T.J. Carter commits to Kentucky Wildcats Football

The Kentucky Wildcats just picked up another key commitment in the Class of 2016, this one coming in defensive lineman T.J. Carter:

Truly blessed to say that i will continue my football career and education at University of Kentucky!!! #BBN pic.twitter.com/KYljS80Hns

— Tj Carter (@TjCarter_) January 29, 2016

Carter becomes another defensive line commitments in the 2016 class as he fills a big need in that area. A 6-4, 245-pound defensive end out of Whitefield Academy (GA), Carter commits to UK while having gotten interest from UCF and Memphis among others.

While the offers from bigger programs might not be there, defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh and co-defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley have been great evaluators thus far, so there's no point in doubting them now.

While looking at TJ Carter's offer sheet, don't fret. Positive validation is that Derrick Ansley/Jimmy Brumbaugh evaluated/recruited.

— Freddie Maggard (@FredMaggard) January 29, 2016

This was a late-developing process for UK and Carter as Mark Stoops didn't offer a scholarship until this week after Carter took his official visit last week. It was never a certainty Stoops and his staff would offer, but they ultimately did and Carer committed soon thereafter.

As of now, UK is set to lose senior defensive linemen Jabari Johnson,Melvin Lewis, C.J. Johnson and Farrington Huguenin for next season before losing Courtney Miggins, Zane Williams and Jason Hatcher for 2017. That's a lot of attrition on the defensive line in the next two years, which makes guys like Carter even more important.

Carter now joins a 2016 UK class that includes DE Jaylin Bannerman, DE Jordan Bonner, DT Ja'Quize Cross, OL Luke Fortner, CB Tobias Gilliam CB Jordan Griffin, QB Gunnar Hoak,  ATH Zy'Aire Hughes, DT Kordell Looney DT Springfield, Ohio Grant McKinniss, TE Justin Rigg, CB Davonte Robinson, RB Asim 'AJ' Rose, WR Kayaune Ross, RB Benny Snell, Roland Walder and LB Jamar Watson, all of whom UK expects to have national letters of intents from next Wednesday for National Signing Day.

LB Kash Daniel, OL Tate Leavitt, OL Drake Jackson, DT Naquez Pringle, WR Dakota Holtzclaw and QB Stephen Johnson have already signed and are enrolled for the spring semester at UK.

Here are some of Carter's senior season highlights: