Clemson Football: A way-too-early look at the 2020 Tiger team

The 2020 Clemson football team will be one of the favorites to get back to the CFB Playoff and compete for another National Championship.

The Clemson football program is currently preparing for the CFB Playoff, but it’s clear that this won’t be the last trip to the playoff for the Tigers.

Clemson, which has made five-straight CFB Playoff appearances, will return plenty of play-makers next season and should be expected to make it back.

Here’s our way-too-early look at the 2020 Clemson football team.

Quarterback

Trevor Lawrence will return for his junior season and will be one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. He won’t have Travis Etienne, so the offense is going to run through him. He’ll likely be backed up by Chase Brice (who could potentially transfer) as well as redshirt freshman Taisun Phommachanh and incoming freshman 5-star DJ Uiagalelei.

Running Back

Lyn-J Dixon will get the first shot at becoming the starter at running back. He’ll have competition with sophomore RBs Chez Mellusi and Mikey Dukes, as well as incoming freshmen 5-star Demarkcus Bowman (early enrollee) and 4-star Kobe Pryor. Look for this position to be one of the most interesting in terms of battles through the spring and into the fall.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

The wide receivers will lose Tee Higgins and potentially Amari Rodgers to the NFL Draft. Diondre Overton will also be gone. That will leave Justyn Ross, Cornell Powell, Joseph Ngata, Frank Ladson Jr., Brannon Spector, TJ Chase freshmen EJ Williams and AJou Ajou as possible solutions.

If Rodgers returns, this group could be one of the best in the nation with Ross, Rodgers and Ngata/Ladson Jr. headlining the starting roles.

Offensive Line

The offensive line is the one question mark heading into the 2020 season. The Tigers will lose four starters (John Simpson, Gage Cervenka, Tremayne Anchrum and Sean Pollard) and will only return LT Jackson Carman in 2020.

That will mean guys like Cade Stewart, Jordan McFadden, Matt Bockhorst, Will Putnam, Blake Vinson (returning from injury), Chandler Reeves and a plethora of incoming freshmen will have to step into those roles.

Defensive Line

Assuming there are no transfers, everyone in the three-deep of the defensive line returns next season. That’s right: Nyles Pinckney, Tyler Davis, Jordan Williams, Logan Rudolph, Justin Foster, Xavier Thomas, KJ Henry, Justin Mascoll, Darnell Jefferies, Xavier Kelly and several others will all be back.

In addition to the experience returning, Clemson will add talented players like 5-star Bryan Bresee, 5-star Demonte Capehart, 5-star Myles Murphy and 4-star Tre Williams to the mix.

Linebackers

Linebacker will only return one starter in James Skalski next season. The Tigers will likely rely on Mike Jones Jr. to step into Isaiah Simmons’ role and potentially Baylon Spector or Keith Maguire to step into Chad Smith’s spot. There will be several others- including the redshirt freshmen and incoming freshmen- looking to compete, but that linebacker spot will certainly have some questions heading into 2020.

Defensive Backs

The defensive backfield will look much different next season. Tanner Muse, K’Von Wallace and likely AJ Terrell (NFL Draft) will all be gone.

That will leave Derion Kendrick and a plethora of young, but talented options. Look for Sheridan Jones Mario Goodrich and Andrew Booth to battle for the cornerback spot opposite-side of Kendrick and for Nolan Turner to become the starter at free safety.

The redshirt freshmen and incomers will be relied upon to help fill in the depth chart with Joseph Charleston being our early pick to earn a starting position at strong safety.