Clemson Football: Ryan Carter 2018 NFL Draft profile

Over the next few weeks, Rubbing The Rock will be analyzing each Clemson football player in the 2018 NFL Draft class. Today we’ll be taking a look at Ryan Carter.

Must Read: Back-loaded schedule suits Clemson well in 2018

Ryan Carter (CB) Grayson, Georgia:

Though he was underrated coming out of perennial power, Grayson high school in Georgia, Carter turned out to be a steady force in Clemson’s secondary. Lacking in size, Carter has the tenacity and polish to make an NFL roster.

Strengths:

Over the duration of his career in Death Valley, Carter tallied 78 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and one sack. These numbers are impressive given Carter’s 5-foot-9, 180 pound frame.

Despite his size, Carter manage to start on Clemson’s vaunted defense. This was no accident. Carter is an extremely heady football player, with a good nose for the football. Rarely will he get caught out of coverage and he isn’t afraid to come down and tackle.

Weaknesses

Carter’s size isn’t an end-all-be-all, however, it is worth taking into consideration. There are some NFL teams who are strictly looking for defensive backs with length and there are plenty of others who don’t mind a smaller corner.

At his height, it will be difficult to deal with some of the large targets in the NFL, whether it be wide receivers or tight ends.

Projection

Don’t expect Carter to go within the first five rounds. While he is certainly deserving of a selection, it doesn’t look like he will go early in the draft. There is a real possibility that he goes undrafted.

Next: 2019 Commit Brannon Spector Finished 2nd At The Opening

That being said, I expect Carter to make an NFL roster in 2018. He has all the makings of a pesky nickel back on the next level. With his lateral agility and versatility in coverage, covering receivers in the slot will suit him well.