Clemson Position Unit Pegged as Nation’s Best Again
By: Staff Report June 13, 2024

For the second year in a row, a Clemson position group on defense was pegged as the nation’s best by this national outlet.

Pro Football Focus ranked the top 10 linebacker units ahead of the upcoming college football season, and the Tigers’ linebacker corps checked in at No. 1 on PFF’s list once again.

Here’s what PFF’s Max Chadwick had to say about Clemson’s linebacker group, which added highly touted true freshman Sammy Brown to a talented unit that welcomes back returning starters Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz:

For the second straight year, Clemson has the best linebacker unit in the country. It starts with Barrett Carter, my No. 2 returning linebacker in college football. No returning Power Five linebacker since 2022 has been more valuable than Carter according to PFF’s wins above-average metric. He’s especially dominant on passing downs, as he’s the only one in that same group with 80-plus grades as both a pass-rusher and run-defender in that span.

Wade Woodaz is another returning starter who was third among ACC linebackers with a 49.7 passer rating allowed in 2023. Kobe McCloud is expected to take over the starting spot vacated by Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and earned a 75.4 PFF grade on 90 snaps last season. Finally, the Tigers also welcomed five-star true freshman Sammy Brown into the fold.

Iowa, Kentucky, Georgia and LSU round out the top five in PFF’s linebacker unit rankings.

Of course, Clemson will see that UGA linebacker corps when the Tigers and Bulldogs open the 2024 season in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31 (12 p.m., ABC).

“Even without Dumas-Johnson, Georgia still has a loaded linebacker room. The Bulldogs return two starters in Smael Mondon Jr. and C.J. Allen, who started as a true freshman last year,” Chadwick wrote.

“Georgia also has three former five-star recruits behind them in sophomore Raylen Wilson and true freshmen Justin Williams and Chris Cole. Junior Jalon Walker is expected to move to more of an off-ball role after playing at edge defender in 2023, earning a 72.6 grade there.”

A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available.  Get yours while supplies last!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!