Watch Nate Carter score his first NFL preseason TD with the Falcons (Video)

It's hard to believe that we're already in the middle of August and football is right around the corner, but the NFL preseason is giving us diehard fans something to keep us busy until the regular-season kickoff. And some former Spartans are standing out, including one rookie running back.

Who is it? Nate Carter, of course.

The rookie running back went undrafted this past spring but was signed shortly after by the Atlanta Falcons where he's been given a chance to prove himself inthe preseason.

So far, he's not doing too bad.

While his first extended action against the Detroit Lions was cut short due to a scary injury to a would-be tackler while he was carrying the ball, he made up for that in his second extended action on Friday night against the Tennessee Titans. He was one of the biggest offensive stars of the game, even breaking off his first NFL preseason touchdown run.

Carter read the lane correctly, waited for a final opening and burst right through it for a 43-yard touchdown, getting the Atlanta crowd to erupt with the Falcons' first touchdown of the game.

This wasn't even the first Spartan touchdown of the game, however, as former Michigan State defensive back Kendell Brooks opened the game with a 53-yard pick-six. He's been fighting for a roster spot in the NFL since 2023.

I've always thought Carter was one of the more underrated players to come through East Lansing because he had all the talent, but the blocking in front of him just never held up. He was always getting hit the second he got the ball and he did his best to fight for extra yards, but his stats were just not impressive enough to earn a draft pick.

We're starting to see what he can do with solid blocking.

Carter finished the game with nine carries for 63 yards and that touchdown. He also caught two passes for nine yards. It's starting to look like he may just flirt with a 53-man roster spot.