BUTLER TWP — Carter Stanton was born the same day as one of this nation's biggest nightmares.

He's been spending his life following a dream.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I've wanted a career in sports,” the Butler senior said. “When I was two or three years old, I was broadcasting imaginary football games in the backyard.”

Now he's putting together video packages of football players for real.

Though Stanton — born on the same day of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Sept. 11, 2001 — is technically still a Butler senior, he reported to Oklahoma State University Jan. 6 to attend classes and work with athletics and sports media there.

He was able to finish his high school studies by late December.

“Carter's life has been anything but normal,” his mother, Melissa Stanton, said. “This is something he really wants to do and he's going after it.”

Stanton began tinkering with still photography and video in seventh grade “just for fun,” he said. A couple of years later, he put together a highlight video of the University of Oregon football team.

That was just for fun as well, but word of Stanton's talents soon got out. He's been busy ever since.

In December of 2016 — Stanton's freshman year — he picked up his first client. Khari Vanderbilt, a linebacker from the University of California (Berkeley), contacted him and asked him to put together a highlight video of him.

Jordan Sterns, a safety from Oklahoma State, soon followed. And so it grew.

“I put some of my early videos on YouTube and it circulated,” Stanton said. “People see it. My clientele just grew. Some of it was by word of mouth. Some of it was through people seeing my YouTube channel.”

Rocket Mixes is Stanton's YouTube channel. His work is also featured on Instagram and Oklahoma State University sports blogs.

When Oklahoma State's football team played Pitt at Heinz Field in 2017, OSU's Football Operations Director, Mack Butler, invited Stanton to meet with him.

“A few of my first clients were Oklahoma State players,” Stanton said. “My dad had been in contact with the athletic director at Oklahoma State. They invited us down to their hotel the night before the game.”

Stanton wound up meeting future Steelers Mason Rudolph and James Washington that night. He attended the Cowboys' win over Pitt the next day as a fan.

In April of 2018, Carter and his family found themselves driving to Oklahoma State's campus in Stillwater, Okla., to meet with the Director of the School of Media & Strategic Communications. Less than two days later, Stanton was asked to look into the prospects of finishing high school early to attend the university and go to work there.

“Everything happened so quickly for him,” Mrs. Stanton said. “But he was prepared for it.”

Stanton had filmed sports for Butler High School. He participated in the Butler Tornado TV Morning Show. He's been a guest speaker at the Intermediate High School and at Grove City College, where he talked about his business and professional networking.

He also served as executive producer for live streaming of Butler BlueSox games for two summers.

“I wanted a degree in sports media and it so happened that Oklahoma State was one of few schools to offer that program,” Stanton said. “I wanted to get out there and get started as soon as possible.

“Butler only allowed its top five (students in class rank) to finish their senior years early. I had a 4.0 grade point, but I definitely wasn't in the top five. We presented our case and Dr. (Brian) White (Butler's superintendent of schools) allowed me to finish early. I'm very appreciative of that.”

Stanton took his junior and senior year's of English simultaneously. He finished up in late December and was at Oklahoma State by Jan. 6.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the spring sports season, Stanton was working for Orange Power Studios on campus. He's had approximately 50 clients on his own and was attending classes.

“Full plate, for sure, but it's worth it,” he said. “Seventy-five percent of my clients are people who have called me. Some players are from smaller schools and they're looking to market themselves through a video highlight package. Others just want a video done to have a keepsake of their career.”

More than 24 players he's done videos for in recent years have reached the NFL.

Before the shutdown, Stanton was able to film the Cowboys' spring football practice and the program's Pro Day.

“My goal is to be a creative media director for a college or pro team,” Stanton said. “I could incorporate the graphic design, photography and videography I've been doing for a few years now.

“Being in charge of the Jumbotron at a large stadium ... That would be my dream job.”