Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen has seen some players standout

Spring work is starting to reveal which defenders are making noise, and Clemson football is seeing a handful of players consistently stand out on that side of the ball. Speaking after Monday’s practice, Tom Allen pointed to the overall energy and accountability of his unit, but what’s really jumping out is the number of players beginning to take control of roles and elevate those around them. “It’s been a good spring.

We want to finish strong, but just the buy-in has been really, really at a high level,” Allen said. “I think the competition has been encouraging… I feel like we have really good competition at all positions, which is extremely important… and I just think the urgency of the group. ” Leadership has been one of the biggest areas of growth.

Sammy Brown continues to set the tone, while Will Heldt and Jahiem Lawson have also stepped forward vocally. Allen noted that Lawson, in particular, has taken a jump in that department. In the secondary, Ashton Hampton and Ronan Hanafin have also brought a stronger presence, helping drive what Allen described as “level three accountability” within practices.

Clemson’s linebacker group might be the clearest example of progress. Brown has taken control of the MIKE spot, with Kobe McCloud working at WILL, and the entire unit has shown improvement. Jeremiah Alexander is playing at his highest level since arriving, while Fletcher Cothran and C.