Clemson football: Less could be more in Trenton Simpson’s new role

Trenton Simpson’s move inside means more talent on the field for the Clemson defense.

In his 556 snaps across 13 games and 12 starts in the 2021 season, Clemson football linebacker Trenton Simpson accumulated impressive numbers.

Seventy-eight total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 3 passes broken up and 11 quarterback pressures.

Simpson has been a stat and highlight machine in his time at Clemson, but that may not be the case this year with his move inside.

"He recorded solid numbers, yes, but playing on the outside and reading offensive tackles wasn’t necessarily utilizing all of his abilities."

The coaches were of the opinion that the move will not only benefit Simpson at the next level, but also allow the Tigers to put more talent on the field in an already ridiculously talented Clemson front seven.

"Coaches believe shifting Simpson inside will prove fruitful for his NFL future and improve a Clemson defense many already project to rank near the top of the sport this fall."

While the numbers are eye candy for fans, NFL scouts are not necessarily looking for the gaudy numbers that can be stacked up from Simpson’s old position.

"Meanwhile, the challenge of replacing Simpson at Will linebacker isn’t difficult, either, because of recruiting. That role now belongs to Barrett Carter, a five-star signee in 2021 who enters his first season as starter."

As for that front seven, here is what the Tigers will put on the field in 2022:

"The Tigers are expected to start five former five-star prospects among the linemen and linebackers in the front seven, and three of those players, including Simpson, signed with that history-making class in 2020."

Simpson believes the front seven can’t blocked one on one and that provides him opportunities to make plays, perhaps in a different way, from his new spot in the defense.

"“That front seven is amazing,” Simpson said. “I can personally say that I feel like every guy that they put out there on the D-line, no one can block one-on-one.”“Those guys are unbelievable when it comes to keeping linemen off me in practice,” Simpson said."

Here’s guessing that happens in the games, too.

With the position change Simpson’s stat line may decrease, but the odds of an NFL career and success of Clemson’s defense increases

His role has shifted from one that generated a lot of stats to one inside the box, where a mass of humanity meets on almost every play and with that his stats may not reflect what he truly means to the defense, but by allowing Carter on the field less numbers for Simpson may be good news for the Tigers defense.