TOP ATHLETE OF THE PAST 30 YEARS: MARKELL CARTER

By Mike Tupa

Sept. 10, 2025

BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT

During his nearly 30 years of covering area high school sports for either the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise or the Bartlesville Area Sports Report, Mike Tupa has enjoyed the opportunity to observe some incredible athletes.

This is an ongoing series highlighting each few days one of those athletes from the 1996-97 school year through the present. The list is not in chronological order. The athletes are presented in random sequence.

TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT

MARKELL CARTER (Bartlesville)

Multiple sports (early-to-mid-2000s)

Carter still looms as an athletic legend in Bruin history — not only for what he accomplished in competition but for how he maximized his potential followed graduation.

He would go on to be drafted (sixth round) in 2011 by the New England Patriots. Even though his journey through pro football would resemble the lyrics of the classic Dr. John song “Right Place Wrong Time,” Carter worked diligently, sweated bullets, invested every ounce of desire and painful persistence to give himself a chance to shine in the Big Show.

At 6-foot-4 and anywhere from approximately 250 to 275 pounds as a pro, Carter brought slashing speed — including exceptional multi-directional quickness — and strength to the linebacker/defensive end area.

He honed himself into one of the top defensive linemen in the nation during his time at the University of Central Arkansas, which drew the rapt attention of pro scouts.

But ill fortune followed him throughout his pro pursuits.

The Patriots selected the Bartlesville native as the 194th pick overall in the 2011 draft. However, that was the year of the infamous lockout by the owners, which meant no rookies could be signed — or work out at team facilities or attend preseason camps — until the dispute was resolved.

This put Carter at a huge disadvantage as a first-year player trying to make the team. He finally was able to sign in the summertime with the Patriots and report to training camp.

Carter made it through the entire cycle until the final cuts. But after releasing him the Patriots quickly re-signed him to their practice squad for the 2011 season.

He remained with the squad the entire season. He was named practice player of the week six times and was the highest paid member of the squad, according to ESPN in a Dec. 19, 2011 article by Mike Reiss.

Carter received some positive media attention and New England re-signed him for the 2012 season. Because of the lockout the year before, Carter was allowed to attend rookie mini-camp in May 2012.

Carter’s NFL destiny seemed to be on target through the late spring 2012 — until the shocker. The Patriots released him on June 7, 2012, obviously feeling they were well stocked at that position.

Carter spent the next few weeks seeking to land in another NFL training camp. But nothing worked out.

That began his long journey to keep his pro football career alive. From 2013 through 2015 he would sign with two Canadian Football League teams — but despite some very positive reviews injury deprived him of his full chance to play in the league.

He also signed with multiple Arena Football League teams and played a season in the Indoor Football League with the Colorado Ice.

Carter just never got an even break in his quest to earn a deserved place in the pro spotlight.

But his story is more meaningful than that. The fact he put himself in that position at all is a testament to his character, grit and endurance.

After all, how many guys that played on high school football teams that recorded a 7-23 record went on to be drafted in the NFL?

Bartlesville Bruin football wasn’t exactly on the map of college football recruiters in the mid-2000s. During his sophomore season (2004) Carter played on a Bruin squad that finished 3-7.

The next year (2005), the Bruins plummeted to 1-9. By his senior campaign (2006) the team fought its way back to a 3-7 mark.

Despite his obvious size and potential, Carter wasn’t exactly flooded with college offers even though he put up solid numbers as a senior — 47 tackles, six sacks, 25 receptions for 292 yards with four touchdowns.

A bolt of good luck finally boosted Carter’s opportunities, when he was invited during his senior year to participate in the Max Emfinger camp, set up specifically to showcase talented players that had flown under the recruiting radar.

At the camp, Carter earned the coveted honor of being selected for the Emfinger All-American Game. Emfinger would rate Carter as a 4-star recruit.

Carter would sign with the University of Central Arkansas, an up-and-coming NCAA-II/FCS program.

His statistics his first three seasons (2007-09) at UCA would be impressive — 34 game appearances, 81 tackles, 11 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. As a junior he would be named to the All-Southland Conference Second Team.

In UCA’s 2009 historic win against Western Kentucky — it’s first ever against a FBS foe — Carter racked up six tackles.

Going into his senior season (2010), Carter was selected to the Preseason All-Southland Conference First Team and to the Preseason The Sports Network All-American Second Team.

Carter would more than live up to expectations for the 2010 season — 62 tackles (25 solo), 19 tackles for loss (for 103 yards in losses), 5.5 sacks (for 58 yards in losses), seven quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

Carter was the first Southland Conference player selected in the 2011 NFL draft.

All things appeared to be in his favor in playing on Sundays. But his destiny ran into a couple of detours. No, it wasn’t fair — Carter had the ability and tools to suit up in the NFL.

But fate isn’t tied to odds. It works in bewildering ways, testing the determination and mettle of an individual and at the same time refining his character and soul.

Carter stuck with it for more than four years, knocking on every door to which opportunity guided him.

When it came time to move on Carter served for a while as an assistant football coach at Bartlesville High, helping train the next generation.

He remains one of only three College High/Bartlesville High athletes in the past 105 years to be drafted by the NFL — the other two being David Baker and Bobby Joe Green in 1959.

As mentioned, Carter also excelled in basketball at Bartlesville.

He was a junior starter on the 2005-06 team that qualified for the state tournament and also a key player on the 2006-07 squad that finished 18-5 and finished just one win shy of returning to state.

This series has included the following athletes, who are listed in no particular order. Below is a Blast From the Past article.

-Jena’ Williams, Bartlesville

-Eric Rolfs, Bartlesville

-Chris Smith, Caney Valley

-Jill Bryan, Copan

-Barron Tanner Jr, Bartlesville

-Hailey Tucker, Bartlesville

-Jeremy Dunkle, Dewey

-Whitney Metcalf, Bartlesville

-Tim Hamilton, Bartlesville

-Danielle Koster, Bartlesville

-Carson LaRue, Dewey

-John Hamman, Wesleyan Christian

-Jamie Elam, Caney Valley

-Sam Mitchell, Bartlesville

-Karissa Jones, Dewey

-Noah Hartsock, Bartlesville

-Tiffany Paper, Copan

-AJ Parker, Bartlesville

-Tiffany Eden, Caney Valley

-Henry Williams, Bartlesville

-Rebecca Schluter, Wesleyan Chrisitan

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BLAST FROM THE PAST

Summer 1953

A powerful punch from the shortstop and the sweet-smelling pitching of a Herring propelled the 1953 Bartlesville American Legion Baseball program.

The ‘53 team, coached by Chuck Hale, included one of the program’s top power hitters in its history — shortstop Bobby Green.

Green weighed just 165 pounds — but every ounce was dynamite. His bat exploded for more than a half-dozen dingers to go with several other big blows.

“He could hit that light pole in left field,” recalled Billy Rosko, the third baseman from that squad, several years ago. “He had a tremendous wrist — and he was fast.”

Green may be the only Bartlesville American Legion player in history to hit two homers in back-to-back games. He opened the season with a triple to help Bartlesville upend the state powerhouse Tulsa Doenges Ford squad, 10-7, in a game at Bartlesville.

In the decisive four-run seventh inning, Bartlesville took advantage of two Tulsa errors. Centerfielder Billy Annear and pitcher Kenneth Herring also blasted key singles in the inning.

Herring picked up the win by throwing the distance.  He was nicked for six hits, but never gave up more than two runs in an inning. He allowed just three hits the last six innings.

___

December 1950

Answers were few for the Copan Hornets during a boys high school basketball showdown against the Dewey Bulldoggers, in the debut at Dewey's new $119,000 gym (which is still in use in 2025).

Jerry Gilliand drained 18 points to energize Dewey -- which was coached by Ed Hill -- to a 43-35 victory. Gilliand buried seven field goals and dropped in four free throws to score nearly half of his team's points.

Herman Mason added nine points to the Dewey cause. Robert Austin heat up the cords with nine points for Copan, followed by Joe Pruitt and Robert Cummings with seven apiece.

Approximately 1,000 fans squeezed together to watch the historic game.

Markell Carter