The Clemson Defense Has One Group Trending Up While Another Searches for Its Alpha
Clemson entered fall camp with questions on defense, particularly at linebacker and defensive tackle. After losing starting linebacker Wade Woodaz, the Tigers returned only three linebackers, Sammy Brown, Jeremiah Alexander, and Kobe McCloud, who had logged more than 100 snaps entering the season.
Brown, a 2025 first-team All-ACC honoree, gives Clemson an established playmaker in the middle of the defense. But the lack of proven depth left plenty of questions surrounding the position entering camp.
After Thursday's scrimmage, however, head coach Dabo Swinney offered more than optimism about the linebacker room.
"That's a group with the arrow up. I think Sammy and Kobe and Jeremiah have really done a great job," Swinney said. "So, I think the group has done what we need them to do. That group has been right on point all camp."
The defensive line, meanwhile, remains a different story.
Swinney wasn't pleased with the team’s performance Thursday, calling it "probably our worst practice of camp." When asked whether he had seen what he wanted from the defensive line throughout camp, his answer was blunt.
"Nope. I think they're a bunch of nobodies. That's kind of who they are. I don't think there's anybody at that position yet that has earned it. I think there's talent there. There's a lot of good players there, but I hadn't really seen an alpha yet at that position."
Swinney said he believes he has an alpha at every other position group, making the defensive line the one unit where he is still waiting for someone to emerge as the unquestioned leader.
Still, he wasn't suggesting the group lacks talent. Instead, he is waiting for someone to take ownership of the room.
"Amare, I think's probably the closest. We just need him to kind of take that step as far as being that alpha dog in there," Swinney stated of sophomore Amare Adams.
"I love Kourtney Kelly," Swinney said of the West Georgia transfer. "I think he's a guy that could be an alpha for us, but he's out right now, working his way back."
Kelly is expected to return later this season as he continues working his way back from an ACL injury.
Andy Burburija, a junior college transfer from Iowa Western Community College, has made an impression with his physical approach.
"He'll be a good player for us. He's tough. He's gritty."
Markus Strong, a transfer from Oklahoma, has made plays during camp.
"He's shown some flashes."
Among the returning defensive tackles, Swinney saw positive signs from Vic Burley during Thursday's practice.
"I actually noticed Vic today at least three times. So all good stuff."
True freshman Kam Cody is a player Swinney likes.
"I like him a lot. I think he's going to be a good player. But he's just a young pup."
Clemson also made an unusual addition to the defensive tackle room this week, moving sixth-year graduate offensive lineman Dietrick Pennington (6'5, 350) into the mix.
Swinney said the move is primarily about adding size and taking advantage of Pennington's physical presence. He emphasized that Pennington is expected to play both ways and that the Tigers will be selective about when they put him on the field.
"He's just a 350-pound dude that we don't want him to play more than one or two plays and get out. You ain't gonna probably ever see him on third down, but he could probably play first, second, run down situation, and goal line. So, it's really just about trying to expand his role a little bit and take advantage of his size."
Despite his criticism, Swinney doesn't view the defensive line as a group without answers. In some ways, he believes the depth could ultimately become one of its strengths.
"It's not really one guy, which I don't think that's a bad thing. Sometimes I've had years where I've had one guy who's an absolute dude, and then we kind of drop off after that. I think this is a group that we got a bunch of guys that can play in there, and so I'm still waiting for that alpha, though, to separate."
— Swanny
