Barrett Carter shares what it would mean to him to be a team captain

There are several factors that led to Clemson star linebacker Barrett Carter choosing to return to school for his senior year. One of those was the opportunity to potentially be a team captain for Clemson in 2024.

Clemson’s final team captains are chosen by their teammates and announced at the conclusion of each season. One of Carter’s biggest goals for next year is to be a permanent team captain.

“I feel like I’m a natural-born leader. And I don’t think in our program it’s allowed for a junior to be a captain. I think you have to be a senior. And I’ve always finished in everything I’ve done,” Barrett Carter said. “I came back to finish. I came back to show my teammates that I’m worthy of being a captain and lead them to the Promised Land.”

There were several captains Carter looked up to after signing with the Tigers in the class of 2021.

They helped him settle in at Clemson and become the player he is today. Carter is looking forward to filling that role for younger players next season as he tries to help the Tigers have a special year.

“There were so many great ones that came in front of me. When I first got here, I had James Skalski, I had Baylon Spector, Mario Goodrich. The list goes on. Like, so many great ones in front of me who showed me what it takes to be great,” Barrett Carter said. “And I set that goal out that I want to be the next one of those. I want to be a legend at this school. And I think when you earn that status of being a captain, you earn that trust from your teammates, you’ve reached that point.”

Entering the Gator Bowl against Kentucky, Carter is second on the Clemson team with 63 tackles, including 9 tackles for loss. He was named a second-team All-ACC selection this season. Carter signed with Clemson as a five-star recruit and the No. 28 overall player in the country in the class of 2021, according to the On3 Industry rankings.

Now Carter is coming back for one more year. He has big personal goals and team goals for his final season with the Tigers.

“I’m just ready to build that trust with my teammates and lead them and show them what it takes to become a national champion,” Carter said. “That’s just a goal that I set for myself. Just be a captain and take this team to the Promised Land.”