Clemson football: 10 things that will define Tigers’ 2021 season

The 2021 Clemson football season will be defined by these things

5. James Skalski’s health & availability

Of course health is always a big part of every season and, honestly, the health of the defense last season is something that will always define 2020.

The Tigers continuously had injuries and players out. That didn’t allow the unit to build chemistry and it showed when Clemson got to the CFB Playoff.

That being said, the biggest player to remain healthy has to be James Skalski.

There was a significant difference in the way the defense played when Skalski was on the field versus when he was off the field. This could be seen in the Boston College and Notre Dame games in the regular season and it could be felt in an even bigger way in the matchup against Ohio State when he was ejected for targeting.

If we want to see an elite defense, Skalski has to be on the field. He’s the quarterback of this unit and what he brings to the table can’t be understated.