Barrett Carter

A two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference pick with a versatile skill set, Carter was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round of April's draft ... He was dubbed by Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney as "one of the best pure football players I've had in 20 years" ... In four-year career at Clemson (2021-24), he saw action in 52 games with 40 starts and totaled 233 tackles, 31.5 TFLs, 12.5 sacks, 21 pass breakups, three INTs and two FFs ... Over the span of the 2021-24 seasons, he was the nation's only player with at least 30 TFLs, 20 pass breakups and three picks ... In 2024, he became the seventh player in Clemson history to be named a finalist for the Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top linebacker ... Also voted by teammates as permanent team captain in 2024, and was semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy in recognition of his personal character in addition to his on-field performance.

A two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference pick with a versatile skill set, Carter was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round of April's draft ... He was dubbed by Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney as "one of the best pure football players I've had in 20 years" ... In four-year career at Clemson (2021-24), he saw action in 52 games with 40 starts and totaled 233 tackles, 31.5 TFLs, 12.5 sacks, 21 pass breakups, three INTs and two FFs ... Over the span of the 2021-24 seasons, he was the nation's only player with at least 30 TFLs, 20 pass breakups and three picks ... In 2024, he became the seventh player in Clemson history to be named a finalist for the Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top linebacker ... Also voted by teammates as permanent team captain in 2024, and was semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy in recognition of his personal character in addition to his on-field performance.

Career transactions:

Selected by Cincinnati in fourth round of NFL Draft (119th overall) on 4-26-25 ... Signed with Bengals on 5-8-25.

Defensive coordinator Al Golden says:

"He's a guy that we had high regard for and had grades higher than the (fourth) round. He can play stack linebacker and gives us four-down value — early downs, third down and special teams. He was a team captain, green dot, 4.0 GPA — just a family-oriented guy and a really impressive human being. He's going to have an immediate impact for us."

College highlights:

Played in 52 games with 40 starts over four seasons (2021-24) at Clemson.

2024—Voted a team captain ... Named first-team All-ACC and third-team All-America by the Associated Press ... Finalist for Butkus Award, given to nation's top LB ... Semifinalist for LOTT Impact Trophy, awarded to defensive college football player of the year for both personal character and athletic abilities ... Started all 14 games ... Totaled 82 tackles (42 solos), 10.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and seven PBUs ... Played 838 total snaps, the most by a Clemson LB since Ben Boulware in 2016 ... Also rushed one time for a four-yard TD on Nov. 23 vs. The Citadel, becoming first Clemson defensive player to score offensive TD since 2020 ... Posted six tackles in College Football Playoff first round on Dec. 21 vs. Texas ... Named to ACC All-Academic Team.

2023—Selected second-team All-ACC by the league's coaches ... Quarterfinalist for LOTT Impact Trophy ... Played and started 12 games ... Tallied 62 tackles (37 solos), 9.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, five PBUs and one INT ... Logged three tackles, four PDs and an INT in Gator Bowl on Dec. 29 vs. Kentucky ... Named to ACC All-Academic Team.

2022—Played and started 13 games ... Totaled 73 tackles (41 solos), 10.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, eight PBUs, two INTs and two FFs ... Notched season-high nine tackles with a half-sack and added a PBU in ACC Championship on Dec. 3 vs. North Carolina ... Culminated season with eight stops, including a sack, and two PBUs in Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 vs. Tennessee ... Named to ACC All-Academic Team.

2021—Played in 12 games with one start as a true freshman ... Recorded 16 tackles with one TFL, while adding one PBU ... Notched one assisted tackle in collegiate debut on Sept. 4 vs. Georgia ... Posted season-high six stops and one PBU on Oct. 23 vs. Pittsburgh.

High school:

Attended North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Ga. ... Played RB offensively and LB defensively ... Named the Defensive National High School Player of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club in 2020 senior season ... As a senior, he rushed for 429 yards and 10 TDs, and caught seven passes for 68 yards ... Also totaled 38 tackles, 11 TFLs and five sacks, and had a 79-yard pick-six in senior campaign ... Recorded 73 tackles and 10 sacks in 13 games as a junior in 2019.

Personal:

Hometown is Suwanee, Ga. ... Earned bachelor's degree in sports communication from Clemson in December 2024 ... Off the field, volunteers with Our Friend Christopher, an organization established to honor Christopher Miles, a high school teammate of Carter's who passed away from a stage 4 glioblastoma brain tumor ... Named as 2024 recipient of the Tim Bourret Award, presented annually to Clemson player who best represents himself, his teammates and the university in the media.

Last Updated July 2025