Paterson’s Carter Warren, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound pound junior offensive tackle for Passaic Tech, has scholarship offers from Rutgers and Virginia Tech. (PHOTO: DANIELLE PARHIZKARAN/The Record)
WAYNE – Carter Warren has even more motivation than most of his Passaic Tech teammates to get back to the North 1, Group 5 championship game.
The 6-foot-6, 290-pound Warren played in each of the Bulldogs’ first 11 games as a sophomore, but the improving offensive tackle didn’t get on the field during the Bulldogs’ 26-14 loss to Montclair in the sectional final last Dec. 6 at MetLife Stadium. Though a young player on a team full of experienced, talented seniors, not playing in the championship game was among the things that made Warren work harder throughout the offseason.
Passaic Tech’s regular season doesn’t start until three weeks from Friday night, but Warren’s work since December has already paid off.
Paterson’s Warren picked up his first two scholarship offers in June from Rutgers and Virginia Tech. His teammates also have noticed a different player in practices this summer.
“Carter has made great improvements,” said Rayquan Strand, a senior tailback/defensive end for Passaic Tech. “You can see in practice that he’s going to be a standout player in the games. One, his mental toughness is way better. And his technique, you can tell he has learned a lot from the camps he’s been going to.”
Senior receiver/defensive back Kevin Copper supported Strand’s sentiments regarding Warren.
“He’s very determined,” Copper said. “Everything he does, he works hard and gives it 100 percent. At the Rutgers camp [in June], he did his thing. He’s 10 times better [than last season], way more physical. He also got faster. He’s very, very good. He’s going to be a problem this year.”
Warren has entered the Bulldogs’ lineup as part of an offensive line that brought back two starters. He is eager to start demonstrating just how different a player he is from last season when Passaic Tech opens its season at home Sept. 11 against Big North Liberty Division rival Eastside.
“Just standing there, watching in the cold and the rain, and watching my teammates play, I couldn’t take it,” Warren said of Passaic Tech’s aforementioned loss to Montclair. “But I’m going to do my thing this year. I want to help my team get back there and win a championship.”