Carter Smith

#65 · OL · R-Sr. · Indiana6′5″ · 310 lb · Powell, OH · Olentangy Liberty

Carter Smith is an offensive lineman at Indiana who has not played in Indiana's 9 games this season; the last season with a stat line was 2025.

Where Smith comes from

  • Powell, OHHometown
  • Olentangy LibertyHigh school
  • About 200 miles from Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN)Distance
  • Three-star, No. 730 in the 2022 class.Recruiting profile
  • On the Indiana roster since 2022Roster

Where Smith fits

Indiana lists 16 offensive linemen this season.

Indiana offensive linemen with a game this season

The team’s line is 23rd in the country in line yards this season (a team number).

Indiana is 8-1, No. 6 in the AP poll (week 10). Next: vs USC, Sat Nov 14.

Similar players

Same class and position

Also from Powell, OH

The story

As of

Smith's 2025 was as clean as it gets at left tackle: zero sacks allowed in the regular season, an 88.8 PFF grade across 372 pass-blocking snaps, and the first Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award in Indiana history. PFF now ranks him the No. 1 returning offensive tackle in the country. A four-year starter, he passed up a projected Day 2 draft slot to take his final year. The forward stakes are a program's ceiling: that, with Smith on it, is among the most secure in the sport. The most accomplished returning tackle in college football headlines a Hoosier line built to contend.

The record

A falsifiable call from this player's outlook. Not yet gradeable.

What we said

the nation's top tackle anchors Indiana back to the Playoff

Graded as: at least 1 College Football Playoff game in 2026.

What happened

Resolves 2027-01-20.

PENDING

Sources

Style of play

Style of play

Play style

Smith is a pass-protection technician first — the cleanest profile a tackle can have. The numbers are the argument: zero sacks allowed and an 88.8 PFF grade over nearly 400 pass-blocking snaps, the kind of season that doesn't happen by accident. He's a four-year starter with the footwork and anchor to handle Big Ten edge speed and power, and PFF's No. 1 returning-tackle ranking reflects a player without an obvious hole. The blindside is the most important real estate on an offense, and Smith makes it a non-issue — which is exactly why a Playoff-hopeful line is built around him.