Clemson just landed an elite player with connections to the defense, but he won't be on campus until 2027

And for the 2027 class, it starts with Max Brown.

Clemson Tigers land 2027 LB Max Brown

Max Brown is a four-star linebacker from Jefferson High School in Jefferson, Georgia, but ended up choosing Clemson over other Georgia schools, which is huge for Clemson, considering he is a top prospect in the 2027 recruiting class. 

At 6'1" and 215 pounds, he already has the size to play linebacker for Clemson in year one, if he had to, and he's only going to keep growing. He had 152 tackles, 14 for loss, and two sacks in his 2024 sophomore season, helping Jefferson to an 11-4 record. 

Also a running back, Brown is ranked No. 82 overall, No. 4 linebacker, and No. 12 in Georgia by Rivals. He had offers from Clemson, Ohio State, Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn, Notre Dame, Michigan, and others, with his athleticism and instincts drawing comparisons to his brother, Sammy Brown, a Clemson linebacker.

Brown committed to Clemson as the first member of their 2027 class. Which could only make other kids get on board now, and start a chain reaction. 

The decision came after a June 1 offer from Clemson, where he liked the coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Tom Allen. Clemson’s proximity to his home, just 59 miles away, also factored into his decision to pick Clemson, a program that was once a powerhouse.