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CLEMSON — Clemson football had the ideal replacement for linebacker Wade Woodaz in Cal transfer Luke Ferrelli.
Ferrelli was the ACC's defensive rookie of the year in 2025 and transferred to Clemson on Jan. 7. However, he re-entered the portal on Jan. 16 to transfer to Ole Miss on Jan. 22. This led to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney accusing the Rebels and coach Pete Golding of tampering.
Ferrelli would have been an ideal player to start alongside Sammy Brown. Now, Clemson has major questions behind Brown in the Tigers' linebacker room.
"Nobody is really talking about us or believing in us," Brown said. "We gotta go out there and prove it."
Here's Clemson's linebacker room outlook entering 2026.
Returners:
Losses:
Additions:
MORE: How much Clemson football assistants will make on Dabo Swinney's revamped 2026 staff
Brown leads this group. The former ACC defensive rookie of the year earned All-America honors and a first-team All-ACC selection in 2025. He recorded a team-high 106 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and five sacks, one forced fumble, six pass deflections and one interception.
Brown has never missed a game in his career and is one of just 26 FBS players over the last 20 years to record at least five sacks and at least 10 tackles for loss as a freshman and a sophomore.
The depth behind him is the concern. An issue Swinney and his staff had with Ferrelli leaving was the Tigers canceled other visits with potential portal linebackers when he initially transferred to Clemson.
Now, the Tigers are counting on their depth to shine. The likeliest players to start alongside Brown are McCloud or Alexander.
McCloud is entering his fifth year with 45 career tackles, including six for loss, one forced fumble and five pass breakups in 28 games and three starts. Alexander, a fifth-year linebacker who transferred from Alabama last season, played in all 13 games and made three starts last year to record 33 tackles and three pass breakups
Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen said McCloud and Alexander "separated" themselves during spring practice and the offseason to be in the team's top three linebackers.
Clemson linebackers coach Ben Boulware said communication will also be critical after losing veteran Wade Woodaz.
Behind Brown, McCloud and Alexander, there are Cothran, Kubah-Taylor, Drew Woodaz, Anderson and Reilly. All carry little to no experience meaning an injury to Clemson's top three linebackers could be trouble for the Tigers in 2026.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Can Clemson defense recover from Luke Ferrelli transfer? Here are Dabo Swinney's options
Continue reading...
Ferrelli was the ACC's defensive rookie of the year in 2025 and transferred to Clemson on Jan. 7. However, he re-entered the portal on Jan. 16 to transfer to Ole Miss on Jan. 22. This led to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney accusing the Rebels and coach Pete Golding of tampering.
Ferrelli would have been an ideal player to start alongside Sammy Brown. Now, Clemson has major questions behind Brown in the Tigers' linebacker room.
"Nobody is really talking about us or believing in us," Brown said. "We gotta go out there and prove it."
Here's Clemson's linebacker room outlook entering 2026.
Who Clemson football added, lost, retained in linebacker room
Returners:
- Sammy Brown
- Kobe McCloud
- Jeremiah Alexander
- Fletcher Cothran
- C.J. Kubah-Taylor
- Drew Woodaz
- Logan Anderson
Losses:
- Wade Woodaz (NFL draft)
- Luke Ferrelli (Cal transfer but re-entered portal to transfer to Ole Miss)
- Jamal Anderson (SMU)
- Dee Crayton (UNLV)
Additions:
- Brayden Reilly (signee)
MORE: How much Clemson football assistants will make on Dabo Swinney's revamped 2026 staff
Who Clemson needs to step up after losing Wade Woodaz, Luke Ferrelli
Brown leads this group. The former ACC defensive rookie of the year earned All-America honors and a first-team All-ACC selection in 2025. He recorded a team-high 106 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and five sacks, one forced fumble, six pass deflections and one interception.
Brown has never missed a game in his career and is one of just 26 FBS players over the last 20 years to record at least five sacks and at least 10 tackles for loss as a freshman and a sophomore.
The depth behind him is the concern. An issue Swinney and his staff had with Ferrelli leaving was the Tigers canceled other visits with potential portal linebackers when he initially transferred to Clemson.
Now, the Tigers are counting on their depth to shine. The likeliest players to start alongside Brown are McCloud or Alexander.
McCloud is entering his fifth year with 45 career tackles, including six for loss, one forced fumble and five pass breakups in 28 games and three starts. Alexander, a fifth-year linebacker who transferred from Alabama last season, played in all 13 games and made three starts last year to record 33 tackles and three pass breakups
Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen said McCloud and Alexander "separated" themselves during spring practice and the offseason to be in the team's top three linebackers.
Clemson linebackers coach Ben Boulware said communication will also be critical after losing veteran Wade Woodaz.
Behind Brown, McCloud and Alexander, there are Cothran, Kubah-Taylor, Drew Woodaz, Anderson and Reilly. All carry little to no experience meaning an injury to Clemson's top three linebackers could be trouble for the Tigers in 2026.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Can Clemson defense recover from Luke Ferrelli transfer? Here are Dabo Swinney's options
Continue reading...
