5 Clemson Football players who could win awards in 2024

It is watchlist season. Here are five Clemson Football players who should be on several watchlists that might win the award.
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) after the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, Friday, December 29, 2023. Clemson won 38-35.
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) after the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, Friday, December 29, 2023. Clemson won 38-35. / Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Khalil Barnes

Barnes is one of those players who made a splash in 2023, but not such a big splash that he has become a household name outside of Clemson Nation. He is still a relative unknown to a lot of college football fans.

I am always nervous about rising sophomores who impressed as freshmen. The sophomore slump is a real thing. Consider Barnes’s predecessor, Andrew Mukuba.

Mukuba found the field early in the 2021 season. He became a starter quickly. He had some typical growing pains but also made some fantastic plays. The 2022 season didn’t go well for him.

There are a handful of reasons we can consider for Mukuba’s sophomore slump. Clemson shifted his position out of need. He dealt with nagging injuries. The defense was adjusting to a new defensive coordinator.

Barnes won’t have a new coordinator. He probably won’t be forced into another position out of need. Injuries are impossible to predict.

The biggest reason for slumps is simply that expectations change following a good freshman season when the team wasn’t relying on the player. It’s different when they become a first-stringer. Some players handle it well, and others take time to adjust.

Of all the sophomores who will be stepping into the starting lineup, Barnes is the one I worry about the least. He is just a natural on the field.

Possible awards: Bednarik Award (defensive players), Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive players), Jim Thorpe Award (defensive backs)

NEXT: Phil Mafah