Clemson Tigers College Football Preview 2023: Top Players, Keys, What Will Happen
Clemson Tigers College Football Preview 2023: What Will Happen
Clemson Tigers Key to the Season
Clemson 2023 Preview: Offense | Defense
Top Players, Keys, What Will Happen
- Clemson 2023 Football Schedule
All the run defense has to do is stuff everyone. Offenses are going to bomb away. That’s life in college football now - once in a while a passing game will click and go for 300 yards no matter how good the secondary is. South Carolina game aside, Clemson is usually good at overcoming that. What it really needs is for the run D to always be a menace.
This is nitpicking here, but that’s part of the deal when trying to find the difference between being ACC title good and national championship great.
Last year the Clemson defense allowed over 200 rushing yards twice - it lost to Notre Dame and almost lost to Florida State. Tennessee ran for 124 yards in the Orange Bowl win, and South Carolina won by throwing but came up with just 55 yards. That loss to the Gamecocks and a 2014 defeat to Florida State are the blips.
Since 2011 - 12 seasons - Clemson is a ridiculous 84-2 when allowing 120 yards or fewer rushing yards. Stop the run, don’t let the other side get control, win.
Clemson Tigers Top Transfer, Biggest Loss
QB Paul Tyson in from Arizona State, QB DJ Uiagalelei gone to Oregon State. Clemson doesn’t use the transfer portal, which is fine if you really do want to build up your base, but it’s a killer when it comes to developed depth. The one area Clemson does address through the portal is backup quarterback to make sure there’s an insurance policy in place. Tyson is a big bomber who started out at Alabama - he’s related to the legendary Bear Bryant - and left for Arizona State but didn’t get in any work.
Cade Klubnik is expected to be special, and there’s a chance in a new setting and with a new start DJ Uiagalelei takes his game up a few notches. It’s ALL there - he has No. 1 overall pick tools, and there’s a shot he becomes this year’s Bo Nix.
Clemson Tigers Key Player
Adam Randall, WR Soph. Obviously the key guy is Klubnik - any and every CFP hope relies on him being great - but he needs the receivers to step up for him. Granted, Uiagalelei didn’t take a ton of chances down the field and checked it down a whole bunch, but he didn’t get enough help from the receivers when he did open it up.
The 6-2, 230-pound Randall has the size and track star speed to be amazing, and now he’s healthy after pushing past a torn ACL suffered early in 2022 to make ten catches for 128 yards. Now that he’s healthy, look out.
Clemson Tigers Key Game
Florida State, Sept. 23. This might be the first of two meetings considering the ACC doesn’t have divisions anymore - the two might play in the ACC Championship - but that’s hardly a sure thing. It’s still early in the season, but Clemson can’t afford to drop a home game and - at least realistically - still get to the College Football Playoff.
The Tigers have won seven straight in the series with the last loss coming in 2014 to the FSU team that got to the College Football Playoff.
Clemson Tigers 10 Best Players
1. Jeremiah Trotter, LB Jr.
2. Barrett Carter, LB Jr.
3. Cade Klubnik, QB Soph.
4. Ruke Orhorhoro, DT Sr.
5. Nate Wiggins, CB Jr.
6. Andrew Mukuba, S Jr.
7. Will Shipley, RB Jr.
8. Tyler Davis, DT Sr.
9. Jalyn Phillips, S Sr.
10. Will Putnam, C Sr.
Clemson Tigers 2022 Fun Stats
- 1st Quarter Scoring: Clemson 110, Opponents 48
- Sacks: Clemson 44 for 273 yards, Opponents 28 for 176 yards
- Passing Yards: Clemson 3.253, Opponents 3.244
Clemson Tigers Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Set The Win Total At: 10
Here’s the problem when it comes to figuring out just how good Clemson will be.
The starting 22 can hang with anyone. Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State … anyone. There’s a ton of talent down the depth chart, but most of it is unproven and young, while everyone else hit the transfer portal and mostly has the 2s set up in case of disaster.
Clemson can and will get over injuries here and there, and it’ll win a ton of games no matter what, but lose a few key parts or have a rash of injuries somewhere and all of a sudden the team goes from CFP contender to around 9ish wins.
There are landmines. At Miami, at NC State, and at South Carolina are all dangerous, and the home dates against Florida State, Notre Dame, and North Carolina will be shootouts.
No matter what, Clemson is good enough to get to nine wins, just because. The schedule is challenging, but it’s not horrible for team this talented. There’s a loss coming somewhere, but can it avoid that second defeat?
It'll get to the ACC Championship, but it'll likely do it at 10-2. Hardly anything to be upset about, but there's enough in place to shoot for more.
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Clemson 2023 Preview: Offense | Defense
- Clemson 2023 Football Schedule
