Three Wake Forest players who could be a problem for Clemson football
The Clemson football team will open up the 2020 season this Saturday night live on ABC against ACC opponent Wake Forest in front of a nationally-televised audience.
The Tigers are currently listed as a 33-point favorites heading into the contest and there is reason to believe that it could get even worse than that before it’s all said and done.
That being said, Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney played up Wake Forest as he does every opponent and there are some talented players on the Demon Deacons’ roster who give fits to the Tigers every now and then during the game.
We’ve spent plenty of time telling you about how much the Tigers will win this game by, but let’s change it up for just a few minutes. Here are the three Wake Forest players who could present the biggest problems for Clemson football.
3. QB Sam Hartman
Sam Hartman hasn’t been able to do much against Clemson during his career to this point and he’ll be extremely limited with his top play-maker- Sage Surratt- opting out of the season.
That being said, Hartman can still throw an accurate ball and he is elusive in the backfield. There have been times in the past where the Tigers have struggled with a QB scrambling and Hartman will be doing some of that Saturday night- most likely a lot of it to deal with the pressure from that Clemson defensive line.
If he can get in a rhythm, Hartman can be effective and could be a potential small thorn in the side of Clemson’s defense, especially as the secondary is feeling its way out through the first portion of this season.
2. S Nasir Greer
Nasir Greer was one of just a few Wake Forest players to be named to the All-ACC team. He was the third-team safety and, the truth of the matter is pretty simple: He’s a solid play-maker.
Greer is a guy who takes good angles and finds way to be effective against offenses.
If Trevor Lawrence comes out trying to take the top off of the Demon Deacons’ defense, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Greer make a play or two when things are shifted his way.
1. DE Carlos Basham Jr.
Carlos Basham Jr. is the single-biggest threat that Wake Forest has on its roster currently.
Basham Jr., a first-team All-ACC player, is an extremely talented edge-rusher who could present all kinds of trouble for that Clemson offensive line if they don’t come out ready to go.
Clemson has the talent and Basham Jr. will be lining up mostly against Jackson Carman, but don’t be surprised to see him line up in front of Jordan McFadden, as well, as a way to test the new starter and see what he is able to do in pass-protection.
Basham Jr. is likely a future 1-3 round pick in the NFL Draft and he has the talent to get into the backfield and make some plays against this Tiger offense.