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Clemson football: 3 questions Tigers will have to answer vs. Boston College

By Andrew Boardwine

Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) flexes toward Georgia Tech junior Juanyeh Thomas (1) after getting a first down during the third quarter in Clemson, S.C., September 18, 2021.Ncaa Football Georgia Tech At Clemson
Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) flexes toward Georgia Tech junior Juanyeh Thomas (1) after getting a first down during the third quarter in Clemson, S.C., September 18, 2021.Ncaa Football Georgia Tech At Clemson /
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Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson football (PHOTO COURTESY OF IMAGN)
Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson football (PHOTO COURTESY OF IMAGN) /

The Clemson football team has had about as bad of a start to the 2021 season as anyone could’ve imagined.

The Tigers currently sit at an abysmal 2-2 overall and while it’s true that they were just a few plays from potentially being 4-0, it could also be said that they were only a few ways away from being 1-3 overall with blowout losses to both N.C. State and Georgia.

Now, it’s gut-check time for this Clemson football program as a whole.

As the undefeated Boston College Eagles come to town for an ACC Atlantic Divisional showdown, here are three questions the Tigers will have to answer.

Three questions Clemson football will have to answer vs. Boston College

1. Is it really ‘Next Man Up’ on the defensive line?

This entire week we’ve heard the ‘Next Man Up’ cliche when talking about the Clemson defensive line and there’s no doubt that there’s still talent there.

That being said, you don’t lose two NFL-caliber players in back-to-back weeks and get better. Clemson will be without Tyler Davis for at least another six weeks and the Tigers will be without Bryan Bresee– a future top-10 pick– for the rest of the season.

Now, Ruke Orhorhoro, Tre Williams, Etinosa Reuben and Darnell Jeffries, in particular, are going to have to step up and prove that they can get the job done and the test won’t be easy.

Boston College has one of the stronger offensive lines in the conference and Clemson’s defensive line will be tasked with handling a powerful running game and trying to get in the backfield to create negative plays.

Is it really ‘next man up’ on the defensive line? We believe that it will be, but we also know that the lack of depth at the position could come back to hurt the Tigers if the defense stays on the field for much of the night.

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