The Clemson football Dream Team Defense of the Dabo Swinney era
The Clemson football program has seen its fair share of dominant defenses and talented defensive players in the Dabo Swinney era.
Though the Swinney era started out with Kevin Steele as the Defensive Coordinator, the Tigers quickly moved into a new approach with Brent Venables at the helm beginning following the 2011 season.
With Venables as the Defensive Coordinator, Clemson football has had one of the top defenses in the country year-in and year-out. And that really can’t be argued.
Rubbing the Rock has given you our Offensive Dream Team for the Dabo Swinney era, but now it’s time to flip the field and look at the other side of the ball.
Here’s our Dream Team Defense of the Swinney era.
Defensive Line
DE: Vic Beasley
DT: Dexter Lawrence
DE: Da’Quan Bowers
There’s really only one word to describe this defensive line: Monstrous.
Can you imagine a starting lineup that featured Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence on the inside with Vic Beasley and Da’Quan Bowers- two of the nation’s top pass-rushers during their time- on the same defensive line? They’d be unstoppable.
If that weren’t enough, take a look at that second-string that includes Shaq Lawson, Grady Jarrett, D.J. Reader, Carlos Watkins and Clelin Ferrell.
It’s clear to see that the Tigers have had plenty of defensive line talent during the Swinney era and this would certainly be a fun Dream Team unit to watch.
Linebacker
WILL: Ben Boulware
MIKE: Stephone Anthony
SAM/Nickel: Isaiah Simmons
- Dorian O’Daniel
People forget just how dominant Stephone Anthony was at the MIKE position during his time as a Tiger and to combine with a 2016-era Ben Boulware and Isaiah Simmons would be absolutely unfair.
Anthony and Boulware would provide that physicality and head-hunter ability and Simmons would give the defense versatility and freakish athleticism.
Behind those guys, we’ve got Kendall Joseph, B.J. Goodson, Tre Lamar and Dorian O’Daniel to fill the back-up positions and provide some absolutely astounding depth.
Secondary
S: DeAndre McDaniel
- Jonathan Meeks or K’Von Wallace
CB: Trayvon Mullen
The defensive backfield is full of players who were drafted highly and many who showed great dominance at the collegiate level.
Mackensie Alexander may have been the best pure-coverage cornerback in Clemson football history. When you combine him with Trayvon Mullen, A.J. Terrell, Bashaud Breeland and Cordrea Tankersley, you’ve got plenty of depth and talent on the edges to compete.
At safety, DeAndre McDaniel is a no-brainer and, though there were questions about Jayron Kearse following his 2015 season, there’s no doubt that he has the best pure talent of probably any safety in the Clemson football program during the Swinney era.
This defense- led by Brent Venables of course- would have been an absolutely terrifying bunch to match-up against and it’s fun to think about just how much talent the Tigers have seen on this side of the ball.