Clemson Football: 5 position battles to watch during 2017 spring game

Clemson football won the 2016 National Championship, avenging their 2015 loss to Alabama. Which position battles should we watch this spring?

Clemson football made good on its promise to return to the College Football Playoff. They beat the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31 on the final play of the game with Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson walking away with the last laugh.

However, with the departures of Watson and running back Wayne Gallman to the NFL Draft on offense, as well as the loss of some key seniors on defense, the Tigers have some big holes to fill to return to the College Football Playoff.

The Clemson Tigers offense was 14th in the FBS in scoring in 2016, putting up 39.2 points per game. They’ll have some skill positions to replace but with a strong recruiting stable, they should be okay. The spring will give fans a look at what players will stand out in the year ahead.

On defense, the Tigers lose linebacker Ben Boulware, defensive tackle Carlos Watkins and cornerback Cordrea Tankersley on a scoring defense (18.0 points per game) that ranked 10th in the FBS a season ago. The linebackers and defensive ends have some experience returning, which bodes well. But replacing their unsung defensive leaders is key this spring.

The Tigers finished strong last season but for their efforts, they have some key positions to replace. While some position battles won’t be decided until the fall, some players will have a chance to set themselves apart this spring.