The Carolina Panthers already have four former Utah defensive players on their roster, and they could add another, if things go well for Tevin Carter.
The former Ute safety has been invited for a tryout with the Panthers this weekend, Carolina announced Thursday evening. Carter is 1 of 35 players who've been invited to try out for the team at its rookie minicamp that runs Friday and Saturday.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Carter went undrafted in this year's NFL draft at the end of April but signed a rookie free-agent contract with the Washington Redskins. He was waived by the Redskins Monday, prior to their rookie minicamp this weekend.
Carter joined the Utah program as a junior college transfer. After being sidelined by a season-ending injury in 2014, he started 16 games for the Utes and had 72 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four interceptions and a fumble recovery. Carter's most memorable game as a Ute was his last, as he intercepted two BYU passes, returning one for a touchdown, to help Utah beat the Cougars 35-28 in the 2015 Las Vegas Bowl.
Carolina already has a pair of former Utah defensive tackles and linebackers on its roster. Lineman Star Lotulelei was the team's first-round pick in 2013, and veteran defensive lineman Paul Soliai signed as an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Linebacker Brian Blechen signed as an undrafted free agent with the team last season, and fellow linebacker Jared Norris did so this year.
Norris will also be at the rookie minicamp with Carter as will former Utah State offensive lineman Tyler Larsen, a Jordan High alumni who signed a reserve/futures contract with the team in January.
Carter won't be the only local tie headed to an NFL rookie minicamp on a tryout basis this weekend. Another former Utah linebacker, Jason Whittingham, is headed to Oakland to try out with the Raiders, while former BYU wide receiver/tight end Terenn Houk will try out for the Chicago Bears at their minicamp after auditioning with San Francisco last weekend. Also, former Utah State linebacker LT Filiaga will try out with the Philadelphia Eagles.
There has already been a success story for other local players trying out to strive for this offseason. Former Utah State safety Marwin Evans tried out with Seattle last weekend, and though he didn't sign with the Seahawks, the Green Bay Packers signed him to a free-agent contract Monday.
Email: bjudd@deseretdigital.com; Twitter: @brandonljudd