Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
Size:
Height: 6001
Weight: 231
Arm: 32 ⅛”
Hand: 9 ¼”
Accomplishments:
Second-Team All-ACC (2023) • All-ACC Honorable Mention (2022) • Five-star recruit
“Barrett Carter is an athletic and versatile linebacker prospect with a three-down skill set to make impact plays against the run, in coverage, and rushing the passer on true dropback passing sets.”
Strengths:
Sideline-to-sideline range
Plus coverage defender
Strong blitzer/pass rusher
Concerns:
Taking on and shedding blocks
Functional strength at point of attack
Too many missed tackles
Film Analysis:
Barrett Carter's primary position under defensive coordinators Brent Venables and Wes Goodwin was weakside linebacker, but in those defenses, Carter showcased his versatility as a second-level defender with the ability to make impactful plays all over the field. This has allowed his explosive sideline-to-sideline range to shine. He is a great athlete who combines an explosive downhill trigger, lateral agility, and quickness to make plays on the football. Carter finished his career at Clemson as a linebacker who provided high-level plays in all facets of the defense, making plays against the run, in coverage, and as an effective blitzer on run downs. He concluded his career at Clemson with over 250 tackles, 12 sacks, and three interceptions, reflecting how well-rounded his game is as a linebacker.
He diagnoses play concepts and unleashes his athletic ability to work in the football’s direction. When Carter sniffs out gap-scheme run plays, he has the explosiveness to get downhill quickly and meet the RB in the alley. He can leverage gaps and flash his colors in the face of the RB. He works laterally with patience and speed to track the ball carrier to the perimeter on outside run concepts. Carter leverages the ball well and attacks with good pursuit angles to limit potential cut-back lanes across the field. He disrupts the run game as a backside pursuit defender off the edges and can knife his way into the backfield through small creases on the offensive line to create quick pressure and penetration.
Carter is a strong blitzer from multiple positions. He has the ability to mug the A-gaps or blitz off both edges and from an overhang position. He rushes the passer with good timing, speed, and closing burst to finish the play at the quarterback. His versatile skill set is a match for creative defensive coordinators willing to play him all over their front to impact the play. As a blindside rusher, Carter’s explosive athleticism can create turnovers with forced fumbles and strip sacks on the quarterback.
In coverage, Carter displays hip fluidity, speed, and a strong break on the football, making him a productive three-down defender. He reads the quarterback and route concepts around him as he drops to his spot in zone coverage before triggering to the football. Carter can mirror tight ends and running backs in man coverage in a confined area. He leverages routes well, playing to a specific side or angle to limit the offensive player's exposure to that space. He is a playmaker when the pass arrives, with multiple pass breakups and interceptions over the last two seasons in Clemson’s defense.
As for concerns with Carter, his wingspan and length are issues. This becomes apparent in his tackling, where, in both 2023 and 2024, ball carriers—whether they are quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, or tight ends—were able to break tackles after initial contact and pick up extra yardage. His overall strength and limited size come into play here, potentially contributing to his inability to consistently bring ball carriers down at a higher percentage. Due to Carter’s frame limitations, he is not an ideal candidate to be a primary MIKE linebacker in a defense. He struggles to take on and shed blocks from climbing offensive linemen and can be moved out of the gap and sealed relatively easily when aligned as an inside linebacker. His defensive line needs to keep him covered, freeing him up to flow freely to the football without obstacles. Carter must also find consistency with aggressiveness when triggering downhill in the run game, as he has shown instances of multiple false steps forward on hard play-action passes, vacating his zone responsibilities. Improving this will help limit vulnerability in the middle of the field.
Overall, Carter projects as an athletic, versatile, playmaking linebacker whose ideal role would be as a weakside linebacker but who can also play next to a true downhill thumping linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. Playing on the outside/perimeter will allow his natural athletic ability to make plays against both the run and the pass. His versatility is enticing, as he can play as a stack (off-ball) backer, on the edge, or as a slot/overhang defender.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Exposures: South Carolina (2024), SMU (2024), Georgia (2023), Texas (2024), South Carolina (2023), Kentucky (2023), Florida State (2023), Duke (2023), North Carolina (2023)
