Clemson LB among ‘Most Feared’ Defenders
By: Gavin Oliver May 18, 2026

A high school Butkus Award winner, Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown earned freshman All-America honors in his debut season in 2024 while also being named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Brown continued to be a force on Clemson’s defense as a sophomore last season, when he racked up 106 tackles — tied for second most in the ACC — while posting 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, seven pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception. He was a third-team All-America selection by Phil Steele, as well as a first-team All-ACC honoree by the conference, the AP and Steele.

Expect Brown to keep striking fear into opponents during his upcoming junior campaign.

CBS Sports ranked the 26 “most feared” defensive players in college football entering the 2026 season, and Brown made the list, checking in at No. 25.

“Brown is more than a stat sheet-filling tackling machine — he’s a tone-setter for the Tigers,” CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford wrote. “He plays relentlessly downhill, and his sideline-to-sideline range perfectly fits Tom Allen’s scheme. Brown erases space before offenses can develop rhythm, and his 106 total tackles last season ranked second in the ACC behind NC State’s Caden Fordham, who went undrafted last month.”

The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder enters the 2026 season credited with 194 tackles (25 for loss), 10 sacks, 11 pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery over 27 games (19 starts) in his first two seasons. He is one of only 14 players nationally to post 10-plus tackles for loss and five or more sacks in each of the last two seasons, alongside fellow Clemson defender Will Heldt.

Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown reacts after bringing down LSU running back Caden Durham during the first quarter on August 30, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)

Also on CBS Sports’ list of college football’s most-feared defensive players are several that Clemson is scheduled to face during the 2026 season from LSU, Miami and South Carolina – South Carolina edge Dylan Stewart (No. 2), LSU edge Princewill Umanmielen (No. 4), Miami edge Damon Wilson II (No. 6), Miami defensive lineman Ahmad Moten (No. 19), LSU safety Ty Benefield (No. 23) and Miami safety Bryce Fitzgerald (No. 26).

Clemson will open the 2026 season on the road at LSU on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m., ABC), while the Tigers will host Miami on Oct. 3 and host South Carolina on Nov. 28.