Getting drafted is an emotional event for any college athlete. Hearing your name called as a professional team puts their faith in you as a player can only be a special feeling.
And that was no different for Clemson's Barrett Carter.
The Clemson football star waited two full days to hear his name called in the 2025 NFL Draft and the projected Day 2 pick had to be filled with emotions heading into Day 3. Many kind of figured he would be gone by that point, but the Bengals made the decision to pick him and end his slight slide in the draft and the call was emotional, to say the least.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor called Carter right before the pick asking how he was doing and you could tell by Barrett's voice that it had been a long two-plus days.
What followed that was awesome.
Carter, a Georgia native, didn't tell his family who was on the phone, but he was in tears when talking to Taylor and you could just tell that his excitement was through the roof. He was happy to have the process over with and finally get to work.
You could also tell his family was slightly hoping for a pick by the Atlanta Falcons, but they were just as excited when he told them it was the Bengals.
Carter is going to have a solid NFL career and I would not be shocked to see him in the league for a while just based on his work ethic and potential to be one of the most productive defenders in this class. He was elite in 2024 for a playoff team, I just think he needs the right opportunity somewhere and Cincinnati it is. The Bengals are getting a good one.