How Barrett Carter, Antonio Williams of Clemson football came to share jersey No. 0
CLEMSON – Their jersey numbers may indicate otherwise, but Antonio Williams and Barrett Carter are anything but zeros.
In fact, if they were so inclined both could stake a legitimate claim to being the best offensive and defensive players, respectively, on the Clemson football team.
Williams was the Tigers’ leading receiver as a freshman last season while Carter, a junior linebacker, logged more snaps than any defensive player and was third on the team in tackles.
Zeros? Hardly.
When Carter committed to Clemson in May 2020, he texted coach Dabo Swinney to ask if any single-digit jersey numbers were available.
Zero was the only one.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it!’ ” said Carter, who had worn No. 1 throughout his high school career at North Gwinnett in Suwanee, Georgia.
The NCAA had just approved a rule allowing No. 0 to be worn in the college ranks and Carter was quick to jump on the opportunity.
“First No. 0 at Clemson, Agent Zero – all of that was going through my head,” Carter said.
In December 2021, when Williams committed to Clemson out of Irmo’s Dutch Fork High, he became the Tigers’ second No. 0 out of necessity.
“I was No. 8 in high school, but (wide receiver) Adam (Randall) committed before me, so 0 was the next-best option,” Williams said.
Now he’s glad it was.
Suddenly, being a 0 is a badge of honor.
Each of the ACC’s 14 teams will have at least one player sporting No. 0 jerseys this season and 10 of the league’s teams will have both an offensive and defensive player wearing the number.
The No. 0’s appeal isn’t confined to college football. In a rare instance of the NCAA being ahead of the NFL, the NFL tweaked its rules this year to allow players – well, at least all non-linemen – to wear No. 0. It’s the first time the number has been allowed in the NFL since 1972.
NFL players have been quick to embrace the number and the ranks of No. 0 already include five wide receivers, including the Jacksonville Jaguars' Calvin Ridley, who is expected to emerge as a favorite target for former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence this season.
Other new No. 0s include Carolina Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns and All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens.
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Carter could very well join their ranks in 2024; he’s a preseason first-team All-ACC selection and a projected high-round draft pick in April.
In the meantime he’ll have to be satisfied with sharing a side-by-side locker and jersey number with Williams.
“I call Antonio ‘Big 0’ and I’m ‘Bigger 0,’ ” Carter said. “I was used to being the only zero, but I’m glad that he’s wearing it. He’s such a special guy, special player. I think we’re the two best numbers on the team.”
Scott Keepfer covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at skeepfer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ScottKeepfer
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Barrett Carter, Antonio Williams of Clemson football embrace No. 0
