Clemson Football: 5-star LB Trenton Simpson brings versatility to Tigers

5-star Clemson football linebacker signee Trenton Simpson is a versatile defender who could very well become a star at the position.

The Clemson football program picked up a late gem in 5-star LB Trenton Simpson.

The Tigers didn’t offer Simpson until last Saturday, but they got a commitment that very same day.

Simpson, a prospect out of Charlotte, was originally committed to Auburn before de-committing from the Tigers. At that point, it was expected that he would choose UNC, but then the Tigers came calling.

Clemson wasn’t sure that it would have a scholarship available in terms of numbers earlier in the recruiting process, but the Tigers made sure to offer Simpson when the scholarship was sure to come available.

Simpson, on a visit to Clemson, committed immediately after.

The 5-star linebacker projects on the outside in the future. Simpson is extremely athletic and shows a certain amount of versatility needed for the linebacker position. He could play the WILL position in the future, but there’s a good chance the Tigers actually use him in that hybrid SAM/Nickel role that Isaiah Simmons is currently playing and Mike Jones Jr. is expected to play next season.

Simpson has the athleticism and physicality to be a force for the Tigers in the future and it won’t take long before he’s ready to make an impact.

Clemson will have two starting spots open after this season due to Chad Smith graduating and Isaiah Simmons moving on to the NFL. The Tigers have recruited well at linebacker, but it’s clear that Simpson will be one of the options to fill the depth chart as early as next season.

Simpson isn’t just a stellar linebacker and defender, he’s a true Clemson football fan. When the Tigers were playing in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte, Simpson told Tigernet that he got his mother to pay for tickets just so he could see Clemson play. This was well before Clemson had ever offered the linebacker prospect.