Cameron Cleminson was named inside linebackers coach at South Alabama in Feb. 2024.
In his first season as a full-time assistant, Cleminson helped South Alabama win its second-straight bowl championship with a victory over Western Michigan in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl.
Cleminson’s star pupil in 2024 was linebacker Blayne Myrick, who led the team with 101 total tackles on the year. Myrick finished fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in total tackles, and ranked 45th nationally. He also made eight tackles for loss, added two sacks and recorded one interception, which he returned for a touchdown against Texas State.
Linebacker Darius McKenzie also had a big 2024 season for Cleminson’s linebacker room with 72 total tackles, the third-most on the team. McKenzie recorded 3.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and recovered a fumble.
Cleminson spent the 2023 season on South Alabama’s staff as a graduate assistant, working primarily with the team’s outside linebackers. Under his leadership, Quentin Wilfawn was a second-team All-Sun Belt performer with a team-high 84 tackles. Wilfawn also led the team in tackles for loss with 16, and sacks with 6.5.
Cleminson joined the Jaguars after two seasons on staff at Cincinnati, working under head coach Luke Fickell. He helped guide the Bearcats to an undefeated 2021 season which resulted in an American Athletic Conference Championship and appearance in the College Football Playoff Semifinals. Cleminson’s defensive unit at Cincinnati that year held opponents to 21 points or less in 11 of 14 games, including wins over Notre Dame in South Bend and Houston in the AAC Championship.
Before arriving in Cincinnati, Cleminson served as a graduate assistant at Michigan State University, working under head coach Mark Dantonio. At MSU, he worked with star players like Joe Bachie and Kenny Willekes and led the top rushing defense in the country in 2018.
Cleminson graduated from Michigan State University in 2018, earning his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. He later earned a masters of education at Michigan State in 2020.
Cleminson and his wife, Kelsey, are the parents of one son, Jack.
