CLEMSON, S.C. – The 2025 NFL Draft saw three Clemson Tigers take the next step in their football careers, with linebacker Barrett Carter, safety R.J. Mickens, and running back Phil Mafah all hearing their names called on Saturday. The selections continue Clemson’s long-standing tradition of producing NFL talent and mark the 23rd consecutive year the program has had at least one player drafted.
Linebacker Barrett Carter was the first Tiger off the board, going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 119th overall pick in the fourth round. Carter, a two-time All-American, became the fourth straight Clemson linebacker selected in the NFL Draft—a streak matched only by Alabama. Over 52 career games (40 starts), he recorded 254 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 24 pass breakups, while also setting the program record for snaps played by a linebacker with 2,482. His senior season earned him First-Team All-ACC honors and a spot as a finalist for the Butkus Award.
Carter’s pick was historic in multiple ways. He became the Bengals’ seventh all-time selection from Clemson and the first Tiger ever chosen with the No. 119 pick. He’s also the ninth off-ball linebacker drafted out of Clemson since 2015 and the 25th member of the program’s front seven taken in that same time frame.
In the sixth round, the Los Angeles Chargers selected R.J. Mickens with the 214th overall pick. Mickens appeared in 60 games over five seasons, starting 30, and wrapped up his senior year with a career-best 85 tackles, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions. His selection continues Clemson’s strong tradition in the secondary, as the program has now produced at least one defensive back in 13 of the last 17 drafts under head coach Dabo Swinney.
Mickens is the eighth safety selected during Swinney’s tenure and the 42nd defensive back drafted from Clemson since the start of the Common Draft era in 1967. His selection also adds to a growing list of NFL legacy players from Clemson—his father, Ray Mickens, played 11 seasons in the NFL.
The Dallas Cowboys rounded out Clemson’s 2025 draft class by taking Phil Mafah in the seventh round with the 239th pick. Mafah finished his Clemson career with 2,887 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns, ranking ninth in school history in career rushing yards and tied for 10th in rushing touchdowns. He added 58 receptions for 309 yards over 50 games, including 21 starts.
Mafah is the ninth running back drafted from Clemson during the Swinney era, and with last year’s selection of Will Shipley by the Eagles, this marks the first time since 2016–2017 that Clemson has had a running back selected in back-to-back drafts.
Clemson NFL Draft Streak and Program Notes
- Clemson has had at least one player drafted in 23 straight NFL Drafts, dating back to 2003. That streak is the second-longest in school history behind the 1951–1974 run.
- The Tigers have produced multiple draft picks in every year of that 23-year streak, a feat matched by only five other programs: LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio State, and USC.
- Clemson has had three or more players drafted in 16 of the last 17 drafts, placing the program in elite company alongside Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and USC.
- Under Swinney, Clemson has had multiple defensive players selected in 14 of 17 drafts, tying programs like LSU, Georgia, and Alabama for defensive production.
- Since 2003, 30 of 32 NFL franchises have drafted a Clemson player. The only exceptions? The Patriots and the Panthers—the latter having never selected a Clemson player despite launching their franchise in Death Valley.
- Though Clemson didn’t have a first-round pick in 2025, the program has still had at least one first-rounder in 10 of the past 13 drafts, joining a group that includes Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Ohio State.
- Since 2013, Clemson has produced first-round picks at every major position: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker, and defensive back—a distinction shared only with Alabama.
