For a very short time, it appeared as if Clemson was set at linebacker for 2026.

The Tigers signed ACC standout Luke Ferrelli from the portal to presumably start at WILL alongside Sammy Brown. With Jeremiah Alexander and Kobe McCloud both set to return, the room also had some quality depth.

Ferrelli’s departure for Ole Miss at the eleventh hour changes things. He left so late in the portal window that there was not much of a move to be made to try and replace the guy who was just named the ACC Freshman Defensive Rookie of the Year after a standout season at Cal. With no spring window this year, that means the Tigers will have to go with what they have.

While Alexander is the former five-star talent, it might just be McCloud who has a leg up entering the spring. He has played more at the WILL than Alexander.

McCloud, who is entering his fifth season with the program, was mostly solid in a reserve role behind Wade Woodaz in 2025. Having said that, the Tigers are going to need better than mostly solid from McCloud if he wins the job.

Before getting the start for the injured Woodaz in the Pinstripe Bowl, McCloud had logged only 163 snaps all season. He played 63 in the bowl game and finished the season with 28 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

Alexander played a similar number of total snaps (220) in 2025, routinely coming on the field when Clemson went with a three-backer look. He finished with 36 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He also recovered a fumble and registered three pass breakups.

Alexander made three starts last season, including in the bowl game, when the defense had three linebackers on the field to start the contest. He also started against North Carolina and Boston College, despite playing just 44 snaps combined in those two games.

The old adage says competition makes everyone better, and this Clemson defense is banking on that. This position battle might be one of the more intriguing ones on the defensive side of the ball this spring.

With Dee Crayton and Jamal Alexander both having transferred out, the Tigers will also need one or two of the younger guys to step up and be ready in case their number is called. Drew Woodaz and CJ Kubah-Taylor will each be in their third seasons, while Logan Anderson will be a redshirt freshman. Four-star Brayden Reilly, an incoming freshman, won’t enroll until the summer.

Photo by Bart Boatwright