Clemson Football: Barrett Carter named to early All-American team

ESPN has released their “Way Too Early” pre-season All-American team, and Clemson Football is represented.

Junior linebacker Barrett Carter was named to the defense. The list was revealed in an article by ESPN senior writer Chris Low.

Low also included linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson from Georgia, as well as two players he listed as linebacker/edge rusher hybrids: LSU’s Harold Perkins, Jr., and Alabama’s Dallas Turner.

Carter moved into Clemson’s 2022 starting lineup for defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Wes Goodwin, and he didn’t disappoint. He had 10.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and eight pass break-ups across 832 snaps. He got even better as the season progressed when he made a full-time move to the weak inside linebacker (WILL) position.

Other ACC players represented were Florida State defensive end Jared Verse and Miami safety Kamren Kinchens. The ACC had no representatives on the offensive side of the ball.

Notre Dame, an opponent for Clemson in 2023, had two players on the list: offensive tackle Joe Alt and cornerback Benjamin Morrison. The Tigers’ other FBS opponent, archrival South Carolina, placed one player: punter Kai Kroeger.

Clemson Football linebacker Barrett Carter is one of three ACC representatives

The team was headlined by defending Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Caleb Williams of USC. Other notable names included Michigan running back Blake Corum, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr., and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.

The article did not say if Low created the list himself or if anyone else gave input. Of the twenty-six players named to the team, nine of them (about 1/3) were from SEC schools. Five of those nine were Georgia players. Other schools with multiple representatives were Alabama (2), Michigan (2), and the aforementioned Notre Dame (2).

It’s big for Carter that he is already receiving pre-season hype, but he isn’t the only Clemson linebacker to be excited about. His fellow Clemson linebacker, Jeremiah Trotter, Jr., was named to the AP’s All-American second-team following the 2022 season.