While Clemson’s defensive line dominated the headlines, the 2018 linebackers unit was experienced and rarely made mistakes. Venables tends to get the most out of his linebackers, having had at least one All-ACC linebacker every year since 2013. Clemson’s upper-class trio of inside linebackers were solid in 2018, and Sam linebacker Isaiah Simmons was perhaps the MVP of the defense. Although issues cropped up in pass coverage at times the linebackers were a key part of Clemson’s excellent run defense.
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The Tigers base out of a nominal 4-3, with the Sam having turned into a safety/linebacker hybrid.