Two Clemson players were named to 247Sports’ Preseason True Freshman All-American Team Tuesday.
Linebacker Sammy Brown appeared on the list, as did kicker Nolan Hauser. Both are highly touted recruits from the Tigers’ 2024 class. Brown is a consensus five-star recruit from Jefferson, Ga., who committed to Clemson in June 2023. 247Sports ranked him the No. 2 linebacker in the class of 2024 and the No. 14 player overall.
247Sports’ Chris Hummer said of Brown:
“Sammy Brown isn’t going to start for Clemson this year. Those jobs belong to Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz. But Brown, one of the true freaks of the 2024 class, is still positioned for a big role. Dabo Swinney has said in fall camp that he expects Brown to be a starter on special teams, and it’s very easy to envision him having a large rotational role like Woodaz did a season ago. Brown is just too good an athlete to keep off the field.”
Hauser is a three-star recruit from North Carolina who was ranked the No. 1 kicker in the class of 2024. Swinney has said that Hauser has been in the lead for the top spot at kicker in fall camp over sophomore Robert Gunn.
Per 247Sports:
“Field-goal kicking was an adventure for Clemson last season, so much so that Swinney quite literally pulled Jonathan Weitz out of retirement (he was set to start a full-time job) and he ended up starting for the Tigers. Now, the guy whom Weitz replaced, Robert Gunn, is being pushed yet again — this time by the top-ranked kicker from the 2024 class.”
Clemson opens the 2024 season Aug. 31 against Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (noon ET, ABC). The Tigers are ranked No. 14 in the preseason AP Top 25 and US LBM Coaches Polls. Georgia is ranked No. 1 in both polls.
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