Clemson football’s front seven continues to earn national respect—and it’s not just the defensive line getting attention.
Pro Football Focus ranked Clemson’s linebacker unit No. 9 in the country heading into the 2025 season, thanks to the combination of veteran leadership and young star power in Wade Woodaz and Sammy Brown.
“The Tigers’ duo of Wade Woodaz and Sammy Brown is a perfect blend of veteran leadership and a youngster with immense potential,” wrote PFF’s Max Chadwick. “Woodaz was the honorable mention on my top-10 linebacker rankings and is incredibly versatile in coverage as a former safety. He forced five incompletions last season and has picked off three passes since 2023. The rising senior is also a weapon as a blitzer, tallying 22 pressures last year — a top-20 mark in the Power Four.”
Woodaz led the Tigers with 89 tackles despite missing two games in 2024, adding 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and an interception. He earned first-team All-ACC recognition from Sports Info Solutions and enters his senior season as the leader of the group.
Next to him, Brown looks ready to explode in Year 2. The former five-star made a major impact as a freshman, racking up 87 tackles, 11.5 for loss, and five sacks on just 444 snaps. “Brown was a five-star recruit from the 2024 cycle and played 454 snaps as a freshman. His five sacks were tied for 17th among Power Four linebackers,” Chadwick noted.
“Brown will be expected to take the next step as a full-time starter during his sophomore campaign.”With Woodaz’s experience and versatility alongside Brown’s rising potential, Clemson’s linebacker corps looks poised to be one of the most impactful in the nation.
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Publish date : 2025-06-06 20:57:00
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