The Clemson Tigers Enter the 2024 College Football Season with Elevated Expectations
Clemson - As the 2024 season begins, the Clemson Tigers football team, led by head coach Dabo Swinney, is gearing up for another exciting year. With a strong tradition of excellence, the Tigers are aiming to reclaim their spot at the top of the ACC and make a significant push for the College Football Playoff. The team boasts a mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers, with standout players such as quarterback Cade Klubnik and defensive lineman Peter Woods expected to play pivotal roles. The Tigers' dynamic offense and robust defense are set to take on a challenging schedule, with high-stakes matchups against key rivals. Clemson fans are filled with anticipation, eager to see their team strive for championship glory once again.
Offense Preview:
Garrett Riley's offense is in store for a great year. I’m convinced that it’s only going to take last season for this offense to click into gear. There are a ton of explosive athletes on the squad and they just need to get the ball into their hands. If the O-line can give Klubnik the time he needs in the pocket, he has to deliver the ball to playmakers. Phil Mafah is one of those playmakers and will be leading the backfield as Will Shipley is in the NFL. Don’t sleep on all of the freshman talent that is coming in, especially in the wide receiver room.
Defense Preview:
Wes Goodwin has done a magnificent job taking over the defense. The defense finished in the top 10 nationally in total defense and passing defense while tying for the national lead in turnovers forced with 28. Just like most years, there will have to be positions filled in as several players make their way to the NFL. The good news is that the depth is the best in the country. Mixing in new freshmen and some experienced players will help solidify a strong defense.
Top Returning Players:
Barrett Carter LB - Easily one of the nation’s top returning linebackers and best players. He could have been a high draft pick in this past draft and will only improve his stock this season.
Phil Mafah RB - With Will Shipley with the Philadelphia Eagles, Mafah is the sole workhouse in the Tiger backfield. At the Gator Bowl last season, we saw what he can do when he has the backfield to himself, and I’m excited to see his game elevate this upcoming season.
Cade Klubnik QB - The third-year quarterback has to improve this season after he failed to step up in crucial moments last year. His average depth of target was 7.0 yards and average yards per attempt was 6.1 yards. The Tigers need to air the ball out so Klubnik can become more productive.
Jake Briningstool TE - The 6’6 Tiger tight end was an absolute weapon last season in his first year as a starter. He is one of the top returning tight ends in the country and is the ultimate mismatch nightmare.
Peter Woods DE/DT - “P-Wo” had an incredible freshman season for the Tigers. After being selected to the Freshman All-America Team, Woods has high expectations to become the next big man lineage of “D-Line U”. With more expected playing time this season, the sky's the limit for the young man.
T.J. Parker DE - Parker broke the single-season freshman tackle-for-loss record with 12.5 TFLs in 2023. He also tied the national lead among freshmen in TFLs. Also expecting more playing time, Parker is in line to join the long line of Clemson defensive greats.
Khalil Barnes CB/S - Barnes had an outstanding freshman season with 38 tackles, three forced fumbles with one recovery for a touchdown, and three interceptions. After mostly playing in the slot, Barnes could be in for a larger role with Nate Wiggins in the NFL now.
Top Incoming Freshman:
Sammy Brown LB - Brown won the 2023 High School Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. With Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz starting at linebacker, Brown will be able to learn from them and showcase his athletic talent when filling in for them.
Bryant Wesco Jr. WR - The 6’2 WR from Texas averaged 17.5 yards per catch and totaled 29 touchdowns in his high school career. He is an early enrollee and we saw a glimpse of his talent during the spring game. His over-the-shoulder touchdown grab was a fantastic catch and the expectations for this young man are through the roof.
T.J. Moore WR - He is the number five ranked wide receiver nationally by 247sports. Being 6’3, Moore will provide a Deon Cain /Martavis Bryant /Mike Williams type of target on the outside. He is arriving in Clemson this summer and will have the chance to compete for playing time right away.
Nolan Hauser K - Kicking field goals last season was a struggle for the Tigers. Hauser became the national high school record holder for career field goals with 66. He will immediately compete with Robert Gunn III better known as RG3 for kicking duties.
Top Departures:
Will Shipley RB - Ship nearly recorded 3,000 total rushing yards in three seasons as a Tiger. He was one of only three FBS players to record 1,200 all-purpose yards in all three seasons from 2021-2023. He won countless awards and will be missed greatly.
Nate Wiggins CB - His infamous 98-yard pick-six in the ACC Championship game against North Carolina will long be remembered in Clemson lore. He became the first Clemson player since Rex Varn in 1977-78 to score an interception return in back-to-back seasons. His elite cover corner skills are going to need to be accounted for by the Tigers’ young secondary.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr LB - He exited Clemson as one of only 14 FBS players in the last 20 seasons to record 10+ sacks, four plus interceptions, three plus forced fumbles, and multiple pick-sixes. He also became the sixth Butkus Award Finalist in program history. He was a captain and a leader in his time at Clemson.
Andrew Mukuba S - Mukuba decided to enter the transfer portal and head back home to Texas. He made an immediate impact in 2021 and earned Freshman All-American honors that year. His sophomore season left something to be desired, which factored into his decision to go back close to home.
Xavier Thomas DE - XT was plagued with injuries during his time at Clemson. The sixth-year senior exited Clemson as one of nine players in school history to play in 60 career games in school history. His story of how he battled depression and overcame adversity is something that can be learned from.
Beaux Collins WR -Was one of only seven players to record at least 30 receptions and at least 400 receiving yards in their debut season. In his three years at Clemson, he recorded 91 receptions for 1290 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Under-the-Radar Players (Sleepers):
Antonio Williams WR - Williams dealt with injuries last season and couldn’t repeat his production from his freshman season. He is moving away from the slot position and moving onto the perimeter, which is a big change in the offense. This could be the season that Williams breaks out.
Win Total Prediction:
The Tigers’ win total is listed as 9.5 at most sportsbooks. My prediction is that Clemson will win over 9.5 games. I believe that they can win at home against App State, home against Stanford, at Wake Forest, at home against Virginia, at home against Louisville, at Pittsburgh, at home against Citadel, and at home against South Carolina. They would only need to collect two more wins against the remaining four teams Georgia, NC State, FSU, and Virginia Tech. They have 11 players selected to Phil Steele's Preseason All-ACC team so this team has the talent to win a minimum of 10 games. ESPN analytics have given the Tigers a 19.3% chance to win the ACC, trailing only Florida State.
