Clemson football linebacker Sammy Brown makes 2026 Nagurski Watch List

Tuesday saw the release of the Football Writers Association of America's 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Clemson Tigers linebacker Sammy Brown was one of 68 players to make the list. Brown led Clemson in tackles a season ago, registering 106 total and 51 solo. He had five sacks, 13.5 tackles

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Tuesday saw the release of the Football Writers Association of America's 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Clemson Tigers linebacker Sammy Brown was one of 68 players to make the list.

Brown led Clemson in tackles a season ago, registering 106 total and 51 solo. He had five sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble while starting all 13 games.

Brown enters 2026 with 186 career tackles (99 solo), 25 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and eight pass breakups.

A consensus five-star recruit from the class of 2023 out of Jefferson, Georgia, Brown was ranked the No. 2 linebacker in that year's recruiting cycle in the final 247Sports Composite Rankings.

As a true freshman in 2024, he started six of the Tigers'

14 games and had 80 tackles (47 solo) to go with five sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups.

The Nagurski Award is annually awarded to the best defensive player in college football. Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez won the award last year.

Preseason US LBM Coaches Poll: Is Clemson football ranked?

📸 Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina, Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images https://t.co/79CYOAgYWV pic.twitter.com/ooIljpBOXr

— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) August 4, 2026