The summer recruiting season is in full-swing. Unfortunately, real, live college football is still a couple of months away.

With that in mind, TheClemsonInsider is taking a look back at the recruitment of each returning player to the Clemson roster with the Back When series.

CB [autotag]Ryan Carter[/autotag], Loganville, Ga. – RS Sophomore

In the summer before his senior year at Grayson High School, Carter held offers from East Carolina, Tulane, Southern Miss, Georgia State and Arkansas State.

Carter saw an uptick in recruiting stock when five-star defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche told reporters he wanted to play college ball with his buddy.
Ole Miss, which scored a commitment from Nkemdiche after he backed off his pledge to Clemson, was the first major offer for Carter.

Clemson hosted Carter and Nkemdiche in July for the inaugural All-In Cookout, but an offer didn’t materialize for the two-star cornerback.

Penn State, Missouri and Indiana were among the schools expressing interest in Carter when he returned to Clemson for an official visit in January of 2013. The Tigers offered during the trip and Carter made a silent commitment.

Just after noon on signing day, Dabo Swinney announced that Clemson signed Carter.

“I knew when I took my official visit. I got to sit down with coach Swinney. I knew I had an offer then. We just didn’t want things to get out of hand, so we just waited until signing day for me to sign and what not. I knew I was all good when I took my official.”

Carter wasn’t the only defensive back to pop for Clemson on Signing Day in 2013: Safety Korrin Wiggins, who flipped from UNC, was joined by cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander and Adrian Baker.