The skill positions make the headlines, but Dabo Swinney was the most vocal in his confidence in his "big fellas" up front. With no Collin Sadler for the spring,
Swinney said Clemson has more "tackle-capable" bodies than they've had in years.
"I think we got probably five guys that can play tackle for us," Swinney said, crediting offensive line coach Matt Luke for the development.
This spring's philosophy is "cross-training." Swinney called out players like Elijah Thurman and Brayden Jacobs as young linemen being tasked with learning multiple spots on the team. The idea is to create "functional depth" so that an injury doesn't derail the entire unit.
"You want to get your best five," Swinney added. "It's hard to take true guards and say go play tackle; but you can find a tackle that could go play guard if you need."
Swinney likewise pointed to the return of Harris Sewell, a veteran who has played 35 games and is the "anchor" of the group. Even with Sadler out, the Tigers still have Blake Miller (54 career starts) and Tristan Leigh (42 career starts) returning to give a depth of experience that is rare in the portal era.
"I like our roster, I like our experience," Swinney said. "The mixture we put together... I really like how they work."