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After last season, Barrett Carter had a decision to make.
After three successful seasons at Clemson, the talented linebacker could have easily chosen to enter the NFL Draft and forgo his final season of eligibility. Instead, Carter chose to return for one final run.
“It was tough,” Carter said on ACC Network’s Road Trip. “But I look back at my overall college experience, my career and the guys we had coming back. I just couldn’t leave this university yet.”
Carter just feels like he has unfinished business at Clemson and that is one of the reasons he chose to come back.
“I just wanted to finish strong and leave a real legacy at this school,” he said. “I want to be a legend at this school. And that is what I plan to do this season. That is really what went into it and I am just here to make history.”
As a sophomore, Carter earned All-American honors and was then an All-ACC selection a season ago. He was one of just three players to post 19 or more tackles for loss, 10-plus passes defensed, multiple forced fumbles and multiple interceptions across the 2022-23 seasons.
As he now heads into his final season, Carter is looking to help guide Clemson back to the College Football Playoff, something he has yet to experience in his collegiate career with the Tigers.
“Getting us back to the top of the mountain,” Carter added. “Just holding that trophy after whoever we beat. But just holding that trophy and being on that stage as national champs.”
With No. 14 Clemson opening up against top-ranked Georgia in the AFLAC Kickoff Challenge in Atlanta on August 31, Carter and the rest of the Tigers will know exactly how they stack up with one of the best teams in the country, and it’s a challenge the veteran linebacker is very much looking forward to.
“They’ve arguably been the best team in college football the past couple of years,” said Carter. “Having the opportunity to open up with them, a high-caliber elite team such as Georgia, who has great balance on both sides of the ball, it’s super-exciting. I’m super-excited to see how we compete with them and I am excited to just battle for four quarters or however long it takes with them.”