Clemson football: Talent pool is deep despite transfer portal losses

Clemson football defense still well ahead of the game.

As we approach closer to spring football practice for Clemson football, one thing we know is that this team is not devoid of talent and has had a very good winter.

Up until early Monday, the Tigers were returning all 11 starters on defense for the first time in more than a decade. While that has changed with Mike Jones Jr.entering the transfer portal, what has not changed is that this defensive unit is absolutely stacked from top to bottom with elite talent.

To lose Mike Jones Jr.stinks but it’s not nearly as bad as it could have been.

With the NCAA allowing an additional year for all fall sports participants, several Clemson football players are taking advantage of that safety blanket and coming back for their fifth or sixth years.

While losing Jones Jr means that the Tigers now return just 10 of their 11 starters from 2020, the fact that James Skalski, Nolan Turner, Derion Kendrick, and Xavier Thomas is huge in many ways.

All of those guys have played a lot of football for the Tigers over the last three to five years and their experience coming back will go a long way when they kick off against Georgia in Charlotte.

Clemson football has a great mix of youth and experience.

In addition to all of these key pieces coming back, there are quite a few young guys that will be in the mix very early – some of them showed a lot of potential in 2020.

Guys like LaVonta Bentley, Trenton Simpson, Kane Patterson, Jake Venables, Kevin Swint, Sheridan Jones, Fred Davis II, and incoming guys like Jeremiah Trotter and Barrett Carter will all have an opportunity at extended playing time making this Clemson football defense the deepest in the country in 2021.

While it does stink losing a guy like Mike Jones Jr. the worst part of him leaving is his locker room leadership as his on the field performances can be replaced.