Sammy Brown is immediate fit on defense: 'This is a Clemson player right here'

Clemson has had plenty of success with talented players from the state of Georgia. Sammy Brown appears set to be the next.

Brown signed with the Tigers after being ranked as a five-star recruit and the No. 2 linebacker in the country in the class of 2024, per the On3 Industry Rankings.

On3’s Andy Staples recently joined Kelly Gramlich and Eric Mac Lain and explained how Sammy Brown is a perfect fit with Clemson.

“Sammy Brown was one of those, even before he committed to Clemson, where you’re like, ‘This is a Clemson player right here,'” Staples said. “This dude’s going to Clemson. He’s from Georgia, he’s really good. He just sort of fits that mold.”

Brown is joining a Clemson defense that was one of the best in the country last season. The Tigers finished No. 8 nationally in total defense, and Wes Goodwin’s unit consistently kept Clemson in every game.

In addition to Brown, there are plenty of other talented players on the Clemson defense.

“Peter Woods is another one who’s just fantastic, the next great Clemson d-lineman,” Staples said. “And yea, this is where the good stuff is with the way they recruit. This is where you find guys who buy in, they fit perfectly.”

Sammy Brown, Peter Woods and the Tigers will get a tough early test in 2024. Clemson opens the season against Georgia in Atlanta. The Bulldogs have won two of the past three national titles and are loaded on offense, led by expected first-round pick Carson Beck.

“I’m very curious to see Clemson against Georgia right off the bat. How does that defense stand up?” Staples said. “I don’t know that Clemson’s going to be able to score enough on Georgia to beat them, but if that defense can hold up against Georgia’s offense, there’s no one else on that schedule that’s going to scare them.”

Examining what it will take for Clemson to get back to national title contention

Clemson was regularly contending for national championships during a six-year span under Dabo Swinney as the Tigers made the College Football Playoff six straight seasons, winning a pair of national titles.

However, Clemson has taken a step back in recent years, missing the CFP three consecutive seasons and losing at least three games in each of those years.

On3’s Andy Staples recently joined Kelly Gramlich and Eric Mac Lain to discuss where the Clemson program is and what it will take for the Tigers to get back near the top.

“I think it comes down to the receivers and Cade and the offensive line,” Staples explained. “And I’m going to say what I say every time when it comes to Clemson – just take a couple of people out of the portal. Just a couple. One impact receiver, one offensive lineman in a key spot. Like just a couple.”

Clemson is known for its lack of transfer portal use as the Tigers have not added a starting-caliber player via transfer during the portal era.

Staples believes that if Clemson is going to win another national title under Swinney, it has to at least somewhat embrace the transfer portal.

“You don’t have to do what Florida State’s doing. I understand why you don’t want to mess with your culture and your continuity,” Staples said. “But the reason you’re not as good anymore is because you don’t fix the things that you can fix immediately and other schools fix them more efficiently than you.

“So that’s my concern. I don’t know that they ever get back to national title contention, unless they are willing to build their roster the way everybody else is. You don’t have to go to the extreme.”