Clemson Linebackers Prove Depth in Hard-Fought Victory Over Pitt
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The Clemson defense rose to the occasion Saturday, overcoming the absence of starting junior linebacker Wade Woodaz to pull out a hard-fought 24-21 victory over Pittsburgh (7-3, 3-3). With Woodaz sidelined by a bruised thigh suffered in practice, a combination of youth, freshman Sammy Brown and redshirt freshman Dee Crayton, and experience, senior Barrett Carter, stepped up among the linebackers at Heinz Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
While Clemson (8-2, 7-1) welcomed back defensive end/tackle Peter Woods, who missed last week’s game with a head injury, Woodaz, the team’s leading tackler with 65 stops on the season, traveled with the team but was unable to suit up. That thrust Brown, who led the team in tackles in last week’s 24-14 win over Virginia Tech, into the starting lineup for a second consecutive game.
Brown, however, saw his afternoon cut short late in the second quarter after being ejected for targeting. His absence forced the Tigers to rely on Crayton, who played a career-high 58 snaps and made a career-high seven tackles. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney acknowledged the difficult situation the young linebacker faced but praised his response.
“We talk about it all the time, you got to be ready. You just never know when your opportunity is going to come,” Swinney said. “And he was one of the key guys on the goal-line stand. I mean, just got in there on two big hits, and obviously gave up the touchdown.”
That touchdown came in the fourth quarter when Pitt tight end Gavin Bartholomew beat Crayton on an eight-yard wheel route to tie the game at 17-17.
“That was a good call by them, and he was in a good spot," Swinney noted. "But he kind of peeked in the backfield, and the guy got behind him a little bit on the wheel route."
Despite the error, Crayton showed poise, and Swinney, again, lauded his response. “I was really proud of him. He's been playing a lot of special teams. He's played a little bit, but he's a red-shirt freshman.
"So, it was good for him to have that opportunity. I hate that we lost Sammy, but good to see him respond the way he did. He did a lot of good things. He really did."
With Woodaz and Brown out, the defensive burden fell heavily on Carter to lead the linebackers. Playing an exhausting 93 snaps, he notched a game, team, and season-high 12 tackles, including two tackles for loss.
“It was unbelievable,” Swinney said of Carter’s effort and leadership. “He had two plays that he misfit, missed a gap on, but just unbelievable heart, unbelievable leader. I mean, you talk about the epitome of a Clemson guy, that’s Barrett Carter. He gives it everything he’s got every single week. Great energy at practice, that’s probably the most snaps he’s ever played.”
Carter's season high in snaps was 68 versus Florida State before the unbelievable 93 on Saturday.
"It's not often we play that many plays on defense, and, of course, we didn't have a lot of rotation with Wade out, Sammy out," added Swinney. "So, he stepped up for us in a big way."
With Woodaz’s return uncertain, the Tigers may need to lean on their young linebackers and Carter, who will also be honored on Senior Day, yet again, this week against The Citadel.