His teammate is a Clemson commit. Now Tigers are making Georgia linebacker a priority
Clemson already can lay claim to one of the top prospects in Georgia in cornerback Jordan Hancock of Suwanee. He committed last week after attending the junior day March 7.
His teammate, four-star linebacker Barrett Carter was also at that junior day with his parents. He’s not as far down the road toward a decision as Hancock was, but the visit put Clemson in a high spot with Carter as he works through the 11 finalists on his list out of 54 offers.
“When we got to Clemson, I knew where I was because we have been there three times already,” Carter said. “I am very comfortable with Clemson and the city. I felt at home at Clemson. It’s a great environment there. The coaching staff is so welcoming. I love how Coach (Dabo) Swinney is very Christ-based. That sticks out about a coach.”
Carter (6-1, 210) sat down with Swinney for a one-on-one conversation. He also got time alone with defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brent Venables, who told him he sees a lot of former star Isaiah Simmons in him.
“I am not 6-4, I am just 6-1, but I am a shorter version of Isaiah because of how versatile and athletic I am. That is a huge compliment to me,” Carter said. “I would say that I am very versatile. I can cover anybody on the field. I can also play in the box. I am sideline to sideline and I am pretty fast. I can cover a lot of ground and make plays all over. My versatility is what sets me apart. I can make plays all over the field. It’s my dream to play in the NFL, so to see how he develops linebackers speaks volumes to me.”
Along with Clemson, Carter now is working with a short list of Georgia, Alabama, Florida State, Auburn, Florida, Duke, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Ohio State and LSU. Recruiting visits are on hold for everybody right now, but when they return he plans another visit to Clemson.
“I do have my top group but I prefer to keep that private,” Carter said. “Everyone thinks that Clemson is this big football school and it’s just football, but they are so much more than that. But Clemson has offered something like 60 kids in my grade, and it shows how having that offer is so prestigious and a blessing. They are very picky in how they recruit and it’s just a blessing to have an offer from them.”
According to MaxPreps stats, last season Carter had 76 tackles with 9 tackles for loss, 9 sacks and 7 quarterback hurries.
Recruiting news and notes
▪ WR Troy Stellato of Fort Lauderdale posted on social media that he is down to Clemson and Ohio State. He visited Clemson in November and again in March. He’s also been to Ohio State, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan. Stellato is rated a 4-star prospect by 247Sports Composite. The last two seasons, according to MaxPreps stats, he had 86 catches for 1,433 yards and 14 touchdowns.
▪ WR Mario Williams of Plant City, Florida, who has Clemson and South Carolina offers, did not include them in his top of Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Florida and Oklahoma.
▪ Clemson safety target Dakota Mitchell of Winter Park, Florida has set an official visit to Alabama for June 18.
▪ Coastal Carolina offered QB Tyler Phommachanh of Connecticut, the brother of Clemson quarterback Taishun Phommachanh.