Scouting Profile: Barrett Carter - LB - Clemson
Sales Pitch: Undersized linebacker with tremendous pursuit speed. Size and strength limitations may reduce him to a part time role despite his excellent athletic profile.
*Gold Numbers Indicate NCAA T-25 for 2024*
*Red Numbers Indicate NCAA B-25 for 2024*
Scouting Report
Barrett Carter is a former 5-Star recruit from the state of Georgia. He leaves Clemson as one of the most productive and illustrious defenders in the program’s history. During his time with the Tigers Carter was a 3x All-ACC honoree and 2024 All-American, finishing his career with 39 straight starts.
Carter is an explosive defender with a short compact frame. He displays blazing sideline to sideline speed with a constant motor. He is at his best as a run defender when left clean, where he can utilize his athletic ability. Carter possesses a quick downhill trigger to dart into the backfield and create splash plays. He does a good job tracking down ball carriers when in pursuit from the backside as well. Carter’s athleticism makes him an effective man coverage player. He has the speed to carry both RBs and TEs vertically down the field on wheels and seams. He is also capable of flexing out in the slot and mirroring TEs on horizontal routes. Clemson loved to leverage Carter’s athletic ability as a moveable chess piece on third down. His ability to click and close out in space makes him a very effective rover/QB spy. He is also an impactful blitzer from depth or off the edge with his burst.
For every bit Carter is athletic is also small. He has sub 20th percentile height and weight, lacking the mass to hold up at the point of attack in the run game. When lineman are able to get up into him and make contact at the 2nd level, he is easily washed out of the play. Carter’s light frame quickly gives up ground on first contact and he lacks the arm length to extend and separate from blockers. While Carter is a good horizontal run defender, his aggressive nature can lead to him over pursuing plays. Since he is a smaller player he tries to avoid being caught in traffic and can get caught surfing over the top of runs opening up cutback lanes. Carter must improve his tackling consistency if he wants realize his ceiling as a space player. He frequently comes in out of control as a tackler, stopping his feet and lunging. His lack of size and short arms allow ball carriers to run through his chest and fall for extra yards. Carter is a good man coverage defender but his zone coverage is closer to average. He has the athletic ability to get to his drops but stiff hips limit his redirect ability to match WR angles. He has average instincts and will lose track of routes behind him as well and his short arms limit his ability to disrupt throwing lanes.
Carter profiles best as a WILL backer in an aggressive downhill scheme. His lack of size and strength limit his ceiling but players with his athletic ability usually find a role somewhere on a defense. Carter projects as a late Day-2, early Day-3 pick as a rotational player and special teams star with starter upside.