One of the first linebackers in the 2027 class to pick up an offer from Clemson is heading elsewhere.

In a move that shouldn’t have surprised anyone, five-star linebacker Cooper Witten (Liberty Christian, TX) announced a commitment to Oklahoma. Witten’s father, former NFL All-Pro tight end Jason Witten, was added to Brent Venables staff in Norman earlier this year as the tight ends coach. It was widely assumed that was where Witten would end up.

Clemson was always a long shot, long before Witten’s father landed on the staff with the Sooners, so this shouldn’t be viewed as some massive recruiting defeat. Witten came and worked out at Clemson last summer, so nothing wrong with taking a big swing.

With Witten’s commitment, that means two of the first three linebacker targets are now off the board. Four-star Quinton Cypher has already committed to Ohio State. The third, five-star Kaden Henderson, has moved on from Clemson as well, choosing not to give the Tigers one of his spring visits. Earlier this year, four-star Noah Glover picked up a Clemson offer, but the Tigers are not one of his finalists.

With the Elite Retreat taking place on Saturday, expect the board to start being expanded. Multiple unoffered linebackers are expected to attend, including four-star prospects Jarrell Chandler, Roman Igwebuike and Bryce Kish.

Chandler is viewed as one of those hybrid safety types that could potentially play linebacker at the next level.

“I would say a hybrid,” Chandler recently told TCI. “They think I can grow into a linebacker or play safety. They explained to me that the way the defense works is that they teach everything the same way. I could be playing safety and roll down to play WILL.”

In fact, it’s probably safe to assume multiple offers will go out to linebackers now that some of these guys are getting on campus.

The Tigers already hold a verbal pledge from three-star Max Brown, but are looking to take a couple of more to round out the class.

Photo by Dawson Powers