Clemson Football: Five offensive players who could have breakout seasons

Joseph Ngata

This one has been a long time coming. Joe Ngata is starting his fourth season in the program. After a decent freshman campaign when he saw the field sparingly, he spent the better part of both 2020 & 2021 on the injured list. Even when he has been in games, he has often been limited. He just hasn’t been able to stay healthy.

When Ngata has been healthy, he has been a contributor. He was the only real weapon for the Tigers in the 2021 season opener against the Georgia Bulldogs. Ngata had 110 yards on six receptions that evening. He had one of the best highlights of the 2021 season with his touchdown reception against Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.

While Ngata’s injuries have frustrated many fans, he has also shown that he can be successful. We have heard that he has stepped up his training and preparation to be more professional in his approach this offseason. Indications are that he understands the situation, and he isn’t oblivious regarding what he needs to do to improve his conditioning.

There might be little more we can do as fans but to hope that Ngata has good fortune in 2022 and can avoid the injuries that have nagged his career to date, but as with Clemson’s entire offense, it just feels like there is a rejuvenated effort by Ngata to maximize his potential. If he can do it, he might finally have that breakout season we have been hoping for since 2019.