Clemson football: Freshmen who are already making an impact in 2021

Three Clemson football freshmen already making a major impact in 2021

2. Barrett Carter

Barrett Carter checked in at 226 pounds at the BIG Weigh-In last week and he looks every bit the part during his first couple of practices.

Carter has drawn rave reviews from those observers at practice and for good reason: He’s an absolute monster.

Carter has the strength and physicality to play at the SAM linebacker position, but the Tigers have also said that they’ll use him as a safety. He’s going to play that hybrid ‘Nickel’ role and, just like Shipley, he is already factoring into the depth chart.

The prospect of having Carter and Trenton Simpson on the field at the same should absolutely keep offensive coordinators awake at night. Those two guys are freakishly athletic and they can provide some key advantages for the Tiger defense as they look to slow down these new-age offensive systems.

Carter didn’t come to Clemson football expecting to sit the bench for his first season and it’s clear the Tigers are going to find ways to utilize him– including specialty packages– to get him on the field sooner rather than later.