Clemson will play California in Berkeley for the first time in the regular season in 2026, but the Tigers will not have to face the Golden Bears’ standout linebacker Luke Ferrelli (6-3 215). The redshirt freshman has agreed to contract terms with the Tigers, per Hayes Fawcett of On3. Ferrell visited Clemson on Tuesday and quickly decided to make the cross-country move. Ferrell was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the year, and he earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors after totaling 91 tackles with five tackles for loss and a sack. He’s a native of San Diego who originally committed to Stanford before switching to Cal.
Luke Ferrelli bio from Cal
Defense Statistics
| Season | GP | SOLO | AST | TOT | TFL-YDS | SACKS-YDS | INT | PD | FF | FR | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | 38 | 53 | 91 | 5-30 | 1-11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 13 | 38 | 53 | 91 | 5-30 | 1-11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Accolades
- Honorable mention All-ACC selection as a linebacker as a 2025 redshirt freshman.
Redshirt Freshman (2025)
- Second on the team with 87 tackles, while adding 5.0 tackles for loss (-30 yards), 1.0 sack (-11 yards), one interception that he returned two yards, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry.
- Tied for eighth in the ACC in total tackles and tied for ninth in tackles per game (7.3).
- Had a key interception at Boston College at the Cal goal line on the Eagles’ final offensive play to secure a 28-24 Golden Bear win.
- Has had three double-digit tackle games, including a career-high-tying 11 in back-to-back contests vs. Texas Southern and Minnesota, as well as 10 at Stanford.
- Has started all 12 games.
Freshman (2024)
- Did not see any action..
Prep
- A consensus three-star recruit who ranks as high as the nation’s No. 101 linebacker and the No. 111 player overall in California by ESPN.
- Three-year career totals of 132 tackles, 27.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumbles recovered including one that he returned 57 yards for a touchdown as a 2022 junior, and 18 quarterback hurries.
- Three teams he played for a 31-4 overall record and were 17-0 in conference games on the way to Avocado League titles and postseason berths each season.
- Totaled 56 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks and also contributed his biggest offensive numbers as a 2023 senior for a team that went 10-1 overall and 5-0 in the Avocado League.
- Recorded 73 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks as a 2022 junior for a squad that was 10-2 overall, 6-0 in the Avocado League and reached the championship game of the San Diego Section Open Division playoffs.