Four summer enrollees who could make an impact for Clemson football
The 2020 Clemson football team enters the season as one of the favorites to compete for the National Championship and one of the reasons is because of the talent the Tigers return.
From All-American level players like Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne, to a dominant defensive line and much more, the Tigers are loaded at several positions across the board.
That being said, there is still room for true-freshmen to make an impact and to get some playing time during their first season with the Clemson football program.
Here are four summer enrollees who have the greatest chance of making an impact in 2020.
4. Malcolm Greene
Malcolm Greene is a guy that most wouldn’t expect to be on this list, but he’s similar to Sheridan Jones in a lot of ways.
Greene is a versatile player who could line up at basically any spot in the defensive backfield and have success. While there’s still plenty of talent in front of him in terms of veterans, Greene will find a way to earn some snaps and he could see his playing time amplified over the course of the season.
Greene is one of those ‘darkhorse’ freshmen to keep your eye on as the season progresses.
3. Ajou Ajou
Ajou Ajou has all the physical skills to step in and become a force at the wide receiver position.
While the original plan for the Clemson football coaching staff was likely to redshirt him, that simply doesn’t look like it’s in the cards anymore.
With Justyn Ross undergoing a season-ending surgery and the departure of Tee Higgins to the NFL, the Tigers don’t have a ton of depth at the wide receiver position. They’ve got some talent with players like Amari Rodgers, Frank Ladson Jr. and Joseph Ngata, but little experience and nowhere near the amount of depth we’ve grown accustomed to seeing.
That’s going to give Ajou an opportunity to get on the field early and who knows what kind of impact the athlete could eventually make as he develops over the season.
2. Walker Parks
Walker Parks is the freshman offensive lineman with the best chance at making an impact this season.
Parks has bulked up over the offseason and he’s going to be competing at that right tackle spot with Jordan McFadden, as well as a few other veterans.
Parks has the talent and skillset to fill in a spot in the two-deep of the offensive line and he could even put pressure on McFadden for starter-level snaps before it’s all said and done.
1. Demarkcus Bowman
Demarkcus Bowman is simply not going to be kept of the field. He’s too explosive.
While Bowman enters what may be the deepest offensive position on the team in running back, he’s still going to find his way on the field.
Bowman will compete with sophomores Michel Dukes and Chez Mellusi for playing time behind Travis Etienne and Lyn-J Dixon and it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him have several flashes during the season.
The Tigers are going to give the talented freshman a few carries here and there and it’s my opinion that he’ll take full advantage of those opportunities.