Three potential Derion Kendrick replacement plans for Clemson football
Clemson football fans received a bit of a surprise when they heard that the Tigers had dismissed CB Derion Kendrick from the program.
Kendrick had just made the decision to return to school- rather than enter the 2021 NFL Draft- and there was hope he would be able to make an impact and play up to his potential after a relatively disappointing 2020 campaign in which he missed several games due to issues and didn’t seem to be his former self when he was in the game during the season.
When Kendrick made the decision to return, the understanding was that he would be walking a fine line after already receiving many chances from Dabo Swinney.
With him gone, though, there is an added gap that must be filled. Here’s a look at three potential replacement plans for Clemson football at the cornerback position.
Keep the same depth chart intact, hope for no injuries
Here are the scholarship corners remaining on the roster:
- Andrew Booth Jr.
- Mario Goodrich
- Sheridan Jones
- Fred Davis II
- Malcolm Greene
- Nathaniel Wiggins (incoming 4-star)
Keep in mind that every single one of these guys were either a 4-star or a 5-star coming out of high school and Andrew Booth Jr. was slated to become the top cornerback this season even with Kendrick on the roster.
That being said, the first potential replacement plan for Kendrick is to continue with business as usual. The Tigers have some depth and they could use the players they already have at the position, while hoping for no major injuries.
Malcolm Greene will likely specialize at that nickel/dime role, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play some outside if needed.
We expect that this is what we’ll see Clemson football do, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a couple more options when it comes to filling depth at the position.