Clemson football: Bold predictions for the 2022 season

Six defensive players will have 5+ sacks

The 2021 Clemson defense had 42 sacks, which placed them at 10th in the FBS. Myles Murphy led the team with 8 sacks and Trenton Simpson had 6.5 sacks. They were the only two players that had more than five sacks. The balance of the sacks (27.5) were spread out amongst fourteen players.

As good as the defense has been over the last few seasons, the Tigers haven’t had a player with double digit sacks since Clelin Ferrell in 2018. The last time Clemson had two players with double digit season totals was in 2015 (Shaq Lawson & Kevin Dodd).

Brent Venables has moved on, and Wes Goodwin will do some things different, but I think the scheme will continue to bring pressure in multiple ways. The defensive line will apply most of the pressure, but the back seven will be used too. When I also consider that the depth on the line will likely lead to a rotation of players and that Simpson appears to be moving inside more, I tend to think that double digit sacks could be achieved by Murphy, but not likely by multiple players.

I do, however, think that several more players can go beyond five sacks in 2022. I think Murphy is a lock, and Simpson is enough of a weapon that he will get at least five sacks, regardless of where he plays. Xavier Thomas and KJ Henry came close last season (4.5 and 4.0 respectively). Neither Brian Bresee nor Tyler Davis were healthy all season. With better injury fortune, they could conceivably get there, along with Ruk Orhorhoro, who led defensive tackles in sacks in 2021 with 2.5. Add in guys like Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter, who are expected to add athleticism to the linebacking corps, and we have several players who can contribute from all over the front seven.

To put this prediction in perspective, Georgia’s heralded 2021 defense just missed six players with 5+ sacks by half a sack (Nolan Smith had 4.5). I think 2022 Clemson gets there.