ESPN Names Clemson’s ‘Most Impactful Newcomer’ for 2024 Season

With spring ball in the books, ESPN took a look at the most impactful newcomers heading into the 2024 college football season (subscription required).

Now that midyear enrollees and transfers have had the chance to go through spring practice with their new teams, ESPN named one newcomer who could have the biggest impact on the upcoming campaign from each team in its way-too-early top 25.

For the Tigers, highly touted true freshman linebacker Sammy Brown was pegged as that top newcomer.

“Dabo Swinney was already raving about Brown this spring. The linebacker wasted no time learning the defense and applying his immense skills,” ESPN’s Billy Tucker wrote. “The five-star prospect racked up over 150 tackles as a high school senior and added more than 2,000 yards on offense. Further highlighting his athleticism and versatility, Brown was a state champion wrestler and ran the 100 meters in under 11 seconds, which is impressive for a 230-pound player. His speed translates to the field, where he has measured at over 21 mph in games.”

It didn’t take Brown long to make an impact in Clemson’s spring game on April 6, when he posted a game-high-tying eight tackles (six solo), a tackle for loss and a sack.

The 2023 High School Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker and the All-American Bowl’s Defensive Player of the Year, Brown worked exclusively at the MIKE linebacker position this spring.

Being a midyear enrollee has been beneficial for Brown, allowing him to get a head start on learning Clemson’s defense and acclimating to the college game, and ESPN weighed in on what to expect from the 6-foot-2, 235-pounder in 2024.

“Brown can step in at middle linebacker and replace Jeremiah Trotter Jr.’s production,” Tucker wrote. “He’s already mastered the weight room and physical aspects of football as a true freshman. Brown needs to continue progressing this summer, learning the nuances of middle linebacker, namely aligning the defense pre-snap. While Clemson does return some experience, Brown appears a perfect fit for the Mike linebacker position in defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin’s scheme. He’s as strong a candidate for ACC Rookie of the Year honors as any prospect in this class.”

Brown enrolled at Clemson in January as a consensus top-35 national prospect according to the major recruiting services. ESPN ranked the Jefferson (Ga.) High School product as the No. 2 inside linebacker and No. 13 overall prospect nationally in the 2024 class.

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