Clemson Linebackers Have Taken the Next Step
By: Will Vandervort April 18, 2026

GREENVILLE, S.C. — When Clemson opens the 2026 season at LSU on Sept. 5, the Bayou Bengals might see Sammy Brown lined up at the middle linebacker position in Tom Allen’s 4-2-5 scheme. They might also see him lined up on the weakside too.

In his first interview since the 2025 season came to a close, Clemson’s All-ACC linebacker confirmed he spent a good amount of time in the spring learning and working at the weakside position.

“Ben [Boulware] wants us to be able to do both because it adds functionality to our defense,” Brown said during the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Hotel Hartness in Greenville earlier this week. “Instead of ‘I can only go in at MIKE, or I can only go in at WILL’, you go in and intermix and interchange at MIKE and WILL. It adds a lot of functionality to your game.”

Brown does not need much functionality to his game. As mentioned, he is already a First-Team All-Conference selection, and was at the Hotel Hartness to receive the 2025 Blanchard-Rodgers Award, given to the state of South Carolina’s best collegiate football player.

Clemson linebacker Kobe McCloud (21) and linebacker Sammy Brown (47) bring down Louisville running back Duke Watson (26) during the second quarter on Friday, November 14, 2025 at the L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Ky. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)

Brown is not the only linebacker to work both spots this spring. Kobe McCloud and Jeremiah Alexander also doubled dipped at middle and weakside backer in the spring. Allen even said McCloud is coming out of spring practices as the Tigers’ weakside starter, with Brown as the starter in the middle. Alexander, who is neck-and-neck with McCloud is supposed to be the next guy in at either position.

Brown believes the linebackers are getting a better grasp of Allen’s defense is year two of his system.

“I feel like the whole backer room took a huge step this spring,” he said. “This is the second year in this defense. You are understanding, not what you are doing in it, but why you are doing it and what the guys to your left and right are doing. I feel like we have taken a really big step in doing that.”

Brown earned All-ACC honors in 2025 after leading Clemson with 107 tackles, including 13.5 for loss. He also had five sacks, six quarterback pressures, broke up seven passes, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.