Three reasons Clemson Football makes the College Football Playoffs

Defensive front seven 

On the other side of the trenches, the Tigers have a great front seven. 

Barrett Carter returns for his senior year after recording 62 tackles, 37 solo, 3.5 sacks, and an interception. He could have been drafted last season. Instead, he decided to return and give college ball one final shot. With Jeremiah Trotter going pro, having a little experience and production from last season will benefit Clemson greatly.

Kobe McCloud and Wade Woodaz are younger players but very talented. They could both make their mark this season, especially if they’re led by Carter. However, don’t be surprised if true freshman Sammy Brown cracks the starting rotation. He turned many heads since stepping on campus last spring. 

But the meat of the front seven is the defensive line. Clemson lost a lot from last season’s team. Tyler Davis, Xavier, Thomas, and Ruke Orhorhoro have moved past college. But on the other hand, the Tigers have the talent and experience to reload the DL.

Peyton Page, DeMonte Capehart, Tre Williams, and Cade Denhoff are all upperclassmen. Those four players alone return 28 of last year’s DL's 108 tackles. Then, when you add TJ Parker’s 16 tackles and Peter Woods’ 13, you get nearly 40% of last year‘s production on the defensive line returning. You also have to remember that they had significantly fewer snaps than the four that left.

Together, the DL and LB positions will wreak havoc in the backfield and plug holes in the run game.