Clemson is lacking its wounds from Monday’s disappointing 28-7 loss to Duke. One of the team’s top defenders conceded that he wasn’t physically ready for the first game of the season.
Via Marc Whiteman of WYFF News, the junior linebacker said he didn’t feel he acclimated back to optimal game shape. Carter reasoned that practices can’t fully prepare for the toll of an actual game.
“You can’t replicate the speed of a game,” Carter said. “I just need to get some extra running in and just make sure that my conditioning is where it needs to be just to play four quarters or however long the game will take. So, I realized that really early in the game. I need to be in better shape.”
Barrett Carter said he didn’t feel like he was in ‘game-shape’ for Clemson’s opener against Duke
“I realized early in the game I need to get in better shape … I’ll definitely be ready for these next games.” pic.twitter.com/PSt8ur43iu
— Marc Whiteman (@MarcWYFFNews4) September 6, 2023
Carter recorded six tackles during the Week 1 contest. However, Duke quarterback Riley Leonard escaped his grasp behind the line of scrimmage to score a pivotal 44-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Perhaps conditioning affected other Tigers players, as they got outscored 22-0 in the second half. The defending ACC champions squandered several opportunities with two missed field goals, two red-zone fumbles, and a late interception.
Carter might be one of few players to openly discuss the difficult early-season adjustment, but he’s likely far from the only player who struggled during college football’s opening weekend. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound defender can still make his case for first-round consideration with a strong 2023 season.
Clemson will aim to bounce back when playing Charleston Southern this Saturday.