Sammy Brown Named Alexander Award Player of the Week

© Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Freshman linebacker Sammy Brown and the stifling No. 23 Clemson defense helped the Tigers (7-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) bounce back from a loss last week with a 24-14 win against Virginia Tech (5-5, 3-3) to keep their ACC Championship and College Football Playoff hopes alive. Brown led the team in tackles with 8 total (5 solo), 1 sack and 2.5 tackles for loss on his way to being named the Week 11 Shaun Alexander Award Player of the Week by the Maxwell Football Club on Nov. 12.

Brown’s Banner Day

Although the Tigers’ offense struggled in the first half—being shut out—and trailing 7-0 at halftime, the defense kept Clemson in the game by not allowing the Hokies’ offense to score through the first two quarters. The Clemson offense finally woke up in the second half, scoring touchdowns on its first two possessions to take a 14-7 lead with 7:34 left in the third quarter.

After taking the lead, Brown gave the Tigers all the momentum they would need on the Hokies’ ensuing drive. On third-and-10 from the Virginia Tech 36-yard line, quarterback Kyron Drones dropped back to pass but was sacked by Brown for an 11-yard loss to force the Hokies to punt with 6:46 left in the third. After Brown’s sack, the Hokies’ next four drives ended in an interception, a turnover on downs, a three-and-out and another interception. For the game, the Clemson defense allowed only 1 offensive TD (late in the game), forced 3 turnovers, allowed the Virginia Tech offense just 1.9 yards per carry on the ground and held the Hokies to just 2-of-14 on third-down attempts. 

On the Season

Brown, a 6-foot-2, 235-pounder from Commerce, Ga., has 34 total (25 solo) tackles on the season and 4 sacks. The Virginia Tech game was the third time this season Brown has registered 8 or more total tackles in a game. The Tigers will face a test next week as they travel to No. 18 Pitt to take on the Panthers (7-2, 3-2), who were upset 24-19 by the Virginia Cavaliers (5-4, 3-3)

The Shaun Alexander Award

One of the Maxwell Football Club’s most prestigious awards, the Shaun Alexander Award is presented to the best freshman player in college football each year. Originally named the College Football Freshman Player of the Year Award, the award was established in 2019. The inaugural winner was quarterback Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, while former Alabama and current Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs won the award in 2023.