Eastern View (VA) is set for their first of two scrimmages before their season opener later this month and 2025 four-star linebacker Brett Clatterbaugh is looking to entrench himself among the best prospects along the east coast.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker leads an experienced Eastern View team into the fall, but after amassing 150 tackles during his freshman season, Clatterbaugh has his eyes set on achieving that mark once more.
“I got that my freshman year, but the reason why was because we were 5-5. I played all game, every game. Last year, I finished with 125 [tackles] but we were 8-3 and we blew three or four teams out,” Clatterbaugh added. “So setting that goal, still blowing teams out but that high number would be good.”
Clatterbaugh was recognized for his two-way ability as a sophomore, earning second-team all-region honors at tight end along with a second-team all-state selection at linebacker. After leading Eastern View in receiving yards last fall, Clatterbaugh admitted he enjoys the offensive side of the ball, but he’s always found himself gravitating towards the defensive side of the ball.
It’s also the side of the ball that a long list of schools project the Virginia star. Clemson, Georgia, Louisville, Maryland, Penn State, Rutgers and South Carolina are among the double-digit list of schools to offer Clatterbaugh heading into the fall. Clatterbaugh made his way to Ohio State and Notre Dame back in April then Tennessee, Clemson, Alabama, Auburn and Georgia in June.
Clemson was the lone school that was a return visit for Clatterbaugh with the Tigers’ staff leaving a clear impression early on. “I’ve been to Clemson many times before. I really like it, like the staff. Location is great. I think they’ve got a good thing going there. Very impressive, fun to be around,” he added.
August 1 also marked the first day that college coaches could reach out directly to 2025 prospects and it’s safe to say Clatterbaugh has been busy. “It’s been crazy, to say the least, but the coaches have definitely made their rounds to reach out so it’s at least a weekly thing right now.”
Maryland was among the first schools to reach out.
“Lance Thompson has reached out and a couple of others. Coach [Gunter] Brewer has been down to the school. They’ve been to the school many times, doing the best they can. I went to Maryland last year on a whim for the Purdue game. I’ve also spent a lot of time up at Maryland before. I used to play with the Maryland Heat so we’d practice a couple of times at Maryland, had a couple of events up at Maryland. It was a fun game to be at. Decent fans there, pretty good environment. Close, we’re about an hour and a half away so relatively easy game to get to.”
Clatterbaugh could visit additional schools this fall, but for now, he’ll head to five schools for the 2023 season.
His tour begins with a trip to Athens to watch the defending champion Georgia Bulldogs take on Ball State.
Clatterbaugh will head north to Happy Valley on Sept. 23 when Penn State hosts 25th-ranked Iowa. He’ll then make his way to Blacksburg on Sept. 30 to watch Virginia Tech host Pittsburgh. Clatterbaugh is slated to visit Notre Dame on Oct. 14 when they host sixth-ranked USC, followed by another visit to Clemson on Nov. 4 when they host the Irish.
Brett Clatterbaugh is rated a composite four-star recruit, while On3 is the lone service to rate the Virginia linebacker a three-star prospect. Clatterbaugh is rated an 88 overall and the 12th-best prospect in Virginia in the 2025 class.
Related Links
Taulia Tagovailoa named second-best quarterback in Big Ten in 2023
Several Maryland rookies shine, find endzone in first week of preseason
Maryland football film breakdown: OG Corey Bullock
Maryland misses out on AP poll, Jaishawn Barham named to second watch list
DeMatha names basketball court after Maryland assistant Mike Jones