Cincinnati's fourth-round draft pick in 2025, Carter moved into a starting LB role early in his rookie season ... Played in all 17 contests as a rookie, starting each of the final 12, and totaled 102 tackles, one TFL, four PDs and one INT ... Finished the season ranking third in tackles among all NFL rookies in 2025 ... Came to the Bengals following four seasons (2021-24) at Clemson University, where he earned two All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors ... During the 2021-24 seasons, he was the only player in college football with at least 30 TFLs, 20 pass breakups and three INTs ... Was a team captain and finalist for the Butkus Award, given to nation's top LB, in his final season ... Also was a 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.
2025—Played in all 17 games with 12 starts as a rookie ... Totaled 102 tackles (52 solos), one TFL, four PDs and one INT ... Added four special teams tackles ... Defensive tackles total ranked third among NFL rookies ... Made career debut on Sept. 7 at Cleveland and logged three tackles ... Had double-digit tackles for first time in career on Oct. 12 at Green bay, finishing with team-high 10 ... Led team with 12 stops (eight solos) on Oct. 16 vs. Pittsburgh ... Notched team-high 10 tackles and recorded first career PD on Nov. 2 vs. Chicago ... Registered career-high 16 tackles on Nov. 23 vs. New England, which tied for fourth-most by Bengals player in a game since at least 1994 ... Had first career INT on Dec. 21 at Miami, picking off deflected pass in third quarter and returning it 16 yards to set up Bengals TD drive ... On Dec. 28 vs. Arizona, broke up pass on third down to force Cardinals punt, and finished with three tackles.
College: Spent four seasons (2021-24) at Clemson, where he played in 52 games with 40 starts ... Totaled 233 tackles, 31.5 TFLs, 12.5 sacks, 21 pass breakups, three INTs and two FFs ... As a senior in 2024, served as a team captain, named first-team All-ACC and third-team All-American by the Associated Press, and was a finalist for the Butkus Award (nation's top LB) ... Recorded 82 tackles with 10.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks in senior campaign, while also scoring a four-yard rushing TD ... Selected second-team All-ACC by the league's coaches in 2023 junior season.
High school/personal: Hometown is Suwanee, Ga., where he attended North Gwinnett High School ... Played regularly on offense (RB) and defense (LB) ... In 2020 senior season, was named the Defensive National High School Player of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club, after recording 38 tackles, 11 TFLs, five sacks and a 79-yard pick-six ... Also had 429 rushing yards and 10 TDs as a senior ... Graduated from Clemson with bachelor's degree in sports communication in December 2024 ... Off the field, volunteers with Our Friend Christopher, an organization established to honor Christopher Miles, a high school teammate who passed away from a stage 4 glioblastoma brain tumor ... Named the 2024 recipient of the Tim Bourret Award, presented annually to Clemson player who best represents himself, his teammates and the university in the media.
