The Clemson football program received excellent news when star linebacker Barrett Carter announced he would be returning to Clemson for another season with the Tigers.
Barrett Carter, a key player for the Tigers and a potential early pick in the 2024 NFL draft, surprised many people when he opted to return to Clemson. The young linebacker is committed to further development within the program and improving his draft stock in the 2025 class. Last season, Carter stood out in 11 games, securing the second spot on the team with 59 tackles and the third spot with nine tackles for loss, along with three sacks. It was significant news that fans could be really excited about.
Recently, PFF named Carter to their 2024 College Football All-Returners Team, the best returning players in college football.
Carter was the top linebacker prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft entering the season before surprising many by returning for his senior year. While his junior season didn’t quite live up to what he showed as a sophomore (70.6 PFF grade in 2023 compared to 81.4 in 2022), Carter’s entire body of work over the last two years still earns him one of the top spots on this list.
No returning Power Five linebacker since 2022 has been more valuable than Carter according to PFF’s wins above average metric. He’s especially dominant on passing downs, as he’s the only one in that same group with 80-plus grades as both a pass rusher and run defender in that span. Carter is a supreme athlete who can re-enter first-round conversations with a bounceback 2024 campaign.
While Carter’s return was a surprise, you best believe Clemson fans won’t be complaining. Carter will be the heart and soul of the Tigers’ defense in the 2024 season.