Clemson has all the motivation in the world to be better than it was a year ago. The Tigers' dreadful 2025 season for their high standards has been well-documented. While now is as good a time as ever to bank on an ACC bounce-back, that will require key players on the team stepping up in a big way. Last year's team was immensely talented, but the collective never really came together for them.
With Chad Morris coming back after 12 years to be Clemson's new offensive coordinator, his return could galvanize many of the players on his side of the football. However, he is not the one suiting up and going between the white lines on fall Saturdays. Morris, Allen, Matt Luke, and the rest of Dabo Swinney's Clemson staff need complete and total buy-in from its best players and greatest leaders.
Thankfully, Clemson should be able to count on these five players to be just that for them this season.
Senior tight end Olsen Patt-Henry
Olsen Patt-Henry may not be the most productive player on this Clemson offense, but he is one the entire team can look to in a leadership role. The second-string tight end out of Naples, Florida, was one of three players to represent the program at ACC Media Days, alongside linebacker Sammy Brown and edge rusher Will Heldt. Patt-Henry being the only offensive guy among the three matters.
Through his first three years at Clemson, Patt-Henry has 28 catches for 289 yards and three touchdowns to his name. While his reception total has increased every year, he was unable to hit pay dirt last season after doing so three times as a sophomore in 2024. With him still being all about the work, even if the production hasn't been there, it just goes to show how crucial he can be as a leader.
You need a player who can relate to everyone on the team, so why wouldn't that be Patt-Henry here?
Junior wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr.
One could easily argue that Bryant Wesco Jr. is the most talented member of this Clemson offense. The junior wide receiver has 72 catches for 1,245 yards and 11 touchdowns over his first two college seasons. While he was not at ACC Media Days to represent the team, he can still be a leader Clemson needs. If he plays up to standard to get the most out of this elite receiving corps, that would be ideal.
What is important to understand here is that leadership can come across in many ways. Whether Wesco becomes a vocal leader for this team or not, he can still make a positive impact with his amazing play. Clemson's best individual unit is arguably its receiving corps. TJ Moore is a strong player, while true freshman Naeem Burroughs offers a ton of promise. However, Wesco needs to be their guiding light.
Wesco will not elevate the team's floor, but he could be the one to raise its ceiling to familiar heights.
Junior quarterback Christopher Vizzina
This is easier said than done. If Christopher Vizzina does earn the starting quarterback job over true freshman Tait Reynolds, he will be anointed a leader because of the position he plays. However, the way he embraces this competition and whatever comes after could play a bigger part in Clemson's success this season than most people realize. If he can be coached hard, so too can everybody else.
Vizzina does not have a ton of in-game experience. He only has one start to his name so far. That being said, he has been with the program long enough to see all the ups and downs over the last few years. He handled his job backing up Cade Klubnik the last three seasons like a pro. If he remains even-keeled throughout the season, that could play within the locker room more so than anything.
Vizzina has been a team player for a long time, so it will be interesting to see if that continues for him.
Senior edge rusher Will Heldt
Will Heldt is the perfect combination of on-field leadership and production. The senior edge rusher made the most of his first season with Clemson last year. He had 46 combined tackles, 15.5 for a loss of yardage, and 7.5 sacks after transferring over from Purdue. Along with Sammy Brown and Olsen Patt-Harvey, Dabo Swinney chose Heldt to represent the Clemson program during ACC Media Days.
There are two things at play here for Heldt. The first is that he came to Clemson in an unconventional way for the program. By transferring in from a lesser program at Purdue, Heldt can operate with a sense of urgency and explain firsthand why playing here matters so much. The second is that whenever Clemson is firing on all cylinders defensively, the Tigers are wreaking havoc in and around the line of scrimmage.
If Heldt puts up a 10-plus sack season, he can be a catalyst for this team getting back to Charlotte.
Junior linebacker Sammy Brown
The most important player for Clemson this year happens to be their best one, Sammy Brown. The junior linebacker from Commerce, Georgia, could potentially be the first linebacker taken next spring, possibly as high as the first round. He has been a highly productive player since arriving on campus three seasons ago. As one of the three representatives at ACC Media Days, Brown is already a leader.
While having a great presence in the trenches and in the secondary is great for the Clemson defense, the star linebackers are who call the shots for them. Under Dabo Swinney, Clemson has never had a player as talented or as forthcoming as a leader in this position group as Brown. He can do things no one else can. It may be a challenge for him to lead differently, but the guys on the team look up to him.
If Brown takes on the biggest leadership role for this team, the rest of the players should follow suit.
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