CLEMSON — Tom Allen brought up a surprise name on Monday when he was asked who would be his weakside linebacker if Clemson started the season today.

The Tigers’ defensive coordinator said Kobe McCloud would be his starter at WILL.

“Based on how we decide to flush it out, Kobe would be the top WILL at this point,” Allen said at the Smart Family Media Center. “How that rotation plays itself out, has yet to be determined.”

Allen also says Sammy Brown can play the weakside position and has played both middle and WILL the whole spring. Jeremiah Alexander has also learned the WILL position and would be the third guy at that position, but can obviously start at middle linebacker (MIKE) as well.

“I would say your top two (at WILL) are probably Kobe and Sammy and then Jeremiah is right in the mix,” Allen said. “Our top three is probably those three guys for sure, whatever the order. Obviously, Sammy is the leader of the group, but the rest of the order will be based on how they produce each day.”

C.J. Kubah-Taylor and Fletcher Cothran are also in the mix, followed by Drew Woodaz, who has flashed this spring, and Logan Anderson after him.

“We got those three or four guys. Outside of Sammy, it has kind of been different guys on different days, which is kind of good. It is what you want to see,” Allen said. “But what I am seeing is, I am seeing burst. I am seeing guys finish plays in space.

“I am seeing guys tackling some elite athletes in space, which is critical at that position. So, as a collective group, from guys that were here before to now, it is the most improved group I have seen, which is what I was wanting to see and hoped to see. That has played itself out so far.”