Clemson's linebacker room faces spring reset as Tom Allen challenges next wave
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The linebacker room looks different this spring at Clemson inside the Poe Indoor Facility.
Gone is senior leader Wade Woodaz, who spent last week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis chasing his professional opportunity. Also no longer on campus is California transfer Luke Ferrelli, who left the program after enrolling in classes.
"Probably the challenging situation was you targeted to go after one," said defensive coordinator Tom Allen, addressing Ferrelli's short time as a Clemson Tiger and the transfer portal window. "And then, because of the timing of everything it allowed you not to be able to do that because it closed so quickly after that."
Still, four days into spring practice, Allen’s tone shifted from concern to conviction.
“So but at the same time, I'm excited that I feel way better after four days just because I feel like there's a bunch of hungry guys in there that have something to prove and have to take a next big step, and we need them to do that,” he said. “And so to me, that's the challenge to them. And so that's the opportunity that they've been presented with.”
The challenge grows steeper this spring without All-ACC first-team selection Sammy Brown, who is sidelined following wrist surgery.
Brown was the heartbeat of the defense last fall, finishing with a team-high 107 tackles, including 13.5 for loss, 5.0 sacks, seven pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. More telling: he logged 734 snaps.
Woodaz added 610.
That’s 1,344 snaps and the bulk of Clemson’s defensive communication walking out of the meeting room.
Graduate senior Jeremiah Alexander and redshirt (graduate) junior Kobe McCloud are now the most experienced linebackers available this spring, though their on-field reps have been limited. Alexander, a transfer from Alabama, made three starts but played just 220 snaps while continuing to adjust from playing defensive end on the prep level and early in his college career. McCloud logged 236.
Last season, Dee Crayton, now at UNLV, was the only other linebacker to exceed 50 snaps (79).
Allen remembers how uneasy that made him a year ago.
“I finished last spring, concerned about our depth. I really was, and it proved to be an issue,” he said. “And so I just think that we have a lot of competition.”
The first step forward likely begins with Alexander, who stepped in for the injured Woodaz against Penn State to produce a career-high eight tackles and a pass breakup.
“I think he's taken off where he left in the season,” Allen said. “And obviously it was only just a couple months ago, but I do see growth out of him, like more confidence. I think it's year two in the system.”
Allen didn’t stop there. He also pointed to specific players who must elevate their games.
“Kobe, same thing. [C.J.] Kubah Taylor, same thing, Fletch [Fletcher Cothran], same thing, Logan Anderson, Drew Woodaz. I've just mentioned those guys. They all need to go from where they are [to] taking next steps. So Jeremiah is the leader of that group.”
Allen’s long-term vision for the position is built on rotation and durability.
“What I would like to be able to do is I want to have four guys that we can play, preferably six,” he said. “But you have at least four where you feel like those four guys can just be rotated in, and I don't want guys playing 70-plus snaps.”
Last season forced Clemson’s top linebackers into heavy workloads. This spring is about avoiding that scenario again.
Brown’s eventual return will restore star power. But Allen’s focus is on depth, not dependence.
“Sammy is a special, special player, but we got to have several other guys that can step up,” Allen said. “And so I see us being a deep group of guys with a lot more guys ready to play than we had a year ago. And that excites me. And so I feel like they got to have a great rest of the spring. But I feel like we've made progress in that room. I think that room can be one of our strengths when it's all said and done right now.”
