Tag: sammy brown

Recruits react to Venables’ departure from Clemson

Following Brent Venables’ departure for Oklahoma to be the Sooners’ new head coach, The Clemson Insider reached out to a bunch of defensive prospects that Clemson has been involved with to get their reactions to the Tigers’ former defensive …

Following Brent Venables’ departure for Oklahoma to be the Sooners’ new head coach, The Clemson Insider reached out to a bunch of defensive prospects that Clemson has been involved with to get their reactions to the Tigers’ former defensive coordinator leaving.

Here’s what some of them had to say to TCI:

Jayden Bonsu, 2023 4-star S, Saint Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.): “My reaction is that I am not surprised. A lot of coaches have been moving around, but I wish Coach Venables the best because he made the decision which is best for him and his family.”

Troy Bowles, 2023 4-star LB, Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.): “Unexpected kind of, but I understand. I’m happy for him, he deserves it.”

Lewis Carter, 2023 4-star ATH, Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.): “I kind of saw it coming so I wasn’t too much surprised, but I’m glad he got a head coach job and a new opportunity.”

Dee Crayton, 2023 4-star LB, Denmark (Alpharetta, Ga.): “I feel like he has to do what’s best for him and his fam. College football is a business. If that was the best opportunity for him, he did the right thing. I’m happy for him. I wish him the absolute best.”

Grant Godfrey, 2023 4-star LB, North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.): “Absolutely crazy. I thought he was gonna be there a little longer because I’m pretty sure I saw his sons on the team.”

David Ojiegbe, 2023 4-star DL, St. John’s (Washington, D.C.): “Just a huge surprise.”

Jaeden Jackson, 3-star DL, Andalusia (Andalusia, Ala.): “My reaction is like wow and I know Coach V had been on the brink every year with schools trying to lure and pull him away from Clemson. I just hope he doesn’t change his number. But good opportunity for him.”

Moussa Kane, 3-star ATH, Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.): “I’m very happy for him and his opportunity. He definitely deserves it and it’s a great program and it does not affect my recruiting.”

Ben Cutter, 2023 LB, East Lincoln (Denver, N.C.): “He’s such a great coach. He deserves the position. I’m excited to see what he does with Oklahoma’s program.”

Travon West, 2023 S, Wren (Piedmont, S.C.): “It’s heartbreaking and a big hit to the Clemson team. I’m sure it was a hard decision for Coach Venables and it took a lot for him to make it. It sucks but as long as he’s doing what’s best for him and he’s happy, that’s all that matters.”

Sammy Brown, 2024 4-star LB, Jefferson (Jefferson, Ga.): “It’s obviously very saddening seeing him leave a great program but he’s going to do great. Oklahoma is going to be a great place for him and he’s gonna do amazing out there. For Clemson, they’ll be fine too. I’m very confident that Coach Swinney will get someone in there that can do the job. He’ll be able to find someone just as good as Coach Venables.”

Ahmad Moten, 2022 3-star DL, Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.): “Great opportunity for him.”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

It’s ‘not very often’ that Clemson, South Carolina compete against one another in recruiting

It’s not very often these days that Clemson and South Carolina directly compete against one another in recruiting. Just ask Dabo Swinney. Clemson’s head coach was asked during his weekly Tuesday press conference how often the two programs go …

It’s not very often these days that Clemson and South Carolina directly compete against one another in recruiting.

Just ask Dabo Swinney.

Clemson’s head coach was asked during his weekly Tuesday press conference how often the two programs go toe-to-toe on the recruiting trail.

“That’s one of those things that earlier when I first got here, I felt like we had a little more competitions, but really very few,” Swinney said. “And, we’re very different. It’s different places…If you love Columbia, you’re probably not going to like Clemson. If you love Clemson, you’re probably not gonna like Columbia. They’re just very different. They offer different things. Both great, but both offer different things.”

While Swinney’s comments are interesting, there are some recruiting battles that Clemson and South Carolina and currently involved in. And, two of those targets — Jefferson (Ga.) 2024 four-star linebacker and Life Christian Academy (Colonial Heights, Va.) 2023 three-star offensive lineman Joshua Miller — will both be in attendance for Saturday’s game at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Some other names include, but are not limited to Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C) 2022 four-star wide receiver Antonio Williams and 2023 running back Jarvis Green, Life Christian Academy (Colonial Heights, Va.) 2023 four-star cornerback Antonio Cotman, Jr., Woodland (Dorchester, S.C.) 2024 four-star offensive tackle Kam Pringle and last, but certainly not least, Catawba Ridge (Fort Mill, S.C.) 2024 five-star quarterback Jadyn Davis.

As Swinney hints, the in-state recruiting pool that Clemson and South Carolina have available to them is rather limited in size. Being that, it’s rare that the two programs target the same prospect, whether it be in or out of state. Granted, there are still occasions on the recruiting trail where that happens, as mentioned above, but it’s become few and far between.

“Then, we both have the same issues when it comes to our recruiting base,” he said. “This is a small population when it comes to football players. I mean, Atlanta’s got more people than the whole state of South Carolina. So, then you throw in that, you got to be able to win in the SEC and the ACC, you got to be a good enough player for that level of competition. And then, you throw in position need, academics, fit…and that pool gets even smaller.”

“I experienced this at Alabama,” Swinney added. “When you’re in a state like this with no pro sports…and it’s arrived to really great colleges with a really big rivalry — Alabama-Auburn, Clemson-South Carolina — a lot of kids grow up one way or the other. I mean, if a kid grew up and he’s Clemson and we offer him, it’s an uphill battle and vice versa…every now and then you have a situation where that could go either way, but usually not.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Death Valley crowd spoke volumes to nation’s No. 1 LB

A bunch of top prospects made their way to Death Valley last Saturday and witnessed Clemson’s 19-13 win over Boston College, including Jefferson (Ga.) High School star Sammy Brown. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound sophomore is ranked by 247Sports as the …

A bunch of top prospects made their way to Death Valley last Saturday and witnessed Clemson’s 19-13 win over Boston College, including Jefferson (Ga.) High School star Sammy Brown.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound sophomore is ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 1 linebacker and the No. 5 overall prospect in the country for the class of 2024.

Brown had been to a Clemson football game with his family prior to Saturday, but the Boston College game was his first time at Death Valley as a recruit on an unofficial visit.

Jefferson (Ga.) High School’s Sammy Brown during pregame Saturday, October 2, 2021 at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

“It was an overall great experience,” he told The Clemson Insider. “Great to get up there and meet the coaches and experience a night game. Great coaches and a great defensive game.”

Clemson’s defense, which forced three turnovers and only allowed BC to reach the end zone once, made a big impression on Brown – as did the Tigers’ fan base.

“Definitely something I noticed was the crowd support,” he said. “Even on small 3- to 4-yard runs, the crowd is on their feet cheering. That speaks volumes about the support that Clemson’s fans have for their team.”

“Clemson’s defense continued to dominate, only letting up one touchdown all game,” he added. “Anytime you do that it’s impressive, but especially against a quality opponent like BC.”

While on campus, Brown spent most of the day with defensive player development coach Daniel Boyd, who was honored as Clemson’s Hero of the Game, as a former sniper for the 101st Airborne who served two tours in Afghanistan.

Brown also had the chance to chop it up with defensive coordinator Brent Venables a couple of times, and the two have already built a good bond early in Brown’s recruiting process.

“He was more talking about high school ball and asking how we’ve been doing and other things like that,” Brown said.

“Coach Venables is just a great guy in general,” Brown continued. “On and off the field, he knows what he’s talking about, and he’s just an overall great guy. I was able to get his phone number so we can stay in touch. So, I would say that our relationship is pretty tight.”

Brown also saw Clemson play in person earlier this season when he attended the game vs. Georgia in Charlotte as a guest of the Bulldogs. He has made game-day visits to UGA and Ole Miss this year as well.

Per Dabo Swinney’s policy, Clemson doesn’t offer sophomores such as Brown, though he already holds offers from Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Brown certainly hopes to add Clemson to that list in the future.

“It would definitely be an honor for sure,” he said. “Clemson has a way of recruiting where they won’t offer unless they’re 100-percent sure about it. So, for Clemson to offer me would definitely be a great honor.”

Brown transferred to Jefferson from Commerce (Ga.) High ahead of his sophomore season. As a freshman in 2020, he garnered first-team all-state honors after rushing for 1,368 yards on 133 carries (10.3 average), catching six passes for 181 yards and totaling 19 all-purpose touchdowns to go with 41 tackles and two sacks.

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

No. 1 linebacker impressed by Clemson’s linebackers, ‘amazing culture’

A No. 1-ranked linebacker prospect was at Bank of America Stadium last Saturday to see Clemson and Georgia battle it out in the marquee matchup. Jefferson (Ga.) High School’s Sammy Brown – the nation’s top linebacker in the 2024 class according to …

A No. 1-ranked linebacker prospect was at Bank of America Stadium last Saturday to see Clemson and Georgia battle it out in the marquee matchup.

Jefferson (Ga.) High School’s Sammy Brown – the nation’s top linebacker in the 2024 class according to 247Sports – attended the game as a guest of the Bulldogs, though he is also on the Tigers’ recruiting radar and liked what he saw from Brent Venables’ defense on the field as well.

“I thought the game was awesome,” Brown told The Clemson Insider. “I went as a guest of UGA, but I enjoyed watching both defenses and the way they executed their game plans. It’s pretty exciting when there are no offensive touchdowns scored!”

Specifically, when he watched Clemson on defense, Brown was impressed by starting linebackers James Skalski and Baylon Spector.

Skalski was named ACC Linebacker of the Week after tallying a game- and career-high 14 tackles, while Spector recorded his first career interception in the third quarter, picking off a third-down throw by quarterback J.T. Daniels.

Brown had the chance to be coached by Skalski and Spector when he worked out at the Dabo Swinney Camp in June.

“Both linebackers played an amazing game!” Brown said. “It was great to see them flying all over the field. Skalski had like (14) tackles, I think, and that’s crazy by itself, but against a high-powered offense like Georgia is insane. I was able to work with both Skalski and Spector at Clemson camp this summer, so it was cool to see them in a game setting!”

Brown plays on both sides of the ball at Jefferson High School. While a couple of schools are recruiting him as a running back, most view him more as a linebacker – including Clemson and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Brent Venables.

According to Brown, Venables liked the movement and aggressiveness that Brown displayed at camp, and Brown’s father, Michael – who is the associate head coach at Jefferson High – has been staying in touch with Clemson defensive analyst Ted Roof.

“My dad texts with Ted Roof from time to time,” Sammy said. “He texted after the Central Gwinnett game… I think he played there in high school.”

A bunch of major programs have already offered Brown, including Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Brown knows that Clemson doesn’t extend offers to sophomores like himself, but where do things stand with him and the Tigers early in the recruiting process?

“I would say I have a pretty strong relationship with Clemson and their staff,” he said. “They all seem like great people.”

Asked what appeals most to him about Clemson, Brown gave a definitive answer.

“Definitely the culture they have,” he said. “They might not always be the biggest or strongest. But they have an amazing culture. Their coaches and players know how to get up and work and push through tough things. They play at a higher level than everyone else, and it shows.”

Brown said he definitely plans to see the Tigers play again in person in at least one game at Death Valley this season.

Brown transferred to Jefferson from Commerce (Ga.) High ahead of his sophomore season. As a freshman in 2020, he garnered first-team all-state honors after rushing for 1,368 yards on 133 carries (10.3 average), catching six passes for 181 yards and totaling 19 all-purpose touchdowns to go with 41 tackles and two sacks.

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Clemson offer would be ‘big’ for No. 1-ranked LB

One of the nation’s best young prospects, regardless of position, is Sammy Brown of Jefferson (Ga.) High School. Brown, who plays linebacker and running back at the prep level, checks in as the nation’s No. 1 linebacker and the country’s No. 5 …

One of the nation’s best young prospects, regardless of position, is Sammy Brown of Jefferson (Ga.) High School.

Brown, who plays linebacker and running back at the prep level, checks in as the nation’s No. 1 linebacker and the country’s No. 5 overall prospect in the 247Sports initial top 100 rankings for the class of 2024 that was released this week.

While a couple of schools are recruiting Brown as a running back, most view him more as a linebacker – including Clemson and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Brent Venables.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound sophomore worked out for Venables and the Tigers at the Dabo Swinney Camp in June.

“I worked with the linebackers at camp,” Brown said. “Coach Venables had some good things to say about my movement and aggressiveness as well.”

Brown enjoyed being coached up by Venables at the camp, as well as defensive analyst Ted Roof and some of the current players that worked the camp.

“It was a great atmosphere to be in and really good coaching,” Brown said.

Speaking of coaching, Brown has a coach in his own home. His father, Michael Brown, is in his first year as the associate head coach at Jefferson High after previously serving as Commerce (Ga.) High’s head coach. Sammy was previously at Commerce as well.

According to Sammy, his father “has been talking with Coach Roof a good bit” about him.

“Just general stuff, just staying in touch with each other,” Sammy said of what he’s heard from Roof through his dad. “He will reach out every once in a while. For example, he made a comment about my power clean.”

Per Brown’s Twitter profile, he has power cleaned 330 pounds, squatted 485 pounds and bench pressed 325 pounds. As a freshman at Commerce last season, he garnered first-team all-state honors after rushing for 1,368 yards on 133 carries (10.3 average), catching six passes for 181 yards and totaling 19 all-purpose touchdowns to go with 41 tackles and two sacks.

“I am working to be an aggressive and physical player on both sides of the ball,” he said, looking ahead to his sophomore campaign. “It’s important to me to play with great discipline and effort as well.”

A bunch of major programs have already offered Brown, including Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Clemson doesn’t offer sophomores, per Swinney’s program policy, but Brown hopes to receive an offer from the Tigers when they begin dispensing offers to class of 2024 prospects down the road.

“It would certainly be a blessing and an honor!” he said. “Clemson is a great program with an even better culture… Any time you get an offer from a school like Clemson, it’s a big offer!”

Along with Clemson, Brown visited South Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Auburn and Tennessee this summer. He said he wants to make it back to Clemson for a game or two this season if his high school football schedule allows for it.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Georgia football offers RB Sammy Brown

The Georgia Bulldogs and running backs coach Dell McGee have offered a scholarship to class of 2024 running back Sammy Brown

The Georgia Bulldogs and running backs coach Dell McGee have offered a scholarship to class of 2024 running back Sammy Brown. Brown just finished his freshman season in high school, but he’s already receiving impressive amounts of recruiting attention.

Brown has received scholarship offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

Sammy Brown stars for Commerce High School in Commerce, Georgia. Commerce is about a 30 minute drive north of Athens, so he wouldn’t have to go far to attend the University of Georgia.

At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds Brown has solid size. The class of 2024 recruit gets after it in the weight room as well. He benches and cleans 300 pounds. The Commerce High School star also squats 465 pounds.

Sammy Brown is a three sport athlete, who runs track and wrestles on top of playing football. Brown’s versatility across and within sports is impressive. He plays both running back and linebacker in football.

Sammy Brown is currently unranked as a recruit due to his young classification. He’ll be ranked one day soon based on the amount of recruiting interest he’s received. Brown put up solid numbers as a freshman: 1,368 rushing yards, 41 tackles, and 19 total touchdowns.

He announced his scholarship offer from the University of Georgia via his Twitter account:

Check out this highlight from Sammy Brown. He does a good job reading the block of his lineman, then uses his speed to beat the linebacker to the edge:

[listicle id=40038]