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2018 Clemson Football Early Position Outlook: Offensive Line

By Andrew Boardwine

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: The Clemson Tigers line up against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half of the AllState Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: The Clemson Tigers line up against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half of the AllState Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Today we continue our analysis of Clemson football’s roster in 2018. Let’s take a look at the offensive line position for the Tigers.

Clemson football won’t play another real opponent until next September, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a look at their roster heading into next season.

Today, we take a look at the Clemson football offensive line.

The offensive had ups-and-downs in 2017 to say the least. They looked dominant against Miami and several opponents when the Tigers got to November, but had a shaky start and an even shakier ending against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Many people point to Kelly Bryant when looking at the loss to the Crimson Tide, and that’s fair, but you can’t fault a guy too much when he’s on his back most of the night.

That being said, let’s take a look at what the Tigers’ offensive line will look like here in 2018.

Pre-Spring Projected Depth Chart:

Left Tackle: Mitch Hyatt

  • Sean Pollard or Jackson Carman
  • Chandler Reeves

Left Guard: John Simpson

  • Gage Cervenka
  • Matt Bockhorst

Center: Justin Falcinelli

  • Gage Cervenka

Right Guard: Noah DeHond

  • Gage Cervenka or Jackson Carman

Right Tackle: Tremayne Anchrum

  • Sean Pollard or Jackson Carman
  • Cade Stewart or Blake Vinson

Position Outlook:

Projecting the depth chart for this group is extremely difficult because there are several guys that can play different positions.

For example, Gage Cervenka was the backup center in 2017, but he could move to guard in 2018 if the Tigers needed him to since Justin Falcinelli is returning.

I’d expect a guy like Matt Bockhorst or Blake Vinson to move inside on a more full-time basis.

As far as starters are concerned, I believe that Jackson Carman will hold one of those spots before it’s all said and done. The real question is will it be at guard or tackle?

He’s listed as a tackle, but at his weight, I’d think that the coaching staff will try him at guard. If you had an interior line with John Simpson, Justin Falcinelli, and Jackson Carman, that’d be a force to be reckoned with.

In the end, the Tigers have a lot of guys that have been in the system. They have talented guys that were highly regarded out of high school and I think the overall talent pool is better this year than in year’s past.

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The key will be getting the five best guys to mesh and then having around three other guys that can rotate to give the starters breaks. The offensive line has to improve from last season and I think it will.

Overall, this will be one group that I will have my eye intently on in the spring for Clemson football.

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