Note: The following appears in The Citadel football gameday program.
“One of the best pure football players I’ve had in 20 years.” That is what Head Coach Dabo Swinney had to say about Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter. A 2023 All-ACC selection and 2024 Butkus Award semifinalist, Carter has put together quite the career as a Tiger. He has been a force on Clemson’s elite defenses for four seasons, as he returned to Tigertown for his senior campaign to complete his legacy.
As great of a linebacker Carter is, being in the middle of the defense was not always his vision.
The Suwanee, Ga. native is grateful for the place that helped shape him into the man he is today. He initially played running back and wide receiver, with linebacker being his secondary position, at North Gwinnett High School. He had always envisioned himself becoming a professional running back, but during the spring after his freshman season, his head coach moved him to linebacker after a spot opened up.
“I was devastated. I wanted to quit football. It was truly such a sad day. I thought I was going to grow up and be a professional running back. But the next day, I received my first scholarship offer for linebacker, and the rest was history.”
After transitioning to linebacker, Carter developed into an elite prospect, with offers from top universities. He credited his family for helping him grow and always supporting him along his football journey, adding that they are his “why” for his relentless effort. With all these top programs battling for Carter’s services, he ultimately chose to enroll at Clemson.
“I’m big on genuine relationships, and that’s what I felt at Clemson. Every other school talked a lot about football and not as much about who you are as a man and person off the field. Being able to balance both sides was what Clemson showed me, and that’s what I was looking for in a school.”
Carter’s career took off at Clemson. A big reason why is because of his dedication to the film room and preparation throughout the week. The 2024 midseason All-American believes the game is won in practice from Monday to Friday, which allows him to play free during the games on Saturday. This mentality had a big impact on his production, and after his junior season, he was steadily climbing NFL draft boards as a top prospect. Carter had a big decision to make…enter the NFL draft or return to Clemson for one last season.
“I’d be lying if I said it was an easy decision. You have your childhood dream sitting right in front of you, and you have that difficult decision to make. I went to lunch with Dan Lian, the pastor at NewSpring Church, and he said, ‘Do not make a decision based off fear,’ and that’s what I was contemplating the whole time. After that, I knew what I needed to do.”
Carter’s return to Clemson was crucial for the program, not only for his elite playmaking on the field, but also for his leadership and work in the community. Not especially known for his vocal leadership through his first three seasons, Clemson’s coaches challenged him to become more of a vocal leader as one of the veterans on the team. Always being a leader by example, the senior believes he has lived up to that challenge and has seen his vocal leadership grow to new heights.
Off the field, Carter has always made it a point to get involved in the community and give back as much as he can. Growing up, he always admired the older athletes who would get involved in their communities, so he has made it an emphasis to do the same.
Carter visits local elementary schools and spends time there with kids, trying to make a positive impact on their lives. He is also involved with the Our Friend Christopher charity, which was set up in honor of Carter’s late friend, Christopher Miles, who Carter referred to as a “big brother” growing up.
Carter’s work in the community is a credit to the way he was raised by his parents and his overall approach to life. Being highly touted since high school, Carter has had to handle attention and outside noise from scouts and the media. When asked how he handles all this attention and stays focus on what is in front of him, Carter shared the following.
“I was watching a documentary on Netflix, and one quote that stood out to me was, ‘The giant looks in the mirror and sees nothing.’ I took that as no matter how much you accomplish, no matter how big you may seem, you always have to stay grounded. My family raised me that way and always taught me to be humble and stay hungry throughout everything.”
When reflecting on his time at Clemson, Carter pointed to last season’s Gator Bowl victory over Kentucky as his favorite memory.
“I think about everything we went through as a team last year. We were 4-4 with our backs against the wall. We had to prevail through everything, and to finish with that win was a special moment. I cried after the game, and I’ve never cried after a win. I’ve cried after a loss, but I cried after that game. It was such a special moment for our team, and that momentum carried into this season.”
A standout on and off the field, Carter is a true representation of what Clemson football is all about. He is a hungry competitor every time he takes the field while remaining humble through it all.
Carter returned to Clemson to solidify his legacy. With 2024 winding down, look for #0 to help lead the Tigers down the stretch and go out with a bang.
