BLACKSBURG, Va. — Dabo Swinney came to Sammy Brown earlier in the week and told him to be ready.
“Coach Swinney told me it is time for me to step up. It is time to become a big boy,” Brown said.
The Clemson linebacker stepped up and definitely played like a big boy in the 23 rd -ranked Tigers’ 24-14 victory over Virginia Tech Saturday night at Lane Stadium. Brown, a true freshman, tallied a team-high eight tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss in his first career start.
With Brown in the game, Clemson deployed its base 4-3 scheme against the Hokies and had perhaps its best outing of the season. The Tigers held them to 228 yards of total offense, including 40 yards on the ground and 1.9 per carry.
The Hokies (5-5, 3-3 ACC) were averaging 201.4 rushing yards per game prior to Saturday. They held Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten to three yards on four carries before he went out in the second quarter with an injury.
Tuten, who was questionable coming in, ranked second in the ACC in rushing yards and yards per carry.