Departing Clemson Seniors Deliver Goodbye Message
By: Robert MacRae January 13, 2025

A couple of departing seniors delivered a goodbye message as they move on from Clemson and get ready to begin the next chapter of their careers/lives.

Linebacker Barrett Carter and safety R.J. Mickens both certainly loved their time in Tiger Town.

Carter and Mickens had nothing but positive things to say about Clemson on Saturday, when the Tigers held their annual football awards banquet.

“Man, me and my dog Agent Zero right here, we’re gonna miss Clemson. Clemson men for life. Go Tigers. All In. I bleed orange. I bleed orange,” Mickens said, via Clemson Football’s official social media account on X (formerly Twitter).

“This place is special. Special,” Carter added. “I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. I would make the same decision over and over again. Special.”

Added Mickens: “Over and over again. I bleed orange. I love Coach Swinney, I love Coach Conn, I love all the people in this building, everybody. Go Tigers.”

A two-time All-America selection and two-time All-ACC honoree, Carter was credited by Clemson’s coaching staff with 254 tackles (31.5 for loss), 12.5 sacks, 24 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries over 52 games (40 starts) from 2021-24. At the conclusion of his career, Carter’s 2,482 career snaps were the most by a Tiger linebacker on record. He was the only player in the nation during his four-year career to record at least 30 tackles for loss, at least 20 pass breakups and three or more interceptions.

An NFL legacy, Mickens recorded 229 tackles (13.5 for loss), seven interceptions, 15 pass breakups and a fumble recovery over 2,174 career snaps in 60 games (30 starts) from 2020-24. He became the 10th player in Clemson history to play 60 career games, joining James Skalski, Will Spiers, Will Swinney, B.T. Potter, Nolan Turner, Justin Mascoll, Xavier Thomas, Jalyn Phillips and Will Putnam. Mickens earned fourth-team All-ACC recognition from Phil Steele in 2024, when he finished third on the team with a career-high 85 tackles (including a career-high 6.0 for loss) while adding seven pass breakups and two interceptions over 13 games (all starts).