Clemson football: PFF says Tigers lost top-five national linebacker

The Clemson football team is considered one of the top competitors in the nation as we head into the 2021 season, but the Tigers still have some holes to fill if they want to walk away as National Champions.

Though the Clemson football defense returns nearly every starter from last year, the Tigers will be without one player who ultimately decided to transfer: LB Mike Jones Jr.

Jones Jr. elected to transfer to LSU prior to spring camp as he wanted an opportunity to play inside the box and gain a different experience after becoming a Clemson University graduate, according to Dabo Swinney. 

As we head into the summer, Jones Jr. is ranked as the No. 2 returning linebacker in the nation by Pro Football Focus.

Clemson football will certainly miss Jones Jr., but there are also reasons to be optimistic about the position this season

You never want to lose a seasoned veteran and when we start seeing lists like this with a former Clemson player, it can be easy for that to hurt a little bit.

The truth of the matter, though, is that the Tigers have many reasons to be excited about the linebacker position and those who’ll be playing that Nickel/SAM role this season.

Trenton Simpson was a monster when he was on the field during his freshman year. He’ll now take over that spot on a full-time basis. You’ve got Malcom Green returning to play as that featured nickel in the defense and, honestly, he may have been the most impressive defensive back on the team last year.

On top of those two guys, you’ve got highly-touted 5-star Barrett Carter making his way to campus later this summer.  Carter has been compared to Isaiah Simmons and there’s no doubt that the Tigers have plans for him to get on the field this fall.