2025 Football Position Review/2026 Spring Primer: Linebackers

Looking Back and then Forward on the Defensive Second Level

Clemson welcomed Tom Allen as its new defensive coordinator ahead of the 2025 season. Allen also brought along his son Thomas Allen, Jr. and Dabo Swinney elevated Ben Boulware to lead the position group. A drop-off after losing Brent Venables to Oklahoma was probably inevitable, but while successor Wes Goodwin brought all the X&O know how from the Venables system, he failed to bring the leadership and in game feel his mentor so remarkably possessed. Coach V left the LB room well-stocked upon his departure, with future NFL draft picks Trenton Simpson, Jeremiah Trotter, Jr., and Barrett Carter all in the fold just to name a few. Unfortunately, the LB position experienced a decline since, especially in 2024 when the Clemson defense got routinely gashed in the run game due to bad run fits and tackling.