Clemson Football: Could freshman Jaelyn Lay start at TE in 2019?

Could Clemson football have a true-freshman start at tight end in 2019? It’s certainly possible we see 4-star Jaelyn Lay fill that role.

Clemson football is one of the deepest programs in the nation.

Even with that said, there are positions each season that have to have depth built up. In 2018, the Tigers had to build depth on the offensive line and the defensive backfield.

This year, the Tigers will have to do the same at the tight end position.

Unfortunately for Clemson, there is a chance that the Tigers have just three players on scholarship available to play tight end in 2019 and two of them will be freshmen.

Why?

Garrett Williams, who will have already graduated, is expected to join the military and forgo his final year of eligibility. Williams played the H-Back position during his time with the Tigers, so he didn’t line up and play the traditional tight end role, but there was a good chance he was going to do some of that in 2019.

In addition to potentially losing Williams, the Tigers already lost Milan Richard and Cannon Smith due to graduation.

That only leaves Braden Galloway (Sophomore), JC Chalk (redshirt junior), Jaelyn Lay (true-freshman) and Davis Allen (true-freshman).

Unfortunately, Galloway may be suspended for the season pending an appeal of a failed drug test. That would only leave Chalk and the two freshmen.

A freshman starter?

If Williams does, indeed, leave and if Galloway is suspended for 2019, I’m convinced that Jaelyn Lay will earn that starting spot at tight end before the season is over.

In his film, you can tell that he is a great blocker. He isn’t like the modern tight ends that only want to catch the ball. He is a physical blocker who isn’t afraid of contact.

Lay also has really good hands and vertical. He is able to go up and get the ball with ease. In my opinion, he might be the most complete tight end ever to come to Clemson under Dabo Swinney.

He’ll certainly have a chance to prove that early on in his career as he competes for playing time at a tight end spot that lacks depth and experience.