Clemson Football Spring Game Primer: Linebackers

The Clemson Tigers will play their spring football game on Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m.  The game will be televised by the ACC Network.

When: April 9 at 1 PM, Clemson Memorial Stadium

Position Coach: Wes Goodwin – Coach Swinney made waves in December when he promoted the little-known Goodwin to Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach. The Tiger defense looked sharp in Goodwin’s debut at the Cheez-It Bowl, and many fans are interested to see if Clemson’s defensive scheme will change significantly from that of previous coordinator Brent Venables.

Who is playing: Trenton Simpson (JR), Barrett Carter (SO), Jeremiah Trotter (SO), LaVonta Bentley (JR-RS), Keith Maguire (JR-RS)

Who isn’t playing: TJ Dudley (FR), Wade Woodaz (FR), Kobe McCloud (FR)

Questionable: Sergio Allen (JR): Allen has been a non-contact participant this spring. He might be cleared to play in the Spring Game, but that decision has not been announced.

What we can expect for the spring game: Following the departure of James Skalski and Brandon Spector, observers have indicated that we should expect some position shifting from the returning linebackers. We often hear that the offensive line will put the best five guys out there, and it sounds like Goodwin is willing to move some players around, like rising star Simpson, to get his best talent on the field.

What we can expect for next season: Venables was very innovative with his line-up and positions, often putting a safety or hybrid player on the field in place of a linebacker. While Goodwin is a very insightful defensive mind, it remains to be seen if he will continue to utilize the same personnel strategy that we have seen in the past three seasons.

Simpson is a stud who is versatile, so look for Goodwin to move him around. All indications suggest that Carter is the next guy in line to break out at linebacker, and Trotter is a rising talent too. It will not be surprising if those three guys are in the first-string on the depth chart by the start of next season.

We will need to keep an eye on this group to see if there are any departures to the transfer portal after spring practice concludes. Much of the depth in the linebacker corps could be very young if any of the juniors decide to move on. If more than one leaves, linebacker might become another position that Clemson investigates in the transfer market.