CORAL GABLES – After Miami’s practice yesterday, Amari Carter took the time to speak with media members.

The emerging sophomore defensive back, who is known mostly for his menacing and timely hits on the opposition, was one of Miami’s captains for last week’s game against FIU, a 31-17 win. He may have recorded only one tackle in the FIU game, but he has made his presence felt with Miami in other ways.

Carter, who is a Palm Beach Gardens alum, was named one of Miami’s team captains and made his first start this past weekend against FIU.

“It felt natural,” Carter said of his first collegiate start. “It’s what we’ve been preparing for, coming out on the field and practicing. I just had to stick to what I’ve been doing and just stick in with the ones. It went well.”

Carter’s favorite quote is something he made up on his own: Win or learn. He did both on Saturday.

“[I learned to] just run to the ball and be urgent in everything I do, and just make the tackle when my number is called,” he said.

Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz provided some commentary of Carter’s performance.

“He [Amari] was calm and under control,” Diaz said. “He made all the checks.”

Diaz spoke specifically about Carter’s sheer awareness on the field and more.

“Amari is a very intelligent player and he played like a smart guy,” he said. “He played like he knew what was going on, knew what the play was going to be before it happened. The play where he almost made the pick on our sideline, he knew the route that was coming. He almost sort of baited the quarterback to throw it to the guy. We know that Amari will tackle, and that he runs to the ball, and is tough – those type things. He looks like a starter, which was encouraging to see.”

Carter gave an overall assessment on how he felt about his own contribution to the team against FIU.

“As a whole, the defense and every position on the field did what they had to do,” Carter said. “All I could do was give them back what they give the whole team.”

While Carter is well-known as a humble and resourceful person on and off the field, head coach Mark Richt probably gave an even better description of the Palm Beach County product.

Richt recently said that Carter is the “nicest and meanest” person he may have on the team. That can be taken two ways.

“I know what he meant,” Carter said. “Just me, every day, when I see someone, I greet them. I’m a cool person. That’s what he was talking about.”

But Carter is also a true menace, which is great for the defense.

“That’s on the field,” he said. “You all see that.”

Hopefully Carter will be making more starts soon, including Thursday night’s ACC opener against North Carolina (8 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium; ESPN).

The defensive back spoke on the Tar Heels, who posted their first conference win last week against Pittsburgh.

“We’re going to push them just like every other team,” he said. “They have guys on their team that can get the job done and so do we. We’re going to line up and just play ball.”

Now that the non-conference part of Miami’s schedule is over (3-1 record in four games played), the energy and sense of urgency will be on another level. There’s something to play for from this point forward – a possible ACC Championship Game appearance for the second year in a row.

“We’re going to attack every game the same, but when you have ACC against ACC, you want to come out there every single play and capitalize off it,” he said. “You want to come out every game and make a statement for the rest of the season.”