Barrett Carter, LB Clemson: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Carter was a five-star recruit from North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Ga. in the class of 2021

Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter is one of the most athletic defenders in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s still developing his coverage instincts but has the athletic upside of being a defensive chess piece at the next level.

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Barrett Carter, LB Clemson: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior weakside linebacker from Suwanee, Ga.

Background: Carter was a five-star recruit from North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Ga. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 33 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 22 for Rivals, and No. 28 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 105th in the nation (four-star) with an 84 grade out of 100. According to MaxPreps, Carter amassed 38 tackles, including 11 for loss, five sacks, and an interception in his high school senior season. He also carried the ball 46 times for 429 yards and ten touchdowns on offense. Carter earned Defensive National High School Player of the Year honors from the Maxwell Football Club for his performance. As a junior, he totaled 73 tackles, including nine for loss, ten sacks, and two passes defensed. His sophomore year stats included 51 tackles with seven tackles for loss, three sacks, and an interception. Carter earned an invitation to the All-American Bowl. He posted some verified numbers in high school, including a 4.59 40-time, 4.22 shuttle, 35.60-inch vertical, and 400 lb. squat. Carter was born on Oct. 23, 2002.

Injuries & Off-Field: Minor foot injury in high school, missed 2022 Syracuse game while in concussion protocol, volunteer with the organization Our Friend Christopher

Awards: 2022 Honorable Mention All-ACC, 2022 First Team All-ACC (PFF)

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units, four special teams tackles in 2022, committed zero penalties in 2022, appears to have NFL-caliber arm length, speedy and explosive athlete, closing burst, loose hips and a fluid lower body, lateral agility to cover multiple gaps, willing to take on larger blockers and play downhill, high motor defender who makes use of his range, quick to redirect and pursue the ball, sideline-to-sideline range, pursuit speed, quarterback chase down artist, sniffs out screens, mobility shines in coverage, significant experience working in the slot, mobility to bracket slot receivers down the seam, tight ends don’t stress him in coverage, potential tight end eraser, rocket off the edge on blitzes, solid bend and ankle flexibility, gets hands up to bat passes when rushing the passer

Cons: Lean lower half, size limits impact between the tackles in the run game, block shedding, needs work on deconstructing blocks, blocked and taken out of plays by smaller offensive players, path is disrupted by minimal contact, must protect chest better when taking on blocks, more patience in the running game required, inconsistent angles in run support, shook out of his cleats by Jordan Travis (2022), occasionally overruns the ball carrier and misses the tackle, not an instinctive coverage linebacker, still building awareness in zone, bites on eye manipulation, not consistent enough to mirror and match slot receivers downfield, coverage technique and awareness need refinement, limited pass rush arsenal

Overview: Carter enters 2023 with special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units. He is a significant special teams contributor who made four tackles on the units in 2022. Carter is a superb athlete who appears to have NFL-caliber arm length. He is fast and explosive with excellent closing burst and the loose hips and fluid lower body to change directions at will. Carter uses his lateral agility to cover multiple gaps against the run. He’s willing to take on larger blockers and play downhill despite lacking traditional off-ball linebacker size. Unlike some smaller linebackers, Carter isn’t completely washed out against the run. He has the play strength to meet and stalemate larger blockers. The junior is a high motor defender who makes use of his sideline-to-sideline range and endurance. He is quick to redirect and pursue the ball with his impressive speed. Carter’s athletic profile makes him an ideal candidate to spy quarterbacks or chase down mobile passers. His mobility shines in coverage. Clemson primarily used Carter in zone assignments, but he also played some man. He spent a significant amount of time working in the slot in 2022. Carter’s mobility helps him bracket slot receivers down the seam. Tight ends don’t stress him athletically in coverage. He could develop into a tight end eraser in the NFL. However, Carter is still developing his awareness, instincts, and feel in zone. He bites on eye manipulation and isn’t consistent enough to mirror and match slot receivers downfield. His coverage technique needs refinement. Specifically, his footwork in man coverage and use of spacing in zone must improve. Carter’s impact as an off-ball stack linebacker against the run is questionable considering his lean lower half and underdeveloped technique for block deconstruction. The All-ACC honorable mention is blocked and taken out of plays by smaller offensive players because he doesn’t protect his chest well. He sometimes takes poor angles in run support because he’s too eager to make a play. More patience will prevent Carter from running himself out of plays. Carter is a rocket off the edge on blitzes. He has solid bend and ankle flexibility but lacks the pass rush arsenal to play that role full-time.

Overall, Carter is one of the most physically gifted defenders in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he’s still developing the experience and technique to maximize his gifts in pass coverage. It’s not surprising that the one-year starter is a little raw in this area. Developing these primarily mental aspects of the game will boost his stock significantly.

Role & Scheme Fit: Overhang weakside linebacker with slot duties

Round Projection: Mid Second to Late Second

Size: 6'1", 225 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 08-10-23