texas' most prolific passer during the 2014 season has finally found a college home.

Gilmer 2015 quarterback McLane Carter tweeted that he committed to Incarnate Word on Tuesday evening, ending what had become an interesting last few weeks of recruitment.

Carter (6-3, 190), despite passing for nearly 4,000 yards and leading the Buckeyes to a 16-0 record and the Class 4A Division II state championship in December, had no Division I offers until Incarnate Word came calling.

Gilmer coach Jeff Traylor tweeted that Michigan, Texas Tech, SMU and Florida had all shown interest in Carter once the 2014 season concluded.

The longtime Buckeyes coach appeared frustrated when the subject of Carter's recruitment was broached following Gilmer's 35-25 state-title game win over West Orange-Stark on Dec. 19.

“Let me say this about McLane Carter to all those college coaches that are so smart,” Traylor said. “Get a mirror so you can coach a left-handed kid. Get a mirror and he’s right-handed. It ain’t that complicated. ‘We don’t want a left-handed quarterback.’ Well then get a mirror and coach him backwards. I don’t know what to tell you.

“Kid can spin the ball. He’s a great leader. A competitor. I mean, really? Is it that hard to coach a left hander? Somebody is missing the jewel here."

Carter, the younger brother of former Gilmer and University of Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne, put up stellar numbers in his senior season after spending the 2013 season in Salado.

The Gilmer quarterback completed 220 of 297 attempts (74 percent) for 3,969 yards with 47 touchdowns and only two interceptions, despite sitting sizable portions of the second half in blowouts and splitting snaps with receiver and Baylor pledge Blake Lynch, who lined up at QB in the wildcat formation. Carter also piloted the state's second-highest scoring offense of all time.

Incarnate Word is an Division I FCS program located in San Antonio. The Cardinals were a provisional member of the Southland Conference in 2014 after making the jump up from Division II following the 2013 season. Incarnate Word was 2-9 overall and 2-6 in league play last year.

All verbal commitments are non-binding. The first day recruits can officially sign letters of intent is next Wednesday, Feb. 4.