Clemson signee analysis: 5-star LB Sammy Brown

Sammy Brown is officially a Tiger now.

by TigerNet Staff - Wed Dec 20 07:22:48 GMT-04:00 2023

Sammy Brown - Linebacker
TigerNet: (5.00)

Height: 6-2 Weight: 230 Hometown: Jefferson, GA (Jefferson HS) Class: 2024

ESPN:

#13 Overall, #2 LB, #2 GA

Rivals:

#34 Overall, #4 ILB, #6 GA

24/7:

#14 Overall, #2 LB, #2 GA

Clemson landed its latest 5-star defensive prospect in the linebacker corps.

More on Jefferson (GA) LB Sammy Brown…

Signee analysis: Sammy Brown - 5-star LB - Jefferson, Ga.

Committed since: 6/5/23.

Listed size: 6-2 230.

Mid-year enrollee

Notable: Brown is the reigning MaxPreps national athlete of the year for all of high school sports for his standout performance in track and field and wrestling as well. For that 2022-23 sports season, he placed sixth in the state meet in the 100-meter (10.76), fourth in the long jump (23-3) and 11th in the 200-meter (22.0), and on the wrestling mat, Brown improved to a 88-5 career record, back-to-back state championships and a 27-2 mark over that winter while competing in the 285 weight class.

The 2023 Butkus Award winner totaled 12 TFLs and 153 total tackles this season, adding two interceptions, as an All-State defender. On offense, Brown rushed for nearly 2,300 (2,289) rushing yards with 36 touchdowns. Per MaxPreps, Brown tallied near 4,500 rushing yards (4,491) over the last three seasons with 68 rushing touchdowns. Brown is one of just two 247Sports Composite 5-star linebackers in the class, rated No. 2 overall. He holds the No. 1 linebacker ranking for ESPN.

Quotable: "Could probably find a home somewhere at the Power Five level as a running back given how he powers his way through would-be tacklers, but tape suggests that he has a chance to be special as an off-ball linebacker. Does an excellent job of sifting through traffic and getting where he needs to be. Hasn’t faced the stiffest competition on Friday nights, but does exactly what he’s supposed to do in that type of setting as he sheds blocks and simply swallows up ball carriers. Can hold his own in 1-on-1 situations, but at his best in coverage when he can drop back into a zone and clog up passing lanes. Ability to bend while rounding the corner also makes him dangerous as a blitzer. Should be viewed as one of the top defensive prospects in the 2024 cycle.” - 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins.

Clemson bio

In High School: Coveted prospect who is a consensus top 30 player nationally according to 247Sports, ESPN, On3, Rivals and PrepStar … named the nation’s top all-around athlete by MaxPreps for his success in football, wrestling and track, joining a list of previous award-winners that includes Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray and Derrick Henry … named as the No. 1 “Freak Athlete” in the nation by 247Sports … received the 2023 High School Butkus Award, presented each year to the top high school linebacker in the nation … selected to play in the All-American Bowl on NBC and was named as one of six finalists for the organization’s Player of the Year award and one of five for its Defensive Player of the Year award … consensus five-star prospect … listed by ESPN as the nation’s top linebacker, the third-best player in Georgia and the No. 12 overall prospect in America … also listed as 247Sports’ No. 12 overall player as well as its second-best linebacker and second-best player in Georgia … ranked No. 18 overall by On3 as well as the second-best linebacker and second-best player in Georgia … listed by Rivals as the nation’s No. 28 overall player as well as its third-best linebacker and sixth-best player in Georgia … ranked 12th in the nation by PrepStar, which listed him as the top linebacker in the nation and second-best player in Georgia … named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 Team … all-state selection each of his last three seasons … named as Georgia 5A Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 … won Mr. Football in Georgia for 2023 from Georgia Public Television … despite being slated to play linebacker at Clemson, had outstanding numbers as a running back, rushing for 2,289 yards and 36 touchdowns in 2023 … averaged an incredible 9.0 yards per rush and 163.5 yards per game while posting 11 games with 100-plus rushing yards in 2023 … scored 40 touchdowns overall … his 2,289 rushing yards were fourth-most in the state and were the 46th-most in a single season in Georgia high school history … his 36 rushing touchdowns that season also ranked 29th all-time in Georgia, giving him 82 career rushing touchdowns (21st all-time in state annals) … amassed 153 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three blocked kicks and two interceptions defensively … as a punter, averaged 44.5 yards on 36 punts with 15 downed inside the 20 … rushed 181 times for 1,449 yards with 21 touchdowns as a junior … averaged 13 yards per carry as a sophomore with 753 yards on 58 carries … finished his prep career with 494 carries for 4,491 yards and 68 rushing touchdowns … recorded 100-yard rushing games in 23 of his 32 career games … also added 24 receptions for 460 yards and seven touchdowns, giving him 5,022 yards from scrimmage for his career (157 yards per game) … led his team to a 13-1 season, a Region Championship and the 5A state semifinals as one of the top two-way players in the nation … played for Travis Noland at Jefferson … outstanding wrestler who compiled a 88-5 record and won back-to-back state championships … was 34-2 as a wrestler as a junior … clocked at 10.7 in the 100 meters and has long jumped 23’3”.

Personal: Born Sept. 29, 2005 … member of Jefferson High School’s Miracle Club, which raises money for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta … 4.0 student … committed to Clemson June 5, 2023 … expected to enroll at Clemson in January 2024.