(QB Cade Klubnik – 247Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Cade Klubnik, RB Phil Mafah, WR Tyler Brown, WR Troy Stellato, TE Jake Briningstool, OG Trent Howard, OG Walker Parks, OT Tristan Leigh, OT Blake Miller, DE TJ Parker, DT DeMonte Capehart, LB Barrett Carter, LB Wade Woodaz, CB Avieon Terrell, NB Khalil Barnes, FS Kylon Griffin, SS RJ Mickens, and PT Aidan Swanson.
Key Players Departing:
RB/KR Will Shipley (Eagles R4), WR Beaux Collins (Notre Dame transfer), OC Will Putnam, DE Justin Mascoll, DE Xavier Thomas (Cardinals R5), DT Ruke Orhorhoro (Falcons R2), DT Tyler Davis (Rams R6), LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (Eagles R5), CB Teriano Pride Jr. (Missouri transfer), CB Nate Wiggins (Ravens R1), SS Andrew Mukuba (Texas transfer), PR Hamp Greene, and PK Jonathan Weitz.
(WR TJ Moore – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
Blue Chip Recruits: WR TJ Moore (Tampa, Florida), and LB Sammy Brown (Jefferson, Georgia).
4 Star Recruits: WR Bryant Wesco (Midlothian, Texas), TE Christian Bentancur (Woodstock, Illinois), EDGE Darien Mayo (Olney, Maryland), DS Ricardo Jones (Warner Robins, Georgia), CB Corian Gipson (Lancaster, Texas), OL Elyjah Thurmon (Hinesville, Georgia), DS Tavoy Feagin (Tampa, Florida), and DS Noah Dixon (Lagrange, Georgia).
2023 Results:
G01 @ Duke L 7-28
G02 CHERLESTON SOUTHERN W 66-17
G03 FAU W 48-14
G04 #4 FSU L (OT) 24-31
G05 @ Syracuse W 31-14
G06 WAKE FOREST W 17-12
G07 @ Miami (FL) L (2OT) 20-28
G08 @ NC State L 17-24
G09 #15 NOTRE DAME W 31-23
G10 GEORGIA TECH W 42-21
G11 #20 NORTH CAROLINA W 31-20
G12 @ South Carolina W 16-7
BOWL vs. Kentucky W 38-35
Misc. Team Information:
2023 Record: 9-4 (6th in ACC)
Home: 6-1
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 1-0
ACC: 4-4
Non-AAC: 5-0
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney
Clemson: 170-43
Career: 170-43
Bowls: 12-8
(RB Phil Mafah – 247Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Cade Klubnik (290-454, 2844 yards, 63.9%, 6.3 avg., 19 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing: Phil Mafah (179 car., 965 yards, 5.4 avg., 13 TD)
Receiving: Tyler Brown (52 rec., 531 yards, 10.2 avg.,4 TD)
TDs Scored: Phil Mafah (13)
Sacks: TJ Parker (5.5)
Tackles: Barrett Carter (62)
Tackles For Loss: TJ Parker (12.5)
Interceptions: Khalil Barnes (3)
Pass Deflections: Shelton Lewis (7)
Forced Fumbles: Khalil Barnes (3)
Kick Returns: Jay Haynes (1 ret., 18 yards, 18.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Tyler Brown (5 ret., 74 yards, 14.8 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Robert Gunn III (1-4 fg/fga., 65%, 14-15 xp/xpa., 17 pts.)
Punting: Aidan Swanson (61 punts, 2664 yards, 43.7 avg., 28 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 2 Cade Klubnik (JR)
RB: 7 Phil Mafah (SR)
WR: 8 Adam Randall (JR)
WR: 0 Antonio Williams (RS SO)
WR: 6 Tyler Brown (SO)
TE: 9 Jake Briningstool (SR)
LT: 70 Tristan Leigh (RS JR)
LG: 74 Marcus Tate (SR)
OC: 53 Ryan Linthicum (RS JR)
RG: 64 Walker Parks (GR)
RT: 78 Blake Miller (JR)
KR: 0 Antonio Williams (RS SO)
PK: 81 Nolan Hauser (FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 3 TJ Parker (SO)
NT: 19 DeMonte Capehart (RS SR)
DT: 55 Payton Page (SR)
DE: 11 Peter Woods (SO)
LB: 0 Barrett Carter (SR)
LB: 17 Wade Woodaz (JR)
NB: 7 Khalil Barnes (SO)
CB: 20 Avieon Terrell (SO)
CB: 10 Jeadyn Lukus (JR)
FS: 18 Kylon Griffin (RS SO)
SS: 9 RJ Mickens (GR)
PR: 6 Tyler Brown (SO)
PT: 39 Aidan Swanson (GR)
(DE TJ Parker – 247Sports)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 vs. Georgia Bulldogs | Clemson trails the series 18-43-4. The Tigers lost (3-10) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/07 APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS | Clemson leads the series 5-0. The Tigers won (41-10) the last meeting between schools in 2015.
09/21 NC STATE WOLFPACK | Clemson leads the series 60-30-1. The Tigers are 7-2 since 2014, and their last series win (30-20) was in 2022.
09/28 STANFORD CARDINAL | Clemson won (27-21) the only prior meeting between schools in 1986.
10/05 @ FSU Seminoles | Clemson trails the series 15-21. The Tigers are 7-2 since 2014, and their last series win (34-28) was in 2022.
10/12 @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons | Clemson leads the series 71-17-1. The Tigers are 10-0 since 2014, and their last series loss (7-12) was in 2008.
10/19 VIRGINIA CAVALIERS | Clemson leads the series 40-8-1. The Tigers won (41-23) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/02 LOUSIVILLE CARDINALS | Clemson leads the series 8-0. The Tigers won (31-16) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/09 @ Virginia Tech Hokies | Clemson leads the series 23-12-1. The Tigers won (45-10) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/16 @ Pitt Panthers | Clemson trails the series 2-3. The Tigers lost (17-27) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/23 THE CITADEL BULLDOGS | Clemson leads the series 5-0. The Tigers won (49-0) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/30 SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS | Clemson leads the series 73-43-4. The Tigers are 8-1 since 2014, and their last series loss (30-31) was in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 4-3
Road: 2-2
Neutral: 1-0
ACC: 4-4
Non-ACC: 3-1
Overall: 7-5 (9th in ACC)
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