Nobody played a bigger role in last week’s win over Virginia Tech than cornerback Ryan Carter. The fifth-year senior drew the assignment of having to cover one of the best wide receivers in the ACC in Cam Phillips.

The Hokies’ pass catcher came into the game leading the nation in receiving yards, while leading the league in touchdown receptions. But Carter was ready. For the most part he spied on Phillips all night, limiting the All-ACC caliber receiver to seven catches for 74 yards and no touchdowns.

Carter finished the game with two tackles and two pass breakups. Because he stands at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, he stunned people with what he can do.

However, Mickey Conn, Carter’s former high school coach, now Clemson safeties coach, was not surprised.

When Clemson was recruiting Grayson (Ga.) High School defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and former running back Wayne Gallman, Conn pointed Dabo Swinney in Carter’s direction. Conn, a teammate of Swinney’s at Alabama, told Swinney Carter was one of the best football players on his team and there was no doubt, despite his height, he could play at the highest level in college.

So Swinney gave Carter a look and sure enough he saw exactly what Conn had seen.

“We thought he could be a great player at Clemson,” Swinney said. “We would have committed to him a lot early had it not been for all the ridiculous narrative in the recruiting world that we are only going to offer this guy to get some other player.

“I don’t operate that way. Those guys can go other places. We don’t operate that way here. We evaluate and we recruit the guys that we think fit our program. We don’t care if they have zero offers or a thousand offers.”

Clemson eventually offered Carter and he committed pretty much on the spot.

“(Swinney) has always believed in me ever since high school,” Carter said. “I know a lot of people probably did not think or believe in me. They didn’t think I had a chance to play at this level and stuff like that. Just knowing he kept the faith and believed in me that I would develop into a good player, it’s great knowing he has my back.”

Carter is repaying Swinney’s faith by having a stellar senior season. Currently he has 12 tackles and leads the Tigers in PPU’s with four. Of course, this is not the first year Carter has been productive. He first earned serious playing time in 2015, when he played in 14 games and started two as the Tigers’ nickel back.

“It was very big for me when I was a redshirt sophomore to get in there and play nickel because it helped me get experience,” Carter said. “I feel like it translated going into my redshirt junior year, just being a guy that has been in the system, I kind of know what Coach (Brent) Venables demands and what Coach V wants out of his corners and his defensive backs.

“It was very big for me just to get in there, get my experience and get my technique where it needs to be as a young guy. Playing nickel, it just translated into me being able to handle it and play more at corner.”

That experience led to Carter starting 13 games last year at field corner, while also playing a little safety and nickel back as well.

“We love guys that bring that versatility, high IQ football players,” Swinney said.

Carter always felt his versatility was his biggest asset, especially considering his size and height. He knew he has to do something to make himself standout.

“I’m not a tall guy so I just always felt if I could bring some physicality and bring some effort and toughness then the rest will take care of itself,” he said. “I always felt like I was good enough to do it. I just had to believe and trust in myself that I could do it.

“I definitely heard a lot. I heard I was not going to be able to (play college football) because of my height and things of that nature, but I just tried to come out with that chip on my shoulder and bring it every day.”

And that attitude helped Carter earn an offer to Clemson, where he has played in 46 games, started 20, has played in two national championship games and won one.

“I was just ecstatic and happy that someone gave me a chance and gave me an opportunity,” Carter said while reflecting back on the day Swinney offered him a scholarship. “Not a lot of people gave me an opportunity and did not think I was going to be good or anything like that. At that time, I was just happy and excited that Coach Swinney still believed in me.”