Heading into the 2023 college football season, there is no linebacker unit in the country that is more talented than the Clemson Tigers’ linebackers.
Led by two 2024 NFL Draft first-round hopefuls, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter, the Tigers linebackers are as dangerous as they come. Earlier in the year, Pro Football Focus ranked the duo as the No.1 (Trotter) and No.5 (Carter) linebackers in the country for the 2023 season.
Recently, PFF released their linebacker unit rankings for 2023, and with Trotter and Carter leading the way, Clemson ranked No.1. Here is what writer Max Chadwick had to say about the Tigers’ nation-leading linebacker unit.
With two of the top five linebackers in the country, Clemson is the easy choice to top this list.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the best linebacker in college football, which shouldn’t be too surprising considering his bloodlines. His father, Jeremiah Trotter Sr., was a former All-Pro linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles. The younger Trotter was the only Power Five linebacker this past season to earn 80.0-plus grades both in coverage and as a pass rusher. He’s the No. 2 linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft, according to PFF lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema.
The only prospect above him is Barrett Carter, his teammate. Carter was one of only three Power Five linebackers in 2022 who earned 75.0-plus grades as a run defender, as a pass rusher and in coverage. He recorded seven combined interceptions and forced incompletions last season, tied for the most among linebackers.
Likely starting alongside them is Wade Woodaz, who earned a 74.9 grade on 180 snaps as a true freshman safety in 2022.
Wade Woodaz is expected to take the next step in 2023, making this units ceiling incredibly high. Trotter and Carter both should be All-Americans next season as they lead the Clemson defense.
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