Sammy Brown has taken a noticeable jump since the spring.

The true freshman linebacker is mostly working behind Wade Woodaz at MIKE and head coach Dabo Swinney said after enrolling early, Brown spent most of the spring acclimating to the college game.

“He’s gotten better,” Swinney said after Thursday’s second scrimmage of fall camp. “I didn’t notice him this spring, honestly. I did not even know if he practiced most days. And that is because he had so much to learn. When you don’t know what you are doing or you are not confident in what you are doing, it’s hard to really play fast and physical.”

Although, with the work he got during the spring and with the effort he put in over the summer, the former 5-star recruit is starting to settle in and Swinney is seeing the progression.

“I have just noticed him more,” Swinney added. “And that is the benefit of him coming in (early). I am proud of him. He really worked his butt off this spring, summer and fall camp to really get more comfortable. So now he can play faster, he can play physical… I just see him every day.”

During Thursday’s scrimmage, starting linebackers Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz were held out, allowing the guys behind them on the depth chart, including Brown, to get more work.

Instead of being thrust into action before he is ready, Brown is getting the benefit of learning from players Carter and Woodaz, something that the head coach believes will pay off greatly.

“Sammy has made a nice jump but he’s not where he is going to be,” Swinney said. “He is just wired the right way. He is a freaky dude when it comes to who he is ability wise. It is a good situation for him to be able to have two guys like he’s got in front of him to learn and grow and hopefully we will be able to continue that and be able to bring him along and play him as we need.”

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