Clemson Tigers 2024 Preview | Full Depth Chart and Schedule Breakdowns

Intro/2023 Season Review what is up everybody welcome back to the debie YouTube channel we're back with another top 25 preview we're at number 18 and a surprise team sitting there at number 18 here in the Athletics rankings and that's the Clemson Tigers talking about them coming back this is probably the lowest that I've seen them in probably the last I don't know seven eight years in terms of where their Outlook is projected at last year we'll get into kind of the last season but big year for Davos Sweeney and this this Clemson offense and bril Clemson team to get back into the top five right to kind of really take back and get back into the playoff now now when we're looking at last year's team we got to talk about it I'm sorry Clemson fans we got to get into it nine and four last year they finished 20th in the final AP poll and to be quite honest with you I don't care what davo says it was a failure like that's not a Clemson level kind of what they expect anymore those expectations you know are higher in my opinion with what they want and then last year when you saw it you know they lost when you come out of the season and you lose to Duke you can't lose a Duke at the first game of the year right that was a big big loss for them there um and then you know after that losing to Florida State then Miami North Carolina State and we talked about North Carolina already how big of a win that was for that program and on the flip end we should have probably noticed when that Duke loss that happened the turnovers that happened in that game it was just not good from there on out they did win the Gator Bowl against Kentucky 3835 but again these are not the expectations that we are used to for a Clemson team and really that's where they kind of has to bounce back and when you're looking at this and why they kind of struggled 2024 Offense it was their offense their offense really struggled last year they were 59th in points per game at 26.8 when you're looking at you know just overall yards per game they 68th in the country when you're talking about Red Zone scoring and this is really the number that stands out to me when you dive into Clemson's offensive struggles Red Zone scoring 127th was their ranking last year they just couldn't score in the Red Zone they got there they turned the ball over there's a lot of problems there um from that perspective their passing offense was pretty abysmal yards per pass is 121st last year looking at passing yards per game 76 rushing was okay a little bit better but just not efficient and and really not what they thought um when they were bringing Riley in to kind of take over that offense and what we saw so you know what is there any Hope Christian that's where we're gonna start this video off is there any hope for the 2024 offense to be better I think so I I think part of the reason the offense struggled especially from the get-go last year Riley came in Club Nick never really had time with those receivers because the injuries just derailed their their ability to create chemistry I think uh Tyler Brown was a nice surprise in that wide receiver room but Antonio Williams in an out of the lineup um just not Adam Randle was inconsistent he just wasn't able to kind of take that next step like we had hoped so I do think that there's hope this offensive line is largely coming back uh in full uh Ryan lyom is is the new comer at Center but when he was out there in his limited snaps last year he he was pretty good um Walker Parks is a grad uh graduate now and and brings them a little bit of experience so I think this offens of line also struggled with with some of the new Concepts um didn't really perform up to standard but when you look at the the offense they haven't had wide receivers quite like this in a long time they've got a couple of freshmen that I think can be impact players behind Antonio Williams Tyler Brown I think Adam randle's job is kind of uh up in the air right now just with with how rough it it was last year um and granted that's another year off of injury so I think we're going to find out a lot more as we head into the season but despite the wide receivers it Kade kumnick has to be better too I think that's a piece of this where um you lose will Shipley who you really had to rely on a lot last year we love Phil mafa um in this this backfield I think he's ready to take over as the the primary Ball Carrier but Kade kumnick is going to have to be a lot better if this Clemson offense is gonna take a step forward this year yeah I mean it really comes on the Cade right you know 290 454 last year 63 percentage there 2800 yards passing but 19 touchdowns six or nine interceptions excuse me and just wasn't the guy that they thought coming in right when he replaced dju they really fumbled that when we talked about how they kind of developed him as freshman year kind of wishy-washy going back and forth you know I think he struggled because of a lot of the things the coaching staff has not put in place and I think with Riley there I think there a lot of issues to kind of iron out the big thing to me is anonio Williams makes this offense go he played five games he was really injured he wasn't there like you know what we talking about with the injuries at the wide receiver position so definitely There's Hope out there but I mean there's reasons why that the this Clemson kind of program is falling behind and we're gonna get into that why it's fallowing him behind there um but when you're looking at losses really you know Bo Collins moving on I love Bo Notable Losses Collins I know shake your head all you want but California kid came over there with dju and like I just expect him be better but he was just he was flat out just not good like he was okay 510 yards last year but just struggled just struggle catching the football struggle being an impact player he was actually an impact player in high school don't know where that went from but just didn't fit in this offense really struggle with quarterback play or whatever it was Will Shipley was a guy that we liked 827 yards last year you know 244 receiving yards but hadn't been the same guy since his freshman year like his freshman year he was much better when you're talking as a runner and a p pass catcher will putam as well um but not as many losses as you expect for this team but again really got to develop on the back end yeah I mean this program relies on development at this point U and we'll talk about that but yeah I mean I think replacing Shipley with mafa and the guys that they have in that back field I think Shipley was a good player don't get me wrong and I think that there's a reason that um he was coveted by NFL teams and and there's a reason he's in the NFL now but I think that you can replace what he gave you last year he he was fine same thing with Bo Collins though like him being out there was not ideal for that team so really the the notable losses are aren't extensive um and the recruits really kind of fill that in um as we get into that yeah yeah of course let's go over to the recruits 2024 Offensive Recruits I mean they did a great I mean Clemson still recruits right like top 15 program overall in the recruiting class last year the 24th class composite was a top 11 uh TJ Moore is a dude Christian kid can oh my god you watch his tape I just wish he didn't go to Clipson sorry Clipson fans I I hope they do something with him because he is that special like 63195 he comes out there and I think that you know when you're looking at him he is a program changer like he's a guy that like hey this our wide receiver one they they've missed these guys they had these guys before like where you think about their offense T Higgins comes to mind right they've had these guys where they really elevated themselves gave them that one and said hey we got enough offense to go win a title like that's really what TJ Moore gives you Club Nicks anywhere better all you got to do is throw it up to this kid like he is that special and I think he can make an impact Wesco is good too I think he gets hated on a little bit because he's not dj Moore but Brian Wesco is also a very very solid wide receiver 11 overall from his position beton core there again from tight end position again they get really good tight ends bring sto is also there when you talked about him um Elijah Thurman Mason Wade Rono Connell again they get they get get some of these interior offensive lineman and they develop that's really what their goal is there but really this class the the diamond is TJ Moore right oh yeah he's my uh wide receiv receiver five in Debbie right now um so it but the craziest part is he's a wide receiver three in his own class um because of how special this class is but that's not a knock at all this kid is absolutely special when I watched uh you know I dove into his film for our Debbie draft guide and it was just uh he blew me away I I didn't have words to put on the paper I struggled to write The Scouting Report because I was just like yes yes more of this please so I do hope that they're able to use him I think he's on the field uh maybe as early as week one you know he he has that type of of impact where you kind of need him on the field um but just extending further into this class Elijah Thurman's a dude too uh I think as Walker Parks ages out or you know graduates again uh from grad school um Elijah Thurman's going to walk into that and and this offensive line is going to be better for it um but overall yeah they have to recruit well because of the current transfer policy yeah let's get into that why not ke transfers we just put a laughing emoji because he doesn't have any and I and and I know PFF put out a tweet I think it was a Key Offensive Transfers couple days ago um they're going through like the best transfer from every single uh team in college football and they put na and I was like I cannot believe we're are still talking about them having na no transfers in 2024 and I think Clemson fans think that too I think davo the way that he just doesn't address the needs of his teams in the trans portal I think that's going to put this program behind because yes they still recruit at a very high level but they have no depth and when guys get hurt like we saw at the wide receiver position last year and other things even even at the offensive line position if guys get hurt there they don't have guys to plug in they're they're plugging in like their three star kids they developed their Walk-Ons those things that does not work in college football anymore and I think you saw that last year at some point either Doo's got to retire he's going to move on because he's going to look at it and say I don't want to do this transfer portal or someone in his inner circle needs to tell him you have to do the transfer portal right director player person out there Mike dly hey daba we got to go after the transfer portal and when you see all these great coaches doing it and daba won't do it because he's so dang stubborn that hurts this program and that's really the key for me in this transfer is like we're not g to talk about defensive transfers because they don't have any but not adding transfers limits the ceiling of your program I think it's most frustrating too because they act like they have to go out into the portal and pay because that's all the kids in the portal care about but you're still Clemson you still have the brand recognition you still have the championship aspirations where some of these teams don't Mississippi state they're bringing in transfers they might have to pay for those transfers but you might be able to get that same exact player for no nil money uh or you know all this it's all fake it's all the same money but you probably don't have to pay for those players as much as another program because of your name and you're still refusing to do it drives me insane uh I understand the premise like I do understand we want to invest in these kids we want to show them that we uh believe in the kids that are in our program but why not invest in the kids that are actively seeking your program out that might be a little bit older I like it it creates a level of competition as well just because you take a transfer doesn't mean you have to play him over a talent freshman I don't know why they have that mindset but alas uh that's why we're talking about them now and not in a couple of weeks when we get into the top 10 I think and to me there's no reason why like we let's talk about impact players I I'll just talk about klubnik Kate kumnick needs to be Impact Players - Offense better if Kate kumnick is not better this team is gonna win nine games again like that's just plain and simple he's not but here's the thing though you use that transfer portal and you go get one of these veteran quarterbacks or someone to push him that's how they get better that competition breed's getting better and I think that's the other area too bring guys in and make them compete if these guys already think that they're going to start and they know that they're on the roost I think that's a mistake I think you bring him in you compete and you say hey you got to get better we're going to bring this quarterback in and go after hey he's a kid from Ohio let's say or whatever like he's coming in here to compete for this starting job here Kade you need to be better that also helps your program right so I think that's a big thing kade's got to step up I think the turnovers the decision making I think the arm you know just the questionable throws that he makes being within the offense the Rhythm that's the big thing with K Club Nick and this team's going to ride or die with him and this offense with what Riley's trying to do and what Dao's kind of built here with the wide receivers out there if they stay healthy if Kade can bounce back they're going to compete for an ACC title but if they don't there's some ACC teams are starting to take over that conference as well from a recruiting Trail Florida State on recruiting Trail they got blue chips guys all over the place now like Clemson's falling a little bit behind now so really kad's got to take that next step for this program yeah and I just did a quick scroll through transfer quarterbacks and I counted 14 in the first like 20ish quarterbacks that I think probably would beat Kade kumnick out in in a a level competition so um I I think that that's where it it gets tough to talk about this team because they're still talented they still have a ton of upside to win the ACC but I don't think that they're in the same tier as maybe the the favorites in the ACC at this point because of the lack of depth what happens when you know two or three of these receivers go down again Kade kumnick we're out of excuses for him at this point and I understand he's still a young player and there's a chance that he develops but to me yeah everything rides and div with Kade Club Nick and I don't know that that's a position that a program should have to be in in in this era of college football and if Kade doesn't get better Antonio Williams is gonna leave or he might leave anyway this year but he might have to leave and go to a different program and that's a problem like in my opinion that's going to be a problem now let's go over to 2024 Defensive Breakdown defense I mean this is a unit that put them in games right we talked about their defense Clemson always has a great defense so to be a little bit more optimistic for the Clemson fans out there I mean defense is great 2 four uh in the nation last year opponents points per game when you look at yards per game they were 11th at 308 yards given up um really really good there from a rushing you know defense standpoint they did really well they were a top 25 unit from a defense from a passing perspective defense that's where they struggled a little bit when you're looking at kind of yards per pass um passes per game poent yards per pass game though they did really well there they were 12th in the country there in terms of they just didn't give up a lot of yards there um sack percentage they were 43rd so not as many sacks Were Us seeing a Clemson defense having but they were very solid unit it kept them in games for sure yeah they've got a ton of Talent on this side of the ball as they always do Barrett Carter is kind of that leader um most people expected him to leave for the NFL draft he chose to return I think um it's an interesting choice because I think uh you know he probably would have been a top 75 pick with that linebacker class last year um so interesting choice maybe he's trying to work his way into the first round I think the film suggests that there's there's upside for that Avon you might recognize the name Clemson fans you already know but that's AJ Terrell's younger brother um so that you know good good lineage there a lot of lot of good lineage there uh RJ mickens um is is still there Peter Woods is just a dude um obviously he was kind of behind some folks on the depth chart but he he got over 300 snaps and and when he was out there it just absolutely fantastic so there's there's guys um I think jayen Lucas is someone that they're excited about um TJ Parker's another guy that I think can be an impact player but overall just the depth on this side isn't is fine actually um they wouldn't they wouldn't have to hit the portal to to get guys on this side but um hopefully they they lost a lot hopefully they can kind of just replace the way they have been um but I think this side of the ball is definitely in a a much more stable State yeah I got to give uh you want to give West Goodwin a shout out taking over from Brent vinales and Brent vinales obviously was just Elite defensive coordinator and his last year I mean the one other area of note for him this defense that he's led him to they LED in turnovers forc at 28 this last year like that was what they did and that's why if they had just some serviceable of an offense that just scored in the Red Zone they would have competed like they would have been right there again um and that was really where the big notice was Now you kind of hinted a little bit at the losses yeah Notable Losses Jeremiah trer Jr I mean These Guys Clemson just pumps out linebackers and Edge guys I mean that's really what they do even from a secondary perspective Nate Wiggins was one of my favorites I really liked him I know he dropped a little bit but really really good there um Xavier Thomas those guys I mean Jeremiah Trotter when you're looking at the stats and what he was able to do I think not only ton of that 88 tackles you know five and a half sacks those type of things two interceptions leader though like that leadership really for Trotter is one of those things that they're losing there um so yeah they're gonna have to replace a lot but they got a lot behind them these def they do a great job of recruiting on the defensive side yeah another player that had been there for a long time but Tyler Davis just didn't fit on the graphic uh they lost a bit on that interior defensive line but they like we just talked about they just kind of replace um and the production never seems to dip I think they're in a good spot for that to continue um inre makuba though so that's one you lost to the portal and he's over at Texas now so that I think speaks to the difference in those two programs now whereas like that would be a shocking thing maybe five years ago with how dbo built this program up now I was like yeah that that kind of makes sense um so that's it's a lot to lose but they are in fine shape yeah yeah they are and recruiting Wise Guys again like we 2024 Defensive Recruits talking about the recruiting on this side they did a great job from that recruiting class um they brought in some dudes on their side Darion Mayo as well Noah Dixon uh the big guy though the guy that they they absolutely love the guy I think he gonna get on the field pretty early um Samy Brown linebacker out there Sammy Brown when you're looking at that he's the highest ranked linebacker in recruit in program history so he's number two overall there so they absolutely got him and he is a freak he was on 247 uh Sports freak list when you're looking at that um as a sophomore in high school he was the wrestling tournament champion 34- two there um gold medal and when you're looking at wrestling tournaments as well and track I mean he was absolutely phenomenal he was a champion in the 400 meter dash as a freshman so athleticism just strength size all of those things that you have to like there 10.7 in the 100 yard dash as well I mean these are things that stand out to you and defense last year he had 153 tackles in high school two interceptions Force fumble oh and also you know what he did he was a running back 255 attempts for 2200 yards and 36 touchdowns Sammy Brown is a dude like you ever see all those old movies of like the linebacker just covering speed and doing that and then also playing there um and and just just a stud I mean they absolutely love him and when you get him around all these other guys Ricardo Jones coryan Gibson Fegan all those guys I mean this this is their crown jeo of a class plus you know the wide receivers that we talked about right you know when you're thinking of Wesco on the other side TJ Moore this is a hell of a recruiting class yeah uh Sammy Brown was the one I was gonna highlight for sure I do want to mention Drew woodz uh is joining his brother in that linebacking room so that's an exciting uh fun little story that I'm sure we're going to hear a ton on the broadcast um but yeah Sammy Brown is the dude I think he he probably you know we didn't have him slated as a a starter on the depth chart if only because there is some depth in that linebacker room but he will certainly earn snaps he'll be on the field at least a little bit davo he struggles with the transfer portal but he does know how to you know give a little bit of of leash so that these guys stick around um I think Sammy Brown could be an impact player for them down the stretch though if this team manages to to win and be in playoff positioning I think Brown is going to be a big part of that he's a dude man you just watching him you're just like oh my gosh he GNA be flying around I mean that's what Clemson does that's why you know it's so frustrating when we talk about transfers they just filled a little bit they'd be right there in a national championship every year again like that's really where they're at now as far as impact players because there's no transfers on the defensive side Impact Players - Defense either um baric Carter is there you know in terms of that like the 67 tackles last year three and a half sacks um I know we put him on there um RJ M mckin again 50 tackles those both guys that you know flirted with the NFL but then came back so you have to love that we talked about Sammy Brown he's not on here you know Peter Woods Avan Terell those type of guys who is your big standout this year you think that need to take that step I mean Avon Terell I I think we've seen some good games from him you know he played in nine games last year but I just want to see him take that next step as a as a coverage player um he had one interception last year only two pass breakups but I think with Nate Wiggins in the lineup like I I do think that this cornerback room is in really good shape if Avon Terell takes that step as that number one guy um they they do you know it's tough to pick out impact players on this defense though because you know any one of the the you know 12 secondary players that they have or more than that but like you get the point any one of those guys can step up and be that surprised dude so um everything starts and ends with Barrett Carter but I think the guys around him are going to be more impactful if only because we know what Barrett Carter is going to give you for that defense yeah 100% there all right let's look at their schedule let's talk about it a little 2024 Schedule bit it's interesting it's a it's a it's an interesting schedule here they're at nine and a half wins that's their win total over under there big game big game early Georgia coming in let's see let's see what Georgia looks like right in terms of that the one of the bigger games of the beginning of the year on in the 24 season AB state is no pushover either AB state is just going to be one of those games where it's tough NC State can they kind of come back from that um Stanford again new ACC opponent Stanford still is weird saying that out loud uh Florida State Wake Force Virginia Louisville Virginia Tech Pittsburgh The Citadel in South Carolina hey there are no gimmies there are no games on this where you're like oh yeah I mean there's a few where yeah they should beat Virginia like but I mean this is competitive this is one of the more competitive schedules that we've covered so far in this series um so shout out Clemson for doing that but I could see like you're looking at those top 25 wins and see at nine and a half like you might be a little nervous taking the over here yep I I think the Gimme is the Citadel if they can't beat the Citadel that'll be pretty rough but but you're right I mean their their conference games are tough having an out ofc conference Georgia matchup is not ideal with this conference schedule um NC State's a tough game Florida State tough game I think uh Louisville is gonna be a tough game Virginia Tech is a sneaky tough game especially going to Virginia Tech I think that they can pull a few of those out but I have to hit the under because I you know hitting the over means that I'm betting on this offense to be significantly better uh I don't necessarily know that I think that they're going to take that massive step forward I think they're going to take a step forward but I don't think it's going to be massive enough to win all those games so I'm hitting the under I'm not I'm not locking that because I think that there's potential for this team to outperform that but I'm hitting the under I'm hitting under as well so we're going to agree on this one we don't tend to agree very much in terms of the over unders on these that we hav't this year um but I just don't trust K clubmaking this offense and if they prove me wrong great that's one of those ones where like you know that streaky shooter that hits like six threes in a game you just shake his hand with Klay kumnick all right dude you know what you prove me wrong um in this offense and I worry about their depth I think that they're very solid at certain positions but if they get injured like you're talk even like they starting T in Jake Brenning St if he gets injured you know who's X Josh sap these other guys olon Pat Henry some of these guys are like Hey will they really be able to elevate this offense what does that look like um the depth at their offensive line will that help them as well if they get injured there um and I think they have some really really tough games and I I think that from there I think they do get the nine wins so it's a very coin flip that nine to 10 like they win a game that you're like oh um I think there's some potential at Florida State to be fun little dju bringing them back here I I'm Circle in that game that's just gonna be a fun just hey let's see who's gonna come after this game at Florida State um and I think they can win that game I think that klubnik is a better quarterback than dju I actually do think that um but even then it's like hey tough in middle of the Year where's that depth at so yeah for Clemson to me you know I'm going under on the nine and a half if that was eight and a half I'd hit the over I mean that's how close it is I Outro - Overall Outlook think in terms of where that where their where the team is at but really it comes down to this like if they want to compete and I think here's the kicker though are Clemson fans are you gonna be okay with just making the playoff because I think you will I think in a 12 team playoff Clemson should compete for a playoff spot most years um as long as they stay healthy and they're there or do you want to like go in that transfer portal and go get guys and try to win national titles I think that is where and you have to remember too I'm not going to crap on you know davo too much because before Dao became the head coach Clemson was kind of laughing stock for most years like it was very like they underperformed all the time you know daa did win the national title so you can't take that away from him but sometimes you got to hey you got to have that change hey how how can I develop this program there and so Clemson fans let us know what do you think do you feel like he should kind of do that are you comfortable with this program is that um but that's really my takeaway they have the talent defensively I think they can move and kind of go over there there might be some regression from the takeaways perspective because they had a lot last year um but you know they're going to be solid on the defensive side but can that offense get them over the hum yeah good leader adapt and so we're going to find out if if davo is a good leader if he's just stuck in his ways I I fear it's the latter and um yeah this might just be what it is you know maybe Clemson is just competing for a playoff spot and maybe that's okay uh but I think the expectation should be higher I know they kind of got I wouldn't call it got lucky but Trevor Lawrence being there certainly helped uh our our mindset of what this program is um but I I'm I'm curious to see if they can I mean they they need to go out and get a another quarterback or keep quarterbacks committed here um and and then maybe I think they can overcome some of those challenges but for right now it's compete for a playoff spot and right now I would say they're on the outside looking in yeah yeah Trevor Lawrence DeShaun Watson not too bad quarterbacks to have there and I think that's one of those things you're looking at from a recruiting cycle you know going through the the Elite 11 you're like man where's Clemson where where is Clemson going like why why why am I not seeing that and they'll get guys I know Christopher Z vas those guys are there but we'll see we'll see how it goes climon fans let us know what you think how many wins you think you're going to be you know going at can you hit the 10 are you going to complete for the playoff and and how do you feel about your team moving forward [Music] a