The reigning 2016 national champion, Clemson football, returns to action in a month. Dabo Swinney has to retool if he thinks he will repeat in 2017.
The 2016 Clemson football team had no holes in their team coming into the season. Every position on the field seemed to be locked and loaded for that season. And we saw what happened, but this year is a little different. There is a lot of competition for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart this year.
There are two sides to the competition coin. One side is says you have a lot of great talent and it doesn’t matter who you start. While the other side says, it’s early-August and we still don’t have a clear-cut starter and that breeds doubt. And Clemson fans don’t want to see doubt after a tremendous 28-2 record over the last two years.
While coaches want to see competition, fans want to see clarity on the depth chart. Let’s take a look at the projected 2017 two-deep depth chart for the Clemson Tigers.
Offensive Line
Starting tackles: Mitch Hyatt (LT), Sean Pollard (RT)
Backups: Tremayne Anchrum, Blake Vinson
In 2015, Mitch Hyatt was the first freshman to start as a true freshman since the 1980s. Since then, he has been a staple of the Clemson line. Last year, just like his freshman season, he earned All-ACC honors as an offensive lineman.
His other starting tackle, sophomore Sean Pollard, also started as a freshman. Last year, he took over starting duties before the Syracuse game last season. He earned and shared offensive rookie with backup tackle Tremayne Anchrum.
Other backup Blake Vinson comes in as a true freshman and probably will not see too much playing time because they have Anchrum as the primary backup for Hyatt and Pollard.
Starting guards: Taylor Hearn (LG), Tyrone Crowder (RG)
Backups: John Simpson, Maverick Morris
Taylor Hearn is the starting left guard and has been since the first game last year against Auburn. And in that Auburn game, he was awarded the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week. During the 2016 season he graded out at 90 or above three times.
His fellow starting guard, Tyrone Crowder, is the most veteran of all of the linemen. Crowder has started over 25 games in his first three years as a Clemson Tiger. And in 2015 he earned third team All-ACC. In 2016, he upped his play to first team All-ACC.
The backups sophomore John Simpson and senior Maverick Morris have seen a bunch of playing time and can fill both guard positions. Morris can also step in at tackle, if need be.
Starting center: Justin Falcinelli
Backup: Gage Cervenka
Justin Falcinelli was Jay Guilermo’s backup in 2016 and 2017 will take over his center position. Over the years Falcinelli has seen snaps at both center and guard.
And his backup in 2017 will be Gage Cervenka, a former defensive tackle.
Defensive Line
Starting tackles: Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins
Backups: Nyles Pinckney, Albert Huggins
Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins are one of the most feared tackle duos in the ACC, if not the nation. Lawrence was a Freshman All-American, ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year by Pro Football Focus. He also broke the freshman sack record in Clemson.
Wilkins will more than likely move back to his defensive tackle position this year to make room for the future at defensive end. But last year, Wilkins was a Nagurski Trophy finalist, Bednarik Award semifinalist and was a first-team All-American by AFCA.
Their backup Albert Huggins had a great 2016 season as a backup with 20 tackles and three sacks. While Nyles Pinckney redshirted last year and should be a great asset to Brent Venables’ terrifying defense.
Starting ends: Austin Bryant, Clelin Ferrell
Backups: Richard Yeargin, Chris Register
Clelin Ferrell came on the scene as a force at the end of the season with great games against Ohio State and Alabama. He shared Clemson’s defensive rookie of the year award with Dexter Lawrence. And in 2017, expect more of what you saw late in 2016. In the last two years, Bryant has been behind some great pass rushers including Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson. But in 2016 he shared Clemson’s defensive 12th Man of the Year award.
Backups Richard Yeargin and Chris Register will see a good bit of playing time due to Clemson two-deep rotation at the defensive end position.
Linebackers
Middle linebacker: Kendall Joseph
Backup: Tre Lamar
Kendall Joseph last year was second on the team with 124 tackles and leads a group of athletic linebackers at Clemson in 2017. In 2016, he won the Most Improved Award and was tied of the lead in tackles for loss with 13.5 and 3.5 sacks.
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And his backup Tre Lamar made his mark on special teams last year with over 20 tackles.
Outside linebackers: Dorian O’Daniel, J. D. Davis
Backups: Shaq Smith, Jalen Williams
Dorian O’Daniel is the one starter coming back to the outside linebacking corps. Last year, he had 60 tackles, nine behind the line of scrimmage and 2.5 sacks.
J.D. Davis will be replacing Ben Boulware at the other linebacker position. The Tigers will miss him but the defense could be better because Davis brings more athleticism to the game.
Even though Jalen Williams is the junior and Shaq Smith is only a redshirt sophomore, expect to see Smith on defense more this year Williams.
Defensive Backs
Starting cornerbacks: Trayvon Mullen, Ryan Carter
Backups: Mark Fields, Marcus Edmonds
Ryan Carter is the returning starter for the cornerbacks. He will no doubt the leader of the secondary. Last year, he worked his way into being one of the more valued players on the national title defense for the Tigers. In 2016, he had six pass breakups and added one interception.
Trayvon Mullen will be the other starting cornerback. Last year, he was behind Mark Fields on the depth chart, but after a year of learning and watching, it’s time to thrust the 6-foot-2 sophomore into the fire.
Their backups, Fields and Marcus Edmonds, both broke up three passes and had one interception.
Starting Safeties: Van Smith, Tanner Muse
Backups: Isaiah Simmons, Denzel Johnson
Van Smith was around the field last year. He tallied 114 tackles, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two interceptions as a starter. His production on the field earned him second-team All-ACC honors. He is the only returning starter at the safety positions.
Tanner Muse made his impact on special teams but looks to break out this year at the the other safety position.
Isaiah Simmons and Denzel Johnson are valued backups and look to compete for that other safety position. Former backup Korrin Wiggins could have started this year but should to transfer after the season.
Receivers
Starting wide receivers: Deon Cain, Hunter Renfrow, Ray-Ray McCloud
Backups: Trevion Thompson, Cornell Powell, TJ Chase
Are there really starters and backups at the WR position at Clemson? They all have the talent to be starters on any given Saturday for Clemson or any other school in all of college football. But the three “big” receivers are Deon Cain Hunter Renfrow and Ray-Ray McCloud. These are the only three main targets coming back from the National Championship in 2016.
Deon Cain is posed to have a breakout year after averaging almost 20 yards per catch. After what Hunter Renfrow did in the championship, he will never have to pay for food upstate in South Carolina after his playing days are over. And McCloud will be the receiver to do all of the jet sweeps that Artavis Scott did last year.
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And behind these three are stable of hungry young receivers like Trevion Thompson, T.J. Chase and Cornell Powell.
Running Back
Starting running back: C.J. Fuller/Tavien Feaster
Backup: Adam Choice
Just like at the wide receiver position, the running back position is by committee and format. C.J. Fuller and Tavien Feaster both can run this offense if the other wasn’t at Clemson. This is the 2017 version of Thunder and Lightning.
Last year, behind Wayne Gallman both running backs rushed for over 200 yards. Their yards per carry average were both over 4.5. The running back position at Clemson is not in question. Both of these backs can and will do damage in 2017 despite the departure of Gallman.
However, it’s not going to be easy to replace a running back who rushed for over 2,600 yards and 30 touchdowns over the last two years, but Feaster and Fuller are both capable.
Their backup will be Adam Choice, cousin of great Georgia Tech Tashard Choice. Last year, Adam rushed for over 150 yards, but you can be sure his numbers will all improve. Each running back is capable and having three solid backs isn’t the worst problem.
Quarterback
Starting quarterback: Kelly Byrant
Backup: Hunter Johnson/Zerrick Cooper
In the last five years, Dabo Swinney never had a quarterback battle go this late into the offseason. But thats what happens when you lose a starter like Deshaun Watson. He is left to see which of his quarterback will win the job.
Will it be junior Kelly Bryant? Or will it be freshman Hunter Johnson? Maybe, even Zerrick Cooper. The players, coaches and the fans really have no idea yet, but I will take a crack at it.
On Sept. 2nd, I believe the starting quarterback of the 2017 Clemson Tigers will be Kelly Bryant. There is absolutely no way Bryant didn’t soak up something form Watson being his understudy for two years.
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And Bryant is a better runner than Johnson — despite the latter being a five-star recruit. His running ability should put him over Johnson for at least the first game. There is no telling after that.