PFF says Clemson has 2 of the Top 5 Returning Linebackers in the Country

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter have been named by Pro Football Focus as 2 of the top 5 linebackers in the country for the 2023 season. The list was actually comprised of a top 10 but nobody had to read that far before we got to both of Clemson's 'backers.

Trotter Jr. was notably named the number 1 returning linebacker while Carter was 5th. The only names separating the two teammates were LSU's Harold Perkins at No. 2, Ohio State's Tommy Eichenberg at No. 3, and Georgia's Jamon Dumas-Johnson at No. 4. The only other linebacker from the ACC on this list was North Carolina's Cedric Gray who fell just behind Carter at #6.

Trotter Jr. really came on in his sophomore campaign after only playing 5 games in his freshman season where he recorded just 15 tackles, 9 of which were solo, and added 1 sack on the year. The next year's stats look very different. The star sophomore played in all 14 games and upped his tackle total to 89 with 50 being solo along with his 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble. Quite the difference and as evidenced by the above rankings plenty of people have taken notice.

Carter, like Trotter Jr., was a part of that same 2021 recruiting class which has obviously turned into quite the haul for the Tiger defense. The former 5-star played slightly more as a freshman and appeared in 8 games while recording 16 tackles, 2 for loss, and 7 solo. He also returned a recovered fumble for a touchdown that year. The sophomore jump happened once again as 73 total tackles, 10.5 for loss and 41 solo proved the development at Clemson is working. The 5.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles showed how versatile Carter is as a defender.

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