The Clemson Tigers have several returning starters on defense heading into the 2024 season. Few of them have gathered as many preseason accolades as linebacker Barrett Carter.
Carter returns for his senior season after forgoing the NFL Draft. He was named to the Preseason Walter Camp All-America team, as well as a second-team preseason All-American by Phil Steele. Last season, Carter made 62 tackles (37 solo), 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six passes defended and a forced fumble.
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In three years at Clemson, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Carter is credited by the coaching staff with 170 total tackles (21 for loss), nine sacks, 17 passes defended, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions over 38 games.
On Thursday, 247Sports put together a list of the most exciting players for every team ranked in its Top 25 entering the season. Carter was named the Tigers’ most exciting player.
Carter was a five-star recruit out of North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Ga., in the class of 2021. He’ll be joined at linebacker this season by junior Wade Woodaz after Jeremiah Trotter Jr. left for the NFL. Woodaz was recently named ESPN’s “sleeper pick” among Clemson players.
The Tigers, ranked No. 16 in 247Sports’ post-spring rankings, also have incoming freshman phenom Sammy Brown, a five-star recruit from Jefferson, Ga. Phil Steele ranked Clemson’s linebacker corps as the best in the ACC earlier this off-season.
Six ACC teams, led by Florida State at No. 11, placed in 247Sports’ post-spring Top 25 rankings. Defensive lineman Patrick Payton was voted the Seminoles’ most exciting player.
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