“His hands are so damn big, so damn strong, so damn safe,” said Light. “I would have a can machine dialed up about five meters away and shoot 60 miles an hour with one hand and he would catch it with one hand. With a child like that, we always try to get him the stone. Whatever the game was, ‘we have to get our shots to JC’ “
Even as a recipient, it was Carlies’ physicality in his blocks that most caught Light. Although he was the team’s biggest offensive threat, college coaches saw him as a defensive candidate because “he was never afraid of being touched”. That strength has been reflected in the Missouri weight room as it now lifts with the defensive lineman.
In the same senior season, West Orange dealt with problems within the football program that led to the sacking of coaches. But Carlies kept his team focused with his even demeanor.
“He was kind of a sounding board for a lot of his teammates,” said Light. “He really was the glue that kept the team together for their senior year on the field.”
Carlies tries to mimic the same leadership style in Missouri. He is less of a vocal leader like captain Martez Manuel, but wants to inspire his teammates with his game on the field.
With COVID-19 impacting almost every game in Missouri last season, Carlies did not have an established role. He saw action at the cornerback, but eventually switched to safety when Joshuah Bledsoe and Tyree Gillespie were selected in the NFL draft.
