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When Clemson opened spring practice earlier this year, one of Dabo Swinney’s biggest concerns was linebacker depth. Four months later, after two fall scrimmages, that concern has flipped into a strength.
“That was a question mark going into the spring for me,” Swinney said this week. “Is our depth going to develop like it needs to? Are they going to do what they need to do from spring to now? Man, they really have.”
The Tigers now boast a group of six linebackers Swinney says he trusts to win games: Sammy Brown, Wade Woodaz, Jeremiah Alexander, Dee Crayton, Jamal Anderson, and Kobe McCloud. Each brings a unique skillset, and the collective versatility gives defensive coordinator Tom Allen plenty of options.
“We’ve got six guys at backer that can go win for us, that I really believe can function,” Swinney said. “It’s been a while since I can say that.”
Brown, the former five-star sophomore, flashed immediately as a freshman with 80 tackles and five sacks. Woodaz, a senior, brings veteran steadiness and leadership. Alexander and Anderson have both shown major strides since spring, while Crayton has carved out a role with his physicality. Then there’s McCloud, whom Swinney called “a really good football player” who thrives on instincts.
“He doesn’t have great measurables, but he plays beyond them,” Swinney said of McCloud. “He’s smart, he’s savvy, and that really helps him. You love guys like that—he’s instinctive, he’s tough, and he loves to play.”
Beyond the core six, Swinney highlighted junior Fletcher Cothran as another reliable contributor. “Fletcher is a very functional player for us, too,” Swinney noted.
The newfound depth also gives Clemson flexibility in its nickel and sub-packages. Mix in Allen’s scheme, accountability, and experience, and it’s a recipe for success.
“We’ve got two or three guys that can walk out there and play big nickel if we need them to,” Swinney said, pointing to the versatility of Woodaz, Anderson, and Brown.
For a unit that entered the offseason as one of the roster’s biggest question marks, the linebackers have now become a potential strength as Clemson eyes its Aug. 30 opener against LSU. With Allen calling the shots from the box, Tiger fans hope to see numbers similar to those of the Nittany Lions, who ranked 7th nationally in total defense and 8th in scoring defense last year.
