Clemson football: Three position groups with the most to prove in 2021

Three Clemson football positional groups have a lot to prove in the 2021 offseason.

There is no hiding just how talented the 2021 Clemson football roster is. However, talent doesn’t mean production nor does it mean that players don’t have a lot to work to do this offseason in order to get ready for the season.

As Clemson football gets ready to start spring practice, here are three positional groups that have the most work to do and the most to prove in 2021.

Offensive Line

This is something that we at the Rubbing the Rock have talked about religiously for the last six months. While other outlets denied that anything was wrong upfront, we pointed out just how far behind this group was when compared to the rest of the roster.

Coming into 2020, the Tigers were replacing four of their five starters from 2019 and the unit never gelled. We can look at offensive stats or individual grades across the offensive line in order to deflect from the fact that this unit did not pull its weight in 2020.

Offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell needs to give serious thought to retirement, it seems as if the game has passed him by. Clemson football has brought back former Tiger great Thomas Austin and he seems to be the future coach of the group but it isn’t his just yet.

Clemson football will have to replace left tackle Jackson Carman and center Cade Stewart.

The Tigers are loaded with young talented offensive linemen as that was a focal point for the 2020 and 2021 recruiting classes. Caldwell and Austin are going to have to get these young guys ready to play and Dabo Swinney has to be willing to play the best player regardless of classification.

The 2021 Clemson football team will only go as far as this offensive line can carry them. With a young quarterback and young running back room, the hogs up front are going to have to shoulder a load that they aren’t accustomed to.