1 week Ago
CLEMSON — Clemson had to wait a couple of days, but linebacker Barrett Carter gave the Tigers their first NFL draft pick of 2025. Carter, a Butkus Award finalist, will find himself in another set of stripes after being taken in the fourth round by the Cincinnati Bengals. He went off the board with the 119th overall pick.
"Impressive human being," said Cincy defensive coordinator Al Golden, according to Bengals.com , noting Carter's 4.0 grade point average.
"One of the more authentic interviews I had at the combine." "As far as the pick, it was another unwavering moment," Golden added. "He's a cultural creator.
He'll help ours." Carter led the Tigers' defense in snaps last season, finishing fourth in tackles with 84. He had 10.
5 for loss, along with 3.5 sacks and nine pass deflections. The former five-star recruit has plus athleticism, literally hurdling a blocker for a sack versus Louisville as a sophomore.
Carter was just an inconsistent tackler, which is something he'll have to clean up at the next level. For the first time since 2009, Clemson didn't have a player selected in the first three rounds of the NFL draft. After Carter, the Tigers had safety R.
J. Mickens taken by the Chargers in the sixth round. He was taken at No.
214 overall. The native of Southlake, Texas, has an NFL legacy. His father, Ray, was a third-round pick of the Jets in 1996.
He played eight seasons in New York. Clemson running back Phil Mafah was taken by the Cowboys in the seventh round. The 6-foot-1, 239-pound rusher, who played his senior season with an injured shoulder , becomes NFC East rivals with the Eagles' Will Shipley .
Clemson's 2025 draft class is on the lighter side, but it's a fact that made Dabo Swinney ahead of the program's pro day on March 13. "The best thing about pro day tomorrow is we got very few guys working out," Swinney said, "because they're all back playing for the Tigers." A host of prospects are back in the fall, including quarterback Cade Klubnik , offensive tackle Blake Miller and receiver Antonio Williams on offense, and corner Avieon Terrell and defensive linemen T.
J. Parker and Peter Woods on defense. Carter will reunite with former Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy with the Bengals.
Murphy was a first-round pick in 2023. Cincinnati is also home to former Tigers receiver Tee Higgins, who signed a four-year, $115 million contract extension with the Bengals this offseason..
