Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown lived up to the billing last season after joining the Tigers as a decorated, blue-chip recruit in the 2024 class. The former five-star prospect was a big bright spot on defense and shined on his way to collecting freshman All-America honors from nearly every outlet, as well as earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Brown didn’t waste any time showing his potential last season, and new Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen believes a very bright future is ahead for the 6-foot-2, 235-pound rising sophomore.

Allen met with the media this past Wednesday and gave his early impressions of Brown, whose 87 tackles as a freshman were the most by a Clemson freshman since 1995 (Anthony Simmons, 150).

“Sammy, to me, is very, very naturally instinctive in the box,” Allen said. “He showed up early in our thud periods and even today in the live periods. Some guys just have that knack to be able to be in all that mess that’s in the linebackers in front of them with the D-line and the O-line and everything coming at you. He just finds a way to get to the ball.”

Brown starred on both sides of the ball at Jefferson (Ga.) High School as a linebacker/running back. As a senior, he received the 2023 High School Butkus Award, was named the USA Today HSSA National Defensive Football Player of the Year and won the All-American Bowl’s Defensive Player of the Year award after amassing 153 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three blocked kicks and two interceptions on defense. Offensively, he racked up 2,289 rushing yards and scored 40 touchdowns overall.

Along with his exploits on the gridiron, Brown was an outstanding wrestler in high school – he won back-to-back state championships in that sport – and Allen thinks that serves Brown well as a linebacker.

“He’s also a good tackler,” Allen said. “I think his wrestling background is a big part of that as well.”

Last season, Brown (11.5 tackles for loss) became the seventh Clemson player to record double-digit tackles for loss as a true freshman, while he also posted five sacks and four pass breakups over 14 games (six starts).

Allen added that Brown “has a lot of natural talent” and “a high ceiling that has a lot of room to grow.”

“I think his opportunity for growth is going to be tremendous because he really, really cares a whole bunch,” Allen said. “Practices super hard. Takes hard coaching really, really well, and he’s a very intelligent guy. So, I think he’s got a chance to be a great player and he’s got tremendous work ahead of him, like we all do.”