Claudin Cherelus Bio
Claudin Cherelus (born February 9, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and competing at around 230 pounds, he plays the linebacker position at the professional level. After beginning his college career at the University of Massachusetts, he transferred to Alcorn State University before entering the NFL.
Cherelus first joined the league with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2023, before being claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers later that same year. He is of Haitian descent and grew up in southwest Florida, where he developed into a Division I football recruit.
Early Life and Background
Claudin Cherelus was born on February 9, 1999, in Golden Gate, Florida, a community located near Naples in Collier County. He is of Haitian descent, a heritage that has shaped his family background. Growing up in southwest Florida, he was introduced to football at a relatively late age compared to many of his peers.
Cherelus began playing football in eighth grade and went on to play three varsity seasons at Golden Gate High School. At Golden Gate, he lined up at both linebacker and safety, showing the versatility that would later define his college recruitment. He twice earned all-conference honors during his high school career and served as a team captain, reflecting the leadership traits that coaches valued in him as a young prospect.
Coming out of Golden Gate, Cherelus was initially committed to play college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Big Ten Conference. However, Minnesota retracted its scholarship offer before he could enroll, which redirected his path. He ultimately chose to begin his college career at the University of Massachusetts, joining the UMass Minutemen program as a result of that late change.
Path to American Football
After arriving at UMass, Cherelus redshirted during his true freshman year in 2017, preserving a season of eligibility while he adjusted to the college game. The following season, he appeared in all 12 games and posted 14 tackles, giving the Minutemen coaching staff a first real look at his potential as a defensive player.
In 2019, Cherelus took on a larger role at UMass, playing in 11 games as a reserve and finishing with 39 tackles along with a sack. Despite that progress, he decided to transfer in 2020, ultimately joining the Alcorn State Braves of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed his on-field debut with the Braves.
Once Alcorn State returned to play in 2021, Cherelus quickly became a starter and recorded 76 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and two sacks. In his final college season, he played nine games and tallied 73 tackles, 14.5 tackles-for-loss, six sacks, and an interception, performances that earned him second-team all-conference recognition. He was invited to the HBCU Legacy Bowl, an all-star showcase for players from historically black colleges and universities.
Claudin Cherelus Career
Early Career (2023)
Following his senior season at Alcorn State, Cherelus declined opportunities to play in the Canadian Football League in order to pursue a career in the NFL. He signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2023, joining a crowded linebacker room and competing for a roster spot through training camp and the preseason.
Cherelus was released by the Jets as part of the league’s final roster cuts on August 29, 2023, ending a brief stint with the organization that had originally signed him.
Carolina Panthers Era (2023–Present)
Shortly after being released by the Jets, Cherelus was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers, giving him a path to remain in the NFL. He joined a Panthers defense that was undergoing significant change, and he worked to carve out a role on special teams and as a depth linebacker during his first season with the team.
On November 3, 2023, Cherelus was placed on injured reserve, pausing his development as a rookie. He returned to health and remained with the Panthers into the 2024 campaign, but on December 17, 2024, he was again placed on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending toe injury that required surgery.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cherelus is built for the modern linebacker position at 6 feet 2 inches and roughly 230 pounds, allowing him to take on blocks at the second level while still possessing the range to cover in space. His college production at both UMass and Alcorn State highlighted him as a reliable tackler with a nose for disrupting plays behind the line of scrimmage. He also showed pass-rushing upside, recording multiple sacks across his final two college seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the standout moments of Cherelus’s career to date is his invitation to the HBCU Legacy Bowl following his final season at Alcorn State, a recognition reserved for the top draft-eligible players from historically black colleges and universities. His claim off waivers by the Carolina Panthers in 2023 stands as another milestone, marking the moment he established himself on an NFL roster.
Claudin Cherelus Career Wins
Because detailed game-by-game NFL win totals for individual linebackers are not consistently tracked, this section focuses on the verified highlights of his career rather than aggregated victory counts. Cherelus has not yet been credited with a major individual award at the professional level, and his most clearly documented statistical accomplishments came during his time at Alcorn State.
Alcorn State Highlights
Cherelus’s most productive college stretch came with the Alcorn State Braves. In his first playing season of 2021, he tallied 76 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and two sacks as a starter. He followed that with a 2022 campaign in which he recorded 73 tackles, 14.5 tackles-for-loss, six sacks, and an interception, earning second-team all-conference honors and an invitation to the HBCU Legacy Bowl.
Other Wins & Performances
At the high school level, Cherelus earned all-conference honors twice and served as a team captain at Golden Gate High School, signaling his early standing as a leader and playmaker. At UMass, he steadily built his resume with 14 tackles in 2018 and 39 tackles plus a sack in 2019 before transferring to Alcorn State.
Claudin Cherelus Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cherelus is of Haitian descent, a heritage tied to his upbringing in Golden Gate, Florida. Beyond this, further verified details about his parents and extended family are not publicly available in the supplied sources.
Personal Life
Public information about Claudin Cherelus’s personal life is limited. He has not been publicly identified as married, and details regarding a spouse or children are not available in the verified inputs.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season represents an important opportunity for Claudin Cherelus as he works to return from the season-ending toe injury he suffered in December 2024. After spending time on injured reserve, his primary focus during the early portion of the year will be on full recovery and re-establishing himself within the Carolina Panthers’ linebacker rotation.
Once healthy, Cherelus is expected to compete for a depth role on defense while contributing on special teams, areas in which he has previously shown promise. The Panthers’ defensive staff will be evaluating his ability to translate his college production at Alcorn State, where he posted 14.5 tackles-for-loss and six sacks in his final season, into consistent professional performance.
Given his journey from an undrafted free agent with the Jets to a claimed waiver pickup by Carolina, Cherelus enters 2025 motivated to prove that he can stay healthy and earn a longer-term role. His performance during training camp and the preseason will likely determine how prominently he factors into the Panthers’ defensive plans for the regular season.