CLEMSON — Clemson football freshman linebacker Sammy Brown, the Tigers' top-rated player in the 2024 class, is poised to receive an increase in playing time.

Linebacker Kobe McCloud suffered a season-ending knee injury Saturday against Appalachian State. He was the No. 20-ranked Tigers' No. 3 linebacker behind Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz. Brown expects to help fill his void in his first season.

"I do see it as an opportunity," Brown said Tuesday. "I got to step up and take that role because he (went) down, so I feel this comes with great responsibility to fill his shoes."

Brown debuted against Georgia but only played on special teams. In Clemson's blowout win vs. the Mountaineers, he received 38 defensive snaps and led the Tigers (1-1) in tackles with nine. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he even earned the team's special teams MVP for his play against Appalachian State.

"We feel good about Sammy. He's making some progress," Swinney said. "He's still getting it to slow down a little bit, but man, he plays fast, and he's a physical kid."

Brown was the nation's No. 19 recruit in the class who earned the 2023 Butkus Award as the nation’s top high school linebacker. He committed to the Tigers last June and enrolled in December. He hopes to use Clemson's open week to adjust to the game speed before it faces NC State (1-1) in ACC play on Sept. 21 (noon ET, ABC) at Memorial Stadium.

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Brown also updated the status of signature blond mullet, which he has had for four years He said he doesn't think he will cut it anytime soon, but if he does, he knows what style he will get next.

"If I ever cut my mullet, I'm going straight to a buzz cut, probably bleaching it too," Brown said.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football star freshman Sammy Brown on playing time, mullet