Projecting the Clemson Football depth chart: Cornerback

Of all the position groups for Clemson Football, cornerback is the one that I have the least amount of confidence that I can project how the depth chart will look when the Tigers take the field against the Georgia Bulldogs. There is one thing I do feel confident though: Avieon Terrell will be starting.

Starting line-up: Avieon Terrell, Jeadyn Lukus or Shelton Lewis

Projected back-ups: Tavoy Feagin, Corian Gipson

Reserves: Branden Strozier, Myles Oliver, Ashton Hampton

I do worry about Lukus’s injury history. He has been in the program for two years and had a significant injury in both. If he is healthy, I think he will get the nod to start opposite Terrell.

The staff regularly lists two players as starters in the depth chart using the ‘Or’ designation. While I think Lukus runs out on the field first, Lewis will likely be an ‘Or’ starter. I’m not normally a fan of the ‘Or’, but in this case it is appropriate. The odds are that Lewis will likely start some games for the Tigers this season.

I feel good about the talent that Terrell, Lukus, and Lewis bring to the cornerback room, but they don’t have a wealth of experience yet. The guys behind them have even less.

Based on what I’ve read and seen, I think the next two guys off the bench are probably true freshmen. Gipson was a highly-rated prospect, but he suffered an injury in high school which kept him from being a full participant this spring. He should be ready to go this fall.

Feagin looked good in the Spring Game, and that was a welcome sight. He wasn’t outclassed by the receivers he had to cover and got an interception and multiple pass breakups.

The coaches have spoken positively about Strozier, but he wasn’t able to play in the spring while he recovered from surgery, so where he could fit in is unknown. Hampton did not enroll early, and Oliver has also dealt with medical obstacles most of his career.