Clemson Tigers Defensive Star Selected by Cincinnati Bengals in NFL Draft
Clemson Tigers linebacker Barrett Carter became the first player from the program to be drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft, ending the Tigers’ wait in the fourth round on Saturday. Carter was picked by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 119th overall selection.
This marked the first time since 2009 that Clemson went without a player being drafted in the first three rounds. The Bengals, who already have former Clemson player and Carter’s former teammate Myles Murphy on their roster, added another Tiger to their defense.
Carter, a two-time All-America honoree, concluded his Clemson career with 254 tackles, including 31.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 24 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He started 40 of the 52 games he played during his career.
In his final season, Carter earned First-Team All-ACC honors after recording 84 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, nine pass breakups, and a fumble recovery in 14 games. He was also a finalist for the prestigious Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker.
Heading into the draft, Carter was ranked No. 136 on ESPN’s big board, making him the second-highest-ranked Clemson player behind safety RJ Mickens, who was listed at No. 89. Despite Carter’s selection, Mickens remained undrafted at that point.
Mickens, a highly durable safety, finished his Clemson career with 229 tackles and became just the 10th player in school history to appear in 60 career games. His durability and ranking as the No. 8 safety on ESPN’s draft board make him an intriguing prospect for NFL teams, although safety tends to be valued later in the draft compared to positions like linebacker.
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