The 2019 Clemson football team may have a bit of a different leadership style than in years past. The leadership could come from a different place.
The 2018 Clemson football team had a number of defined vocal leaders and charismatic personalities.
From Christian Wilkins to Clelin Ferrell and many others, it was clear that the Tigers were a player-led team with veterans setting an example and speaking up when needed during practice and film sessions alike.
This season, the Tigers don’t necessarily have that flamboyant personality who has a lot of fire and is universally respected by his teammates as a leader.
There are certainly some options like Isaiah Simmons, K’Von Wallace, Tanner Muse, AJ Terrell, Nyles Pinckney and James Skalski on the defensive side of the ball as well as veteran leaders on the offensive line, Trevor Lawrence and Tee Higgins on the offensive side of the ball, but none of those guys particularly have the same type of personality as a Wilkins or Ferrell.
Many of them lead by example and can be outspoken, but it’s not necessarily their ‘go-to.’
The Tigers will still have vocal leaders and there’s no question that these guys mentioned- as well as others- will step up to get the job done.
However, Dabo Swinney hinted during Clemson football media days that this could be a more coach-led team rather than a player-led team.
It’s not necessarily that this shift is a bad thing. That’s one of the beauties of College Football. Every team is different and they all have different personalities.
This group may be more reliant on coaches getting them motivated and keeping them more accountable than last season. It’s not a bad thing, but it certainly will put more onus on the coaching staff to prepare for games and ensure that players are ready for the task at hand.
In my opinion, we’ll see leaders emerge and develop over the course of the season. Those captains will become more apparent in the dog days of camp, but it may take an extra push from the coaching staff- at least early on- to get everything up and running.