DeWayne Carter Bio
DeWayne Carter is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 2 in and listed at 302 lb, Carter wears jersey number 90 and plays an interior defensive role for the Buffalo defensive line. Born on December 10, 2000, in Pickerington, Ohio, Carter rose through high school and college ranks before being selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
After a productive career at Duke University, where he earned three consecutive All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors, Carter transitioned to the professional ranks with the Buffalo Bills. His first NFL season ended with a regular role on the defensive front, though a torn Achilles suffered in 2025 cut his second year short.
Early Life and Background
DeWayne Carter grew up in Pickerington, Ohio, a Columbus suburb that has produced several collegiate athletes. He attended Pickerington Central High School, where he developed into one of the area’s most disruptive defensive linemen. During his senior season, Carter posted 83 tackles, including eight tackles for loss and five sacks, finishing his high school career as a team leader on the defensive front.
His senior performance earned him All-Metro Team Defensive Player of the Year honors from The Columbus Dispatch, a recognition that highlighted his motor, strength, and ability to disrupt plays in the backfield. Following the conclusion of his high school career, Carter committed to play college football at Duke University, choosing the Blue Devils over other suitors.
Path to American Football
Carter enrolled at Duke and joined the Blue Devils program, where he spent five seasons developing as an interior defensive lineman. His path to a starting role was gradual, beginning with limited snaps in 2019 and expanding into a reliable rotational presence by his sophomore year. The Atlantic Coast Conference provided weekly tests against high-level offensive lines, helping Carter refine his technique and conditioning.
His college trajectory accelerated in 2021 when he became a full-time starter and produced one of the more disruptive seasons by an interior lineman in the conference. He followed that performance with another productive year in 2022 and a consensus All-ACC first-team campaign in 2023, cementing his status as an NFL prospect. Carter declared for the 2024 NFL Draft following the conclusion of his senior season.
DeWayne Carter Career
Early Career (2019-2020)
DeWayne Carter’s early Duke career was defined by adjustment and incremental opportunity. In his first season, he recorded just one tackle, which came against Alabama in a high-profile early-season matchup. The 2020 season, played during a pandemic-shortened schedule, gave Carter more chances to contribute, and he finished with 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and a single reception for 11 yards on a designed play.
Those numbers reflected a young defensive lineman still earning the trust of the defensive staff. By the end of his second year, Carter had shown enough pass-rush upside and run-defense discipline to position himself for a larger role heading into his third season.
Duke Breakthrough (2021-2023)
Carter’s breakout came in 2021, his first season as a full-time starter. He turned in a signature performance in week three against Northwestern, tallying three tackles, one sack, and two forced fumbles in a Duke win. He closed the year with 36 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and four forced fumbles, earning third-team All-ACC recognition.
The 2022 season brought further growth. Carter opened the year with a four-tackle, one-sack, one-forced-fumble outing against Northwestern and added two tackles for loss and two sacks in a win over Boston College that made Duke bowl-eligible for the first time since 2018. He finished the year with 36 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, four pass deflections, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, and a touchdown, earning second-team All-ACC honors. Ahead of the 2023 season, Carter was named to the preseason All-ACC first team and added to the Bronko Nagurski Award preseason watch list, recognition that highlighted his standing among the nation’s top interior linemen.
Buffalo Bills Era (2024-Present)
DeWayne Carter was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 95th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, becoming one of Duke’s most recent high draft choices at defensive tackle. He joined a Bills defensive front known for its rotation and aggressiveness, and he made 11 appearances with three starts during his rookie campaign. In that debut season, Carter recorded 14 combined tackles and one pass deflection, showing flashes of the disruption that defined his Duke career.
His second NFL season, however, was cut short. On August 31, 2025, Carter was ruled out for the year after suffering a torn Achilles tendon, halting the momentum he had built through his rookie campaign. The injury placed his long-term development on hold while the Bills turned to other options along the interior line.
Notable Events and Milestones
Carter’s most celebrated collegiate moment came during the 2021 season, when his three-tackle, one-sack, two-forced-fumble performance helped Duke knock off Northwestern and announced him as an ACC disruptor. Two years later, he capped his Duke tenure with first-team All-ACC honors in 2023, joining the preseason Bronko Nagurski watch list along the way. At the next level, his selection as the 95th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft marked the formal transition from college standout to professional defensive tackle.
DeWayne Carter Career Wins
DeWayne Carter’s career is still in its early professional chapters, and his verified production is concentrated on the defensive side of the stat sheet rather than win totals. His primary statistical contributions through the 2024 season include 14 combined tackles and one pass deflection across 11 games with the Buffalo Bills. At Duke, he logged 83 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and multiple sacks across his final three seasons, highlighted by All-ACC honors in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
DeWayne Carter Family
Personal Life
DeWayne Carter was raised in Pickerington, Ohio, where he attended Pickerington Central High School and developed into a Division I recruit. Public information about his immediate family and personal relationships has not been widely reported, and details beyond his hometown and education are limited.
2025 Season Performance
DeWayne Carter entered the 2025 season looking to build on his rookie year with the Buffalo Bills and expand his role along the interior defensive line. His preseason work pointed toward more playing time within the rotation, especially on early downs where his strength and pad level had impressed the coaching staff.
Those plans, however, were interrupted on August 31, 2025, when Carter suffered a torn Achilles tendon and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. The injury ended his 2025 campaign before the regular season began and placed the focus on his recovery timeline. Looking ahead, Carter’s outlook centers on rehabilitation, a return to full strength, and a chance to rejoin the Bills’ defensive rotation once he is cleared to play.