Obviously a lot has to go right for us to win this game, but I think if you can limit the damage their DL can do and if you can do damage control on Travis Etienne, then this will be a very close game. Bryant isn't the greatest QB, and if they do decide to start Lawrence, his first big game is a road start at Kyle Field in what will probably be the best gameday atmosphere Kyle Field has seen in at least 20 years. Where we're being overlooked and they are considered a powerhouse, I like our chances to shock the nation. But like I said, a lot has to go right.
Photo by Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Texas A&M Football
Awesome & Alarming: 2018 Tigers present many headaches for opponents
There is awesome and then there is alarming.
The Clemson Tigers are both.
They’re projected to be so awesome that they open the college football season ranked No. 2 in the nation. What’s alarming? The Tigers might be underrated.
Seven offensive starters, eight defensive starters and 62 lettermen overall return from the 2017 team that finished 12-2 and lost to eventual national champion Alabama in the playoff semifinals.
Last season Clemson was ranked fourth nationally in total defense, second in scoring defense and led the nation in sacks. This season. it might be better.
The front four of ends Austin Bryant and Clelin Ferrell and tackles Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins has been called the best defensive front in college football history.
Bryant, Ferrell and Wilkins all earned All-American recognition in ’17. Lawrence, who is arguably the best of the four did not attain All-American status, but only because he was slowed by injuries. Yet, he still has accumulated 118 tackles, 9.5 sacks and 28 pressures in his two seasons.
They’re projected to be so awesome that they open the college football season ranked No. 2 in the nation. What’s alarming? The Tigers might be underrated.
There is also experience and talent returning at linebacker and in the secondary. Middle linebacker Kendall Joseph has All-ACC credentials and safety Tanner Muse had 64 tackles last season, while cornerback Trayvon Mullen notched three interceptions and 10 passes defended.
The offense, which averaged 33 points per game a year ago, returns an experienced, proven offensive line led by All-American tackle Mitch Hyatt and All-ACC center Justin Falcinelli.
They will make room for three players that rushed for at least 600 yards in ’17 — running backs Tavien Feaster and Travis Etienne and quarterback Kelly Bryant.
Kelly Bryant rushed for 665 yards and passed for 2,877 in his first season as a starter.
However, there is no guarantee that he’ll have a second year in the starting lineup. He’s competing for the starting job with freshman Trevor Lawrence, the nation’s No.1 ranked prospect in the 2018 recruiting class.
Perhaps the only real concern is the receiver position because Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McCloud, who combined for 107 catches last season, opted for early departure to the NFL draft. That leaves Clemson with little more than Hunter Renfrow and Tee Higgins at receiver.
Of course, Renfrow led the Tigers with 60 catches in ’17 and caught the winning touchdown pass in the 2016 national championship victory over Alabama. Meanwhile, Higgins averaged 20.3 yards on 17 catches as a backup.
Clemson is so loaded, that qualifies as a concern.
Clemson Tigers
Coach: Dabo Swinney
2017 record: 12-2
Postseason result: Lost to Alabama 24-6 in playoff semifinal.
Returning starters (at least six starts)
- Offense (7): QB Kelly Bryant, C Justin Falcinelli, RB Tavien Feaster, OT Mitch Hyatt, T Sean Pollard, WR Hunter Renfrow, TE Matt Richard
- Defense (8): DE Austin Bryant, DE Clelin Ferrell, MLB Kendall Joseph, WLB Tre Lamar, DT Dexter Lawrence, CB Trayvon Mullen, FS Tanner Muse, DT Christian Wilkins
- Special teams (3): KOR Travis Etienne, K Alex Spence, P Will Spiers
Area of strength: The defensive front might be as good as any ever seen in college football. Seriously. Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant are all projected as potential NFL first round draft choices. As a group they’ve already recorded 533 tackles and 47 sacks.
Stephen Lew/USA Today Sports
The vaunted Clemson defensive line, featuring defensive end Austin Bryant, may be the greatest D-line college football has ever seen.
Area of concern: There’s not much reason for worry at Clemson, but depth in the secondary could become an issue. Talent isn’t a problem. The Tigers were fourth in the nation in pass defense last season (though the pass rush obviously was a factor). However, there is not a lot of experience behind starters A.J. Terrell an Trayvon Mullen. Speedy freshmen Kyler McMichael and Mario Goodrich project to play quite a bit, especially early.
Top three players
- Dexter Lawrence, DT: Doesn’t put up huge numbers, but draws double- and triple-team blocks. Still, in two seasons he’s amassed 118 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and 28 quarterback pressures.
- Christian Wilkins, DT: Versatile lineman who has started at end and tackle. Last season he was named All-American by multiple organizations after posting 53 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
- Clelin Ferrell, DE: A junior, was just the third player in Clemson history to earn AP All-American honors as a sophomore or freshman. An All-American and finalist for the Ted Hendricks last season after posting 9.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss.
Impact newcomer: The obvious name here would be quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the five-star recruit who was rated as the nation’s top prospect by some recruiting services. However, incumbent starter Kelly Bryant is pretty good, so there’s no guarantee Lawrence will start or that his playing time won’t be minimal. With that in mind, the pick here is Derion Kendrick, a shifty slot receiver that can cause big trouble in space.
2018 Schedule
Sept. 1 vs. Furman
Sept. 8 at Texas A&M
Sept. 15 vs. Georgia Southern
Sept. 22 at Georgia Tech
Sept. 29 vs. Syracuse
Oct. 6 at Wake Forest
Oct. 20 vs. North Carolina State
Oct. 27 at Florida State
Nov. 3 vs. Louisville
Nov. 10 at Boston College
Nov. 17 vs. Duke
Nov. 24 vs. South Carolina
Predicted finish: 12-0
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