Clemson’s spoiled nature at linebacker is led by the return of its biggest pro prospect.

Barrett Carter elected to return for his senior season to lead the Tigers defense, which was a top-10 unit in 2023. He was a second-team All-ACC player last year, finishing with 62 total tackles, 9.5 for loss and  sacks.

Pro Football Focus ranked the top linebacker prospects regardless of eligibility, and Carter came in at No. 4

Carter was the top linebacker prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft entering the season according to PFF’s lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema before surprising many by returning for his senior year. While his junior season didn’t quite live up to what he showed as a sophomore (70.6 PFF grade in 2023 compared to 81.4 in 2022), Carter’s entire body of work over the last two years still earns him one of the top spots on this list.

Where Carter impresses the most is his athleticism. It’s why he’s been heralded as a Day 1 or 2 pick whenever he takes the next step into the NFL. On top of the stats and physicals that show how he elevates the Clemson defense, PFF’s win metrics declare him the most valuable in the country.

No returning Power Five linebacker since 2022 has been more valuable than Carter according to PFF’s wins above average metric. He’s especially dominant on passing downs, as he’s the only one in that same group with 80-plus PFF grades as both a pass-rusher and run defender in that span. Carter is a supreme athlete who can re-enter first-round conversations with a bounceback 2024 campaign.

Carter will lead a deep linebacker room in 2024 with the aforementioned opportunity to become a first-round pick. He bet on himself returning this year, even if the decision is focused on bringing hardware to the Tigers.

Winning is paramount for Carter, and the numbers show he’s the best linebacker at doing so.