Barrett Carter 2025 NFL Draft: Clemson ILB Scouting Report
In this talented 2025 NFL Draft class, an athletic linebacker you need to know is Barrett Carter. He’s a playmaking LB from Clemson with excellent instincts. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth expert scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Barrett Carter 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Barrett Carter arrived at Clemson as a heralded five-star recruit from North Gwinnett High School, where he showcased elite athleticism as both a running back and linebacker. Choosing Clemson over offers from Georgia, Auburn, and Ohio State, Carter transitioned fully to defense in college, evolving into a versatile weapon for the Tigers. Over four seasons (2021–2024), he logged 52 games with 40 starts, compiling 233 tackles, 33 tackles for loss (TFLs), 12.5 sacks, 21 pass breakups, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles across 2,482 snaps—the most ever by a Clemson linebacker.
A two-time All-ACC selection and 2024 Butkus Award finalist, Carter’s decision to return for his senior year solidified his status as a defensive leader and a top prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Overall, Carter possesses a compact, well-proportioned frame at 6’0” and 231 pounds, blending speed, agility, and functional strength. His 4.64-second 40-yard dash at Clemson’s Pro Day highlights his plus athleticism, though he lacks the elite length or bulk of some modern linebacker prototypes. His explosive lower-body power and quick-twitch movements shine in pursuit and gap-shooting scenarios, while his lateral agility allows him to mirror ball carriers and cover receivers in space.
HT: 6001
WT: 231
HAND: 928
ARM: 3218
40: 4.64
Strengths:
- Athletic Versatility: Carter’s rare movement skills make him a three-phase playmaker—run defense, pass coverage, and blitzing. His ability to drop into zone coverage with fluid hips and close throwing windows stands out, as does his knack for slipping blocks and chasing down plays sideline-to-sideline.
- Instincts and Recognition: Carter is a high-football-IQ defender. He diagnoses plays quickly, often positioning himself to disrupt at or behind the line of scrimmage. His anticipation in the run game and route recognition in coverage reflect years of starting experience.
- Explosive Playmaking: With 33 TFLs and 12.5 sacks, Carter’s burst off the snap and timing as a blitzer are exceptional for an inside linebacker. He delivers jarring hits and wraps up consistently, rarely missing tackles in open space.
- Durability and Motor: Playing over 2,400 snaps without major injury concerns, Carter’s stamina and relentless effort make him a sideline-to-sideline enforcer who thrives in high-volume roles.
Areas for Improvement:
- Block Deconstruction: While agile enough to evade second-level blockers, Carter struggles when offensive linemen engage him squarely. His lighter frame and average play strength can lead to him being washed out or stalled against bigger bodies, limiting his effectiveness in the box.
- Man Coverage Consistency: Though proficient in zone, Carter’s man-to-man skills against shifty running backs or larger tight ends need refinement. He occasionally loses leverage or gets caught flat-footed on quick breaks.
- Size Limitations: At his size, Carter lacks the ideal mass and length to stack and shed consistently in a traditional MIKE role. This could pigeonhole him into specific schemes at the next level.
- Over-Pursuit Tendencies: His aggressive downhill style sometimes pulls him out of position, especially on misdirection or play-action, where he can bite too hard and leave gaps exposed.
Conclusion:
Carter profiles as a late Day 2 to early Day 3 pick (Rounds 3-4) in the 2025 NFL Draft, with the potential to climb into the late 2nd Round if teams prioritize his athletic upside. His best fit is as a weakside linebacker (WILL) in a 4-3 scheme that keeps him clean to flow and chase, or as a hybrid linebacker/nickel in a modern, coverage-heavy defense. Teams like the Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or New England Patriots—needing speed and versatility at the second level—could target him.
Carter shows shades of Bobby Okereke (New York Giants), another undersized but athletic linebacker who excels in pursuit and coverage while developing into a reliable starter. Like Okereke, Carter’s ceiling hinges on improving his block-shedding and physicality against the run.
Ultimately, Carter is a high-floor, high-ceiling prospect whose athleticism and football IQ make him an immediate contributor on special teams and a developmental starter at linebacker. He could emerge as a three-down asset in the right system with coaching to bolster his run fits and man coverage.
Round Grade: 4th Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | Int | PD | FR | FF |
| 2021* | Clemson | 13 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022* | Clemson | 13 | 41 | 32 | 11 | 5.5 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023* | Clemson | 12 | 37 | 25 | 10 | 3.5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | Clemson | 14 | 42 | 40 | 11 | 3.5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 52 | 126 | 107 | 33 | 12.5 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 2 |
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