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Clemson Football: Who will the Tigers lose at the end of 2017?

By Shawn Spencer

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers is dunked with Gatorade during the fourth quarter of the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers is dunked with Gatorade during the fourth quarter of the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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Clemson football will play a College Football Playoff semifinal on January 1st, 2018. Who could the Tigers lose at the end of this season?

Clemson football will take on the Alabama Crimson Tide on January 1st in New Orleans in the Sugar Bowl.

Bowl practice will get underway shortly and we will see several new faces get more reps as the Tiger coaches look to prepare, at least a little bit, for 2018.

While there were only six scholarship seniors on this year’s team, there are several juniors, redshirt sophomores, and even transfers that could take place before it’s all said and done.

First, let’s take a look at the seniors that Clemson football will be losing.

Seniors:

  • RG Tyrone Crowder
  • TE DJ Greenlee
  • RG Maverick Morris
  • LB Dorian O’Daniel
  • CB Ryan Carter
  • CB Marcus Edmond

May leave for NFL despite more eligibility:

  • C Justin Falcinelli (Rs. Grad)
  • LT Mitch Hyatt (Jr.)
  • LG Taylor Hearn (Rs Jr.)
  • WR Deon Cain (Jr.)
  • WR Ray-Ray McCloud (Jr.)
  • DE Clelin Ferrell (Rs. So)
  • DT Christian Wilkins (Jr.)
  • DE Austin Bryant (Jr.)

Analysis:

I also have to point out that Kendall Joseph is a redshirt junior and Kelly Bryant is a junior, but I don’t see either one of them leaving after this year. I would also add that I don’t believe Ray-Ray McCloud or Deon Cain will be going anywhere this year. Cain has the greater chance of leaving for the NFL draft, should he choose that route.

Clelin Ferrell has said that he will return for his redshirt junior season, but if he gets a first-round grade, I know it would be a tough decision for him. Overall, I’d expect the vast majority of the guys on this list to return. Right now the ones I see leaving are Mitch Hyatt and Christian Wilkins. Austin Bryant could be on that list, as well.

We will have more in-depth analysis of each one of these guys and their decision as we get closer to the end of December.

Justin Falcinelli still has a year remaining of eligibility, but it depends what he wants to do as he was honored on senior day a few weeks ago.

Unfortunately with the success that Clemson football has had, transfers also become a common occurrence.

That could include guys like Zerrick Cooper or one of the young wide receivers that are buried on the depth chart. You never can really predict transfers, but I’d expect a couple to come from somewhere.

Next: Clemson vs. Alabama: Who has the more lethal offensive attack?

Overall, the Tigers still should have plenty of depth heading into 2018, but it certainly will be interesting to see how everything plays out with this group mentioned above.

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