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Clemson football: Six freshmen likely to redshirt in 2022

By John Chancey

Clemson linebacker Kobe McCloud (31), cornerback Myles Oliver (16), left, defensive end Jahiem Lawson (15) runs by Clemson special teams coordinator Mike Reed during the first day of fall football practice at the Allen Reeves Complex in Clemson Friday, August 5, 2022.Clemson Football First Day Fall Practice
Clemson linebacker Kobe McCloud (31), cornerback Myles Oliver (16), left, defensive end Jahiem Lawson (15) runs by Clemson special teams coordinator Mike Reed during the first day of fall football practice at the Allen Reeves Complex in Clemson Friday, August 5, 2022.Clemson Football First Day Fall Practice /
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Myles Oliver

There are multiple players from the Class of 2022 that aren’t likely to see a lot of playing time this season. In most cases it is due to a backlog of talent ahead of them on the depth chart. One day they might be starters, but right now it’s the Power Hour and a handful of opportunities in home games. These players will likely redshirt.

Oliver is the one freshman we already know is definitely redshirting. Oliver has had a shoulder situation that he’s been dealing with for a few years. He had a recurrence of the problem in fall camp and he made the decision to have surgery to get it fixed now so it won’t be an issue for him when he has his opportunity to contribute for the Tigers.

Clemson has a decent amount of experience at cornerback this season, but it isn’t as deep as some other defensive units this season. The Tigers lost both 2021 starters to the NFL, and they are expected to play both Toriano Pride and Jaedyn Lukus, who were two of the higher-rated freshmen entering the program.

Oliver, who hails from Douglasville, Georgia, may have an opportunity to contribute as a redshirt freshman, but it might be more likely his opportunities will come in 2024 or after. None of the current cornerbacks will completely exhaust their eligibility this season. Sheridan Jones is listed as a senior by Clemson but in the eyes of the NCAA he is a junior because the 2020 season didn’t count towards eligibility. Unless there is an early departure for the NFL or a transfer, it is possible every cornerback from this season could return in 2023.

This is not a terrible thing for Oliver. He has decent corner height at 6’-0”, but at 179 lbs, he is still about ten pounds behind everyone else in the cornerback room, and it is unknown how long he will need to rehab his shoulder before he can begin weight training again.

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