NFL Draft Expert Talks Text Message He Received from Dabo
By: Gavin Oliver March 2, 2025

NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah received a text message from Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney on Thursday, when defensive linemen and linebackers worked out at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

According to Jeremiah, Swinney made it clear how much he thinks of his former Clemson star linebacker Barrett Carter.

“Dabo Swinney sent me a text today on him and just said (Carter is) one of his favorites, he does everything right, just a total pro,” Jeremiah said during NFL Network’s coverage of the combine.

That wasn’t all the praise that Swinney had for Carter in the text to Jeremiah.

“‘One of the best we’ve ever had in every aspect. Special dude,’” Jeremiah added of what Swinney said in the text message.

Although Carter didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Jeremiah liked Carter’s showing during other on-field drills Thursday.

“I think Barrett Carter, we didn’t see him run the 40, but he’s had a good field workout,” Jeremiah said.

Jeremiah was surprised that Carter didn’t run the 40-yard dash.

“I was kind of surprised because he can really, really run,” Jeremiah said.

Prior to the combine, Jeremiah said Carter was among the group of off-ball linebackers that Jeremiah expected to be drafted in the “third round range” of the 2025 NFL Draft, which is scheduled to be held from April 24-26 inside and around iconic Lambeau Field and Titletown in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks recently ranked the top five players at each position in this year’s draft class, and he has Carter as the No. 4 off-ball linebacker.

A recent mock draft from NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, who has covered the draft since 2000, projected Carter to be selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round with the 96th overall pick.

Carter was a Butkus Award finalist, first-team All-ACC selection and third-team All-American as a senior this past season, when he recorded 84 tackles (10.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks, nine pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 837 defensive snaps from scrimmage over 14 games (all starts). He was one of 12 Clemson players to start all 14 games in 2024, and his total number of snaps from scrimmage were the most by a Clemson linebacker since 2016 (882 by Ben Boulware).

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 Clemson 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.

–Photo courtesy Kirby Lee-Imagn Images