Clemson football: Five defensive players who could have breakout seasons

Payton Page

Like Carter, Page was a highly rated prospect in the 2021 Class. He was ranked in the Top 100 of the 247 Composite. Most players like that would be immediate contributors on most Power Five teams.

Page saw action in 12 games last season, but only 76 snaps total. Part of the reason he didn’t get more snaps was his weight. At the beginning of 2021 Page weighed in at 334 pounds. While there are guys that can carry that weight in the NFL effectively, there was a feeling last year that Page needed to be in better physical condition to maximize his potential.

This season, Page weighed in at 317 pounds. That might not sound like a huge difference to you & I, but it apparently has made a big impact. Despite the talent ahead of Page on the depth chart, word out of fall camp is that he has made the biggest jump among the defensive tackles.

The other reason Page didn’t get a ton of snaps was the depth chart. Tyler Davis and Brian Bresee were the starters last year and will be again this season if healthy. Using the depth behind them will help keep them healthy. Ruke Orhorhoro showed that he can be reliable. Tre Williams played well too, but he has been slowed up a bit by a minor injury that required surgery during fall camp.

Page has made a case that he deserves playing time, and sometimes all talented players need to breakout is a chance to get more meaningful snaps. There is a lot of enthusiasm for Page’s future.