Clemson Football 2023 Depth Chart Takeways | What to Look For Week 1 vs Duke

Intro welcome back to another episode of rock boys football we got another depth chart to take a look at and this is a team that we've spent a ton of time talking this off season and that's the Clemson Tigers and this is not the flashiest team heading into the ACC this year right there's a lot of hype around Florida State and rightfully sorry I am very high I'm a Florida State can do in the ACC this year but don't forget about the Clemson Tigers in the amount of talent that they have coming back and there are a few names on this depth chart that are kind of surprising that I want to get into now before we get into it just want to say thank you to you guys especially the Clemson fans whether we're talking recruiting whether we're taking deep dives into the offense or defense to support from you guys truly does mean a lot so one if you do enjoy the content consider subscribing to the channel we just broke down that Clemson Duke game a couple weeks ago appreciate you guys rocking with the boys more importantly than subscribe to the channel though please let me know in the comment section what you guys think what were your big takeaways at the end of the day my the best part about doing this is talking ball learning from you guys in the comment section so appreciate you guys rocking with the boys and let's get into this and I want Offensive Line to start with the offensive line and this is a group that if you have listened to me talk about this Clemson Team all summer long this is a quietly really really good group it's finally feels like this is the year for this Clemson offensive line in 2021 we saw Clemson come out against Georgia and just not look physically there they had a lot of young guys on the offensive line they took a really nice step in 2022. now they're returning a lot of these guys back what only Jordan McFadden really the knock and the the one guy not coming back could be a really good group in 2023 and you take a look at their starting five I think on the inside you knew what your starters were and you're feeling really good about it right Walker Parks will Putnam Marcus Tate that's a really good three set of players on that interior offensive line I'd argue that you have some nice depth in there too Ryan went to come at that Center position at The Tackle Spot Blake Miller the surprise true freshman he looked really good as a true freshman you're expecting him to take that step and then the last part is you got a nice little left tackle battle with Tristan Lee and Colin Sadler which I didn't really have on my bingo card I kind of just thought Tristan Lee had that left tackle spot locked up and although I do think he's going to be trotting out with the ones I think that's a really good sign that Clemson is is giving the org designation because what does that tell you they feel pretty good about what Colin Sadler can do and if we know anything about offensive lines in college football it is really important to be entering during a 2020 a college football season whether it's in 2023 or 2018 with having guys that you feel comfortable trying out more than just Five Guys right having eight nine guys that you're comfortable having to play if you need to that's Master the start of a college football season and I think Clemson is there but again what I'd focus on is you're looking at a lot of guys who are still young and they're kind of like nearing that development cycle where this is the year they're putting it together will Putnam Marcus Tate Blake Miller interestingly I expect them to take massive jumps from what you saw in the 2022 season I think this Clemson offensive line is going to be good and I'm really excited to see what this run game can look like and I I know a lot of people associate Garrett Riley with throwing the ball all around the yard don't get it twisted you go back and watch TCU and they they wanted to run the football they ran the football at an extremely high level you have a really really Dynamic quarterback in K Club Nick I think one of the better backfields in the country this could be a Clemson team that runs the football in a meaningful way now I do want to talk about the pass catchers first before we dive into the quarterback in running back positions and this is a a position group that we've got to spend a decent Receivers amount of time talking about asking for these guys to step up and like we talked about with the offensive line I think you're seeing these young wide receivers going into year two or going into year three and you're gonna see maybe a potential breakout year now starting with Antonio Williams who already has bursted on the scene he could be a guy that was like a true freshman that was a pleasant surprise I think he could be that dude for the Clemson Tigers in 2023 and I would like to shout out really quick Tyler Brown the true freshman who apparently is making some serious strides during Camp you saw Antonio Williams become like a true freshman that Clemson can rely on Tyler Brown might be that storyline kind of guy in the 2023 season Beau Collins knock on wood he's healthy because I really do think he's has a lot of juice to him and I would also throw in Adam Randall and maybe even Cole Turner Adam Randall's a guy that I can't wait to see him fully healthy as well and what do you what you're seeing here is kind of a nice mix of guys for Clemson you have like your slot guys and Antonio Williams who are going to be able to create separation and then you got your big body dudes Adam Randall and Beau Collins who can work that boundary a little bit more of a bigger physical presence I like how this wide receiver room shakes out I like the players in the room now it's time for them to take that step and I would like to mention Jake bringing stool 2 who this is no knock on a guy like Austin Davis last year but I think Jake brings tool offers a little bit more juice in terms of being a Dynamic Athlete working that middle of the field so overall pass catchers you feel pretty good about and there's not many uh surprises on this step chart like if you were to ask me two months ago three months ago it'd be Adam Randall and Tony Williams and Beau Collins I think what you're excited about is that you have a guy like Cole Turner earning that or designation that's telling you that he's continuing to make strides going into his redshirt freshman year and then Tyler Brown at the quarterback position the only surprise I I think would be that you don't see the true freshman on that list but K Club Nick stays healthy he's your quarterback one and then it's not a surprise that they they list will Shipley and Phil mafa with the ore designation but I don't think Clemson fans like don't get it twisted will Shipley is the running back one he'll be on the field I will think most of the time especially in this Gary Riley offense that's predicated in space like you I think it's a match made in heaven and I've said this all summer will Shipley combined with this Garrett Riley offense really excited to see how they use will Shipley because I do think he's one of the more Dynamic running backs in the country and I think like his talents the last two years wasn't really used in terms of what his player how he can impact the game I think Garrett Riley is much more likely to use him in that Dynamic way but Phil mafa like you talk about a physical presence film moth is going to give you that so I really do like how the running back room shakes out I'm not necessarily necessarily surprised that you see the order Defense designation now on the defense there's a little bit more surprises and you got to start with the true freshman Peter woods and I'll say this am I surprised that Peter Woods gets the ore designation with Tyler Davis and ruko on the inside yes because Tyler Davis and Rook oh could have been day two picks had they wanted to go to the NFL draft they come back that was Sweeney in this defensive stat for telling me Peter Woods is or designation with Tyler Davis and ruko that's telling you Peter Woods is pretty damn good and he's listed above guys like Peyton page on the depth chart Peter Woods it is a known name for the Clemson fans because they follow recruiting you're kind of in tune with the fall cam practice notes if you're just an ACC fan or a college football fan you probably don't know the true freshman's name Peter Woods yeah I do because I'm a kind of a recruiting nerd Peter Woods I think could be that dude who breaks out as a true freshman not only in the ACC but across the country because what you're hearing out of fall Camp what you saw from the spring game this dude looks different and is just he's gonna be a playmaker and you seeing that or designation means Peter Woods got that game now Xavier Thomas just stays healthy not a guy in the country I'm rooting for more than Xavier Thomas all the injuries that he's battled all the adversity that he's battled coming into Heist coming in from high school being kind of a five-star Crown Jewel of the class really hoping Xavier Thomas can stay healthy and put it together and I could say a lot of the same things for Justin Masco who you probably don't have I mean Xavier Thomas is about as talented as it gets but this I probably don't have a miles Murphy coming in that being said I do think Xavier Thomas if he puts it together can provide that Elite Edge Rush uh that that you're losing with a guy like KJ Henry or miles Murphy at the linebacker spot this is not a surprise in the slightest Jeremiah tried to bury Carter now I don't think you'll see much of Wade Woody is unless he's being rotated in with Trotter and Barry cartex I do think their base will be with that nickel and that's where my next surprise is Andrew mccubba moving from that safety spot will be playing that nickel position and I think this is a product of trying to get the best 11 players on your defense and you don't want a guy like Jalen Phillips or RJ mickens not being able to play because you need to play Andrew mccube in the back end Andrew mccuba a healthy Andrew makuba which you saw as a true freshman is one of the better players in the ACC last year what dislocated elbow sprained MCL that dude was playing with like half a body last year Andrew makuba I love him coming in the Box letting my take on the nickel Defender position it's a vastly important position in college football arguably in terms in some defenses the most important position on a defense getting Andrea Cuba close the line of scrimmage letting him be closer to the football letting him impact the game a little bit more I really do like that because you have a really good safety duo with Jalen Phillips and RJ meckins who've played a lot of football at the cornerback spot moderately surprised and I I think this is subject to change I'm not surprised by Nate Wiggins uh you guys if you guys have listened to me all summer you know I am a Nate Wiggins guy a little bit surprised that Sheridan Jones held on to that cornerback spot I would expect Torino Pride Jr and Jaden Lucas to continue to make a run obviously they're still young going into their second year if those guys take those steps I and this is not a knock on Sheridan Jones this is a guy that's played a lot of football for Clemson's played a lot of football at a high level for Clemson that being said I think the ceiling if Jaden Lucas or Torino Pride Jr kind of put it together I think is better than Sheridan Jones and I like that combination like if Torino Pride Jr and Jaden Lucas are not quite ready yet going into their second year you got a really good player in Sheridan Jones but come week three come week four come week five come week six if Torino pride and Jaden Lucas put it together I wouldn't be surprised if one of those kind of take overtake Sheridan Jones in terms of being that starter opposite nay Wiggins who I think could be a first round NFL draft pick so my overall takes on this depth chart is one don't forget about the Clemson Tigers like this is still a top 10 top 12 team entering in the year with the ceiling if this offense comes together some of the young guys in the back can come together to be one of the better teams in college football I've been kind of saying it all summer long it's not the sexiest team heading into the 2023 season because Florida State there is a so much to like about what Florida state has coming back what they did in the transfer portal but Dabo Sweeney and the culture that he has put together over the last decade at Clemson this is a very very good team and it's a strong culture and it's a team that I don't think a lot of people are talking about but I think we'll be talking a lot about at the end of November when we're talking about the college football playoffs so for me really excited I think they got some young guys on this depth chart that could really take a step up cannot wait to see them open up against Duke we're gonna come on and talk about that after the game because that is one of the biggest story lines in college football is if this offense can come together like you're still looking at a top 10 top 15 defense don't get that Twisted one bit very excited for this Clemson Tigers team again appreciate the Clemson fans you guys have shown a ton of Love All Summer Long appreciate y'all if you do enjoy the content consider subscribing to the channel and we'll talk to y'all later