Five-star freshman linebacker not playing much lately at Clemson. Dabo explains why

Five-star linebacker Sammy Brown was one of the crown jewels of Clemson football’s 2024 signing class and had a strong start to his freshman season.

Over the last two weeks, though, he and his popular blond mullet haven’t seen as much action, prompting questions about his usage for the No. 10 Tigers.

After playing a combined 75 snaps against App State and N.C. State, Brown, the No. 19 recruit in his class, has only played 22 snaps in Clemson’s last two games: 15 in a home win against Stanford, and seven in Saturday’s road win at Florida State.

Brown’s seven snaps against FSU were his fewest in a game this season since he played special teams only zero defensive snaps in Clemson’s season opener and his collegiate debut against then-No. 1 Georgia in Atlanta.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday the trend was primarily because of how well starting linebackers Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz are playing.

“We’re not in a hurry to get Barrett and Woodaz off the field,” Swinney said in his weekly news conference. “I know y’all are. Sammy will be just fine. He’s coming at a good, healthy pace, and he’ll be ready when we need him, and he’s done a great job.”

Carter, a senior and preseason All-ACC pick, and Woodaz, a junior, have started all five games this season for Clemson at linebacker. The Tigers traditionally start two linebackers and a nickelback (fifth defensive back) instead of three LBs.

And both of those veterans have been lights out so far. Woodaz is first on the team with 40 total tackles and has seven QB pressures, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception. Carter has 32 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

That duo has also recorded back-to-back games of at least 10 tackles apiece.

Explaining Sammy Brown’s usage

Brown, who committed to Clemson over Georgia last summer and is the team’s No. 10 all-time recruit in the modern era per 247Sports rankings, isn’t far behind.

Despite playing 97 snaps to Woodaz’s 266 and Carter’s 252, Brown is fourth on the team in total tackles (23), leads Clemson with 5.5 tackles for loss and has two sacks.

The true freshman from Jefferson, Georgia also led Clemson in tackles in back-to-back weeks against App State (11 on 38 snaps) and N.C. State (eight on 37 snaps), although both of those games were blowouts.

Swinney said Brown (6-foot-2, 235 pounds) played “a lot” in the Stanford game with 15 snaps and excelled in a number of short yardage situations where Clemson went with a heavier defensive look featuring Carter and Brown at linebacker and Woodaz as a “big nickel,” playing that spot instead of a smaller defensive back.

“He didn’t get in there quite as much the other night,” Swinney said of Brown only playing seven games in the Florida State game. “Well, we put him in there, and he had a big bust, gave up a huge play. So that probably didn’t help him. Gotta do your job and know what to do when we put you in there.”

On Clemson’s most recent depth chart, Brown is listed as a co-backup (with Dee Crayton) at both the middle linebacker position behind Woodaz and the weakside linebacker position behind Carter.

Crayton has played special teams only the past two games.

Clemson defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin said that Brown did a “really nice job” in select packages versus Stanford, especially on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 plays. Brown, in that game, had four tackles, two sacks, two TFLs and a pass breakup.

“It’s what the offensive personnel dictates, and week-to-week of practice preparation as well,” Goodwin said of balancing linebacker snaps. “And just seeing (Brown’s) confidence continue to grow during the week.”

Next Clemson game

Who: No. 10 Clemson (4-1, 3-0 ACC) at Wake Forest (2-3, 1-1 ACC)

When: noon Saturday

Where: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC

TV: ESPN

Line: Clemson by 20 points