Clemson Football: Five freshmen most likely to make an impact in 2022
By John Chancey
Toriano Pride
Clemson lost both starting cornerbacks from 2021 when Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich moved on to the NFL. There are certainly veteran options to step into those roles. Sheridan Jones has been a starter before. Nate Wiggins has a lot of people excited for his future. Fred Davis and Malcolm Greene are solid options as well.
The Class of 2022 included two cornerback prospects that were both Top 100 players in the final 247 Composite: Jaedyn Lukus and Toriano Pride. While it is unusual for freshmen to contribute right away at cornerback, observers have been excited about what both players have shown in the spring and fall.
Mauldin’s Lukus was the higher-rated recruit, but unfortunately he was injured during spring practice, which interrupted his development. While Lukus has reminded many people this fall why he was such a prize recruit, Pride had the advantage of being able to finish spring practice and further develop physically this summer.
Teams can’t get by with only 2-3 corners. They usually will employ at least 5-6 players regularly, which means the chances that one or both freshmen will get a chance to contribute early is high. While Lukus will get opportunities, it appears that Pride is probably first in line to go out on the field, so he probably has the better chance to make an impact this season.