Clemson football has had a lot of changes between the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Have they gotten better, stayed the same, or gotten worse over the off-season?
When looking that the Clemson football roster and potential depth chart for the upcoming 2020 season, there are some obvious improvements and some glaring holes. The thing to keep in mind when looking at the roster and performing a break down is that it is tough to determine how well an incoming freshman is going to perform.
So while the talent level may have improved, the in-game performance may suffer initially.
As we look at the Tigers roster, we will do so in categories on both sides of the ball. On offense we will look at quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, offensive line, and tight ends.
Before getting into the breakdown, it also important to look at the additions and losses of the 2020 Clemson football roster. Coach Swinney routinely says that each team identity is different and presents different challenges. When you are routinely changing at least a quarter of the roster on a year to year basis the mental makeup, maturity and focus levels are going to be different.
In the 2020 signing class, Clemson football added 23 student-athletes to its roster. They added one quarterback, two running backs, three receivers, six offensive linemen, four defensive linemen three linebackers, and four players to their secondary.
After the conclusion of the 2019 college football season, the Tigers lost seven players to the NFL draft, four players to the transfer portal and another handful of players simply ran out of eligibility, graduated, and will move on with their lives.
Quarterback – Better
- Trevor Lawrence, Taisun Phommachanh, D.J. Uiagalelei, Patrick McClure
- Losses: Chase Brice
Losing Chase Brice to the transfer portal was tough. He was always ready when his name was called and he was a beloved teammate. However, the quarterback room is better than it ever has been.
Lawrence and Phommachanh are a year older and another young transcendent talent in D.J. Uiagalelei has been added to the mix and will get to spend a year learning under Lawrence and preparing to take the reins in 2021.
When looking at the talent in this room, there is no doubt that the talent is upgraded and that the Tigers could win with all three quarterbacks if put into the position in 2020.
Trevor Lawrence is going to contend for the Heisman Trophy in 2020 and will lead Clemson to their third straight undefeated regular season, a sixth straight ACC title, and a sixth straight College Football Playoff appearance.
Wide Receiver – Worse
- Frank Ladson Jr., Amari Rodgers, Joseph Ngata, Cornell Powell, Brannon Spector, Will Swinney, Ajou Ajou, E.J. Williams, Hampton Earle, Josh Jackson, Will Brown, Drew Swinney, Tye Herbstreit, Hamp Greene, Max May
- Losses: Tee Higgins (NFL), Justyn Ross (Injury), T.J. Chase (Transfer)
This should not be a surprise to anyone. When any roster loses guys like Tee Higgins to the NFL and then Justyn Ross to an unforeseen injury, the talent level is going to drop.
By no means are we saying there is no talent here because the Tigers still have one of the most talented receivers groups in the country, but when compared to 2019, there is a definite drop initially.
Rodgers, Powell, Ladson, and Ngata are going to carry the group for first-year coach Tyler Grisham and Ajou Ajou and E.J. Williams are going to get a chance to show that they can play and avoid a redshirt year.
While the losses here are significant, quarterback Trevor Lawrence still has a lot of talent to throw to in 2020.
Running backs – Better
- Travis Etienne, Lyn-J Dixon, Michel Dukes, Darien Rencher, Chez Mellusi, Ty Lucas, Kobe Pryor, and Demarkcus Bowman
- Losses: None
This is the best running back group that Clemson football has ever had. When starting running back Travis Etienne announced he was coming back for a fourth season and Lyn-J Dixon announced he was not going to enter the transfer portal, this became the best group in the country.
When you add Bowman and Pryor to a group this deep, it makes them that much better. Many expect Bowman and Pryor to contend for early playing time and I expect Bowman will beat out Dixon for the backup running back spot he took after Tavien Feaster transferred a year ago.
Dukes and Mellusi will probably get lost in the competition in 2020, but that is how talented this group is. If offensive coordinator Tony Elliott calls plays to the strength of this offense, they could be the most explosive and balanced offense in the country.
Tight ends – Better
- J.C. Chalk, Luke Price, Davis Allen, Jaelyn Jay, Sage Ennis, and Braden Galloway
- Losses: J.L. Banks
The tight ends did an admirable job in 2019 without Braden Galloway, who is clearly the best tight end on the team and could end up as one of the best to ever wear a Clemson football uniform.
His unjust suspension due to a bogus trace amount of a substance used to cut weight really hurt the Tigers in this area. Chalk and Jay did a decent job in Galloways’ absence, but Galloway changes the entire dynamic of the Tigers offense.
His presence will allow for more single coverage for the receivers on this team as well as Etienne, Dixon, and the rest of the running backs out of the backfield.
Sure, this is a lot of pressure to put on a tight end but that is how good and elite he is and what a difference-maker he will be in 2020. Chalk and Jay both showed last year that there are moments and games that are too big for them.
Hopefully, another offseason of growth will help them be more productive in 2020 when their particular package is on the field. Overall, this may be the best tight end group that the Tigers have had, and depending on what happens after the season, 2021 could be even better.
Offensive Line – Worse
- Matt Bockhorst, Trent Howard, Walker Parks, John Williams, Kaleb Boateng, Mason Trotter, Hunter Rayburn, Will Putnam, Paul Tchio, Mac Cranford, Cade Stewart, Zac McIntosh, Jacob Edwards, Blake Vinson, Bryn Tucker, Mitchell Mayes, Will Edwards, Jordan McFadden, Jackson Carman
- Losses: Chase Guynup, Gage Cervenka, Marquis Sease, John Simpson, Sean Pollard, Chandler Reeves, Tremayne Anchrum
Clemson football has to replace four starters from 2019 to 2020. Losing Sean Pollard, Gage Cervenka, John Simpson and Tremayne Anchrum will sting a lot as the season gets started. However, the bright side is the drop from year to year is due to the number of starters lost and not the talent.
Talent-wise, this is one of the best offensive line groups that Clemson has had in some time. The issue is that they are really young after you get passed the five guys who should start in 2020. Being able to have Jackson Carman back in 2020 is huge as he was a giant bright spot (pun intended) in 2019 and will be even better for the Tigers in 2020.
As we have chronicled, Matt Bockhorst, Jordan McFadden, and Cade Stewart all got decent reps in 2019 and look to take the next step.
Incoming freshman Paul Tchio, Mitchell Mayes, and Walker Parks are all going to be very good but may not be ready to contribute in 2020. They are all FBS size, but it takes more than girth to be ready to play at this level instantly.
All in all, if this unit can find chemistry early, they will help lead the way for a very talented Clemson football offense.
Make sure to come back tomorrow as we will take a look at the Clemson football defense through the same lens and see if those position groups got better, got worse, or stayed the same.