The morning sun beat down on Death Valley as Clemson Tigers linebacker Sammy Brown walked out of his organic chemistry lab and straight onto the practice field. Just hours earlier, the Lombardi Award Committee had officially placed the junior standout on its prestigious 54-player preseason watchlist. The award, which honors the most outstanding lineman or linebacker in college football, was the ultimate recognition of grit and discipline. As a sophomore, he took a massive leap, leading Clemson with 107 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Yet, the accolades did not erase the bitter taste of the previous season, when Clemson finished a frustrating 7-6.