Clemson Football: Players to keep an eye on in the Spring Game

Redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Tristan Leigh

Like Mukuba, Leigh was negatively impacted by the pandemic. His senior season of high school football was canceled. He didn’t commit until late in his recruiting cycle, so he wasn’t able to report in the spring like several of his classmates.

Leigh was a 5-star offensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite for the Class of 2021. He ranked 14th overall in the nation. Naturally, Clemson fans expected him to make an immediate impact.

His classmate, Marcus Tate, became a starter as a freshman in 2021. Blake Miller joined the next class and became a starter at right tackle as a freshman.

Clemson fans now wonder why Leigh has yet to make an impact. The obvious answer is Jordan McFadden, a veteran lineman who held down the left tackle spot. We were also reminded that sometimes offensive linemen need time to develop with strength and weight training.

McFadden is now moving on to the NFL, and Leigh will have his chance to prove he is the right man to start at left tackle. He will have legitimate competition, and final decisions might not be made until fall practice commences, but early feedback from the staff suggests that Leigh might finally have arrived. He will get plenty of chances to prove that in the Spring Game against defensive ends who will be eager to prove their worth as well.