
SEASON PREVIEW: Once more unto the seats, dear friends
Once more unto the seats, dear friends. Once more.
Once more, Clemson football fans enter the season with the highest of hopes.
Justifiably, the highest of hopes.
One hundred and eighteen out of 119 Football Bowl Subdivision fanbases would love to be in the position that Tigers fans are in. They’ve had the pleasure of watching three straight College Football Playoff campaigns and are well within their right to wonder if this season’s edition could be the best of the bunch.
It’s certainly the best defensive line, because it’s the same defensive line. College football is made for cameos, not recurring characters, but all four defensive lineman have played a role in a national championship game — either the 45–40 loss in 2015 or the 35–31 win in 2016. Christian Wilkins in particular has a chance to enter “Daddy, what is that name on the side of the stadium?” territory, as the defensive tackle will be aiming to start a College Football Playoff game in all four seasons of college ball. Currently, the only player to hold that honor is Alabama punter J.K. Scott.
But while Wilkins may be the closest to Clemson immortality, linemates Dexter Lawrence, Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant are also household names who make up the rest of college football’s premier position group. All could have been drafted in this past NFL draft, but Ferrell and Bryant decided to join Wilkins in returning to school with the not-yet-draft-eligible Lawrence.
While the rest of the defense pales in comparison to the frontline, there is still an abundance of talent. Kendall Joseph is back as the steady silent tackle-machine in the middle of Brent Venables’ defense, while Isaiah Simmons drops down from safety to play the multi-faceted role vacated by Dorian O’Daniel. The weakside spot will be occupied by some combination of returning starter Tre Lamar, experienced backup Judah Davis and solid veteran Chad Smith.
If there is a weakness to the defense, it’s in the secondary, particularly if injuries strike the safety position. K’von Wallace and Tanner Muse have experience, but the first move if either need to miss time would likely be to convert a cornerback like Trayvon Mullen or A.J. Terrell — the projected starters at those positions — rather than relying on backups Denzel Johnson and Nolan Turner. The wild card of the group is senior cornerback Mark Fields, who is yet to showcase the top-end of his talent level on a consistent basis. Freshman Mario Goodrich or Kyler McMichael may also be called upon at either position.
Offensively, the distribution of playing time and first-team reps between incumbent starting quarterback Kelly Bryant and usurping freshman Trevor Lawrence is a camp story line that we can expect to continue well into the season. But in all honesty, either quarterback — or any other with any pulse — could engineer this team to a double-digit win season. Such is the strength of the defense and such is the assortment of weaponry surrounding them on offense.
When you talk about Clemson receiving corps that may be as deep as it has ever been, you know that is not a distinction that is doled out lightly. The immortal Hunter Renfrow is back for his 94th season of college football, and he’ll be flanked by some combination of Tee Higgins, Trevion Thompson, Amari Rodgers, Justyn Ross, Cornell Powell, Derion Kendrick and Diondre Overton. All exited high school with a four-star-or-better distinction, which makes it all the more funny that Renfrow, a walk-on that looks more like the position coach than the bona fide stud, is the only sure starter among the group.
Travis Etienne stands atop the running back depth chart with Adam Choice, Tavien Feaster and newcomer Lyn-J Dixon behind him, respectively. Etienne has already displayed his home-run credentials as a freshman, while Choice and Feaster are more than capable back-ups. Dixon seemed destined for a redshirt as the Tigers face the possibility of returning only two scholarship backs next season, but the rave reviews he drew during fall camp echoing felling №23 Andre Ellington suggest that we may see him in more than four games this fall.
The offensive line is littered with upperclassmen and led by senior Mitch Hyatt. The left tackle is an injury free campaign away from starting all but one of his collegiate games and could join Wilkins and Scott as players who started in playoff games all four years of eligibility. Center Justin Falcinelli and guard Sean Pollard also have starting experience, while guard John Simpson and tackle Tremayne Ancrum step into the lineup after a couple of seasons worth of back-up experience.
At tight end, incumbent starter Milan Richard and recovered starter Garrett Williams will likely draw the most playing time with the former used more in passing situations and the latter more in a blocking role. Meanwhile, freshman Braden Galloway — from nearby Seneca — could be the dark horse newcomer to make a big impact, as the coaching staff looks for an athletic passcatcher a la Jordan Leggett.
All in all, you would be well within your rights to deem this Clemson’s deepest team of the Dabo Swinney era. Considering that includes a national-championship-winning team from 2016, such a statement would then extend to whether or not this could be the best team to ever wear the orange and white of Clemson.
While we are still 14 Saturdays and 13 games — 12 regular season and a potential conference championship — away from knowing whether or not this team will have yet another chance at national title, the preseason expectations are already the strongest of the Swinney era.
Remember, the 2015 and 2016 teams each had to deal with a mass exodus among the defensive starters, as well as the questions about the health of Deshaun Watson when you talk about the 2015 team. Last year’s playoff participant then had to answer the questions about the loss of offensive firepower with the likes of Watson, Wayne Gallman, Mike Williams and Leggett.
This season, there’s only one question, and it revolves around whether or not the MVP of the ACC Championship game who went 12–1 as a starter in games that he did not leave with injury will be able to hold off the uber-prospect with the dreamy hair and dreamier arm talent at quarterback.
There isn’t a College Football Playoff projection to be found that doesn’t include Clemson, and there are only slightly more that don’t project a fourth-straight meeting with Alabama, albeit with this one back in the national championship game in Santa Clara, Calif.
Most record predictions are 12–0. And most predict the ACC title game will be a rematch with Mark Richt’s Miami Hurricanes who barely put up a fight in last season’s meeting in Charlotte, N.C.
In short, this is the first season where it’s championship or bust.
Some teams may be daunted by that declaration. Expecting 18-to-22 year olds to succeed 14 times out of 15 never feels like a sane expectation.
But when you have a team that’s been-there-and-done-that — time after time after time — it’s hard to imagine these Tigers cracking under that pressure.
The new normal of Clemson football is not to feed off the doubt from the outside. It’s to fulfill the widespread expectations.
So stiffen up the sinews, summon up the blood, because we are on the brink of yet another season of Clemson football.
A season unlike we’ve ever seen before.
Or perhaps one we’ve seen a time. Or two.
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Robbie Tinsley is an award-winning columnist from his time as the sports editor of The Journal in Seneca, S.C. He now works on a freelance basis from his home in Medford, Mass. For compliments, he can be reached either via Twitter @RTinMan13 or email robtinsley13@gmail.com. Any complaints can be directed to esprott@upstatetoday.com.

