Clemson Tigers 2023 Preview | Full Depth Chart and Schedule Breakdowns

Intro what is up everybody welcome back to the Debbie royal YouTube channel we're back with another edition of our top 25 team breakdowns we're gonna be looking at the Clemson Tigers today and what they're going to be looking forward to in the 2023 season they have a new offensive coordinator can they actually score some points this year and be consistent at the quarterback position we're going to be diving into their full team breakdown their defense as well and their schedule and what we think that their total should be heading into the season so if you like college football if you love Clemson hang on hit that like button and we'll talk to you guys after the intro [Music] all right we've been doing a lot of 2023 Offensive Breakdown these and I think for this one you know when we get into Clemson understand their year last year they were 11-3 they won the ACC ain't no Conference record like they always do that's why the hell they want to get out of that ACC right now um but I think you know they were they were Unfortunately they probably are lost away from you know a loss to South Carolina away from actually making the playoff you know that one loss was a terrible one dju and everything the everything that was going on there um then they just got absolutely blown out in the Orange Bowl against Tennessee and that was a bad game for them um their offense was okay 30th in the country for points per game you know their defense was fine too they were 22nd top 25 defense but it was just the consistency issues that they had basically with dju with the quarterback position the running backs and wide receivers they had that but their wide receivers definitely need to take a step up we'll talk about that but overall pretty disappointing year for Clemson 11-3 for most you know programs is okay but they want to go win a National Title they want to be in this but we are starting to get to those teams now they can have chance for a national title or a college football playoff so this is exciting as we get into these breakdowns so let's talk about their offense and we're gonna go to the offensive line what do they got returning what are we looking at Christian yeah so four starters back on this offensive line uh Blake Miller Marcus Tate will Putnam and Walker parks are all returning Tristan Lee played very limited snaps last year but was really really good in pass protection when he was on the field so I think when we talk about National Title contenders and and what that looks like continuity and consistency on the offensive line but specifically good continuity this group was pretty good last year and and I would say you know there was some run run blocking issues uh specifically with their guards and on the interior but when you look at this group coming back I think you can argue that the loss of Jordan McFadden is kind of impactful he was a good player I liked him uh coming out has a draft prospect but I think Tristan Lee can kind of step in there and potentially be a better pass blocker which should help Cade Club Nick and crew you know score more points be effective on offense but this is a group that I really like yeah I think you hit it with McFadden um I I think the biggest thing to me about this offensive line is that the depth is not there I don't think they have Elite depth pieces on this offensive line so the biggest thing is they got to stay healthy this group has to stay healthy here they have some incoming freshmen I like I like Ian Reed and Harrison we're getting into those guys but I don't necessarily think that they have those jet pieces that they need so these guys got to go and I think Tristan Lake can kind of Step Up he's playing right tackle so that's good um kind of to get that development in there but they got to stay healthy now if we're looking at the offense as a whole it comes out of K Club Nick man like Kate Cub mix the the guy he you know sophomore we've talked about Drew Aller um recently for the Penn State they're really competing to see hey can they kind of be that number one quarterback in this class kind of an up and down year last year for you know Club Nick he came in and they didn't do him any favors let's say that you know 60 for 100 692 yards two touchdowns three interceptions but again the inconsistency starting dju bringing them in off the off the bench that Notre Dame's game stands that not a not a great game for Club Nick as well that that bad interception you threw but they got a guy coming as offensive coordinator Garrett Riley he's going to change everything right and when you're looking at his TCU offenses they did at the wide receiver and their passing offenses were some of the best in the country where he's coached at and if you want to kind of deeper dive I did a wide receiver video on Clemson that you can go take a look at that then you got will Shipley film Offa very good prospects at that running back spot wide receivers are better Adam Randall coming off the ACL he played a little last year but he's still you know getting into it Beau Collins is is my guide till the end baby me and Bo are hanging out but he's got to step up Antonio Williams is there as well Cole Turner I think he's got that area there and I think they have a really good Prospect in Jake britting still like I really like him as a tight end this offense if it clicks could be one of the best in the country yeah from a skill position perspective I think we've come to know the the Clemson offense for having good receivers and I think you can make an argument that last year that area didn't really live up to the hype now dju was a big part of that I think you know he made their lives difficult but they also uh should shoulder some of the blame for for some of the offensive woes last year this group coming back though I mean Antonio Williams is probably the best receiver in the ACC uh that that's my I guess hot take uh just I I think he's going to be really really good at generating separation given Club Nick easy uh targets you know I I think that was part of it last year was he didn't get a lot of easy targets I think this year is going to be a lot better for Club dick I just imagine what Club Nick would look like in that TCU offense last year with some coaching and with some help from the scheme and I get really excited that Clemson offense was kind of getting stale and then you talk about the the running back Tandem and Chipley and mafa I think you know this is a a nice one-two punch and I think MAF is probably going to be on the field a little bit more than than Debbie folks want him to be but this yeah this is one of the best offenses from an on paper skill position perspective in the country yeah it is and now they have an actual offensive scheme built around these guys and Riley's going to do that I think the Clemson offensive scheme is against stale um you see that with Tony Elliott what he's doing right now you you it's just gone stale and so now all right how does this look and is there a good hire by them getting him out of there and and just kind of getting out of there you know they always they always promoted up in this coaching staff and it was just the same old same old same old now that they don't have that that's good and I love you calling Antonio Williams the best wide receiver in ACC because you just pissed off all the Florida State fans out there so Florida state in the comments come tell you know to tell a question why he's wrong in there um but yeah I agree I think Antonio's can be he's a top 50 Prospect right now I guarantee you in his class so he's going to be there I think the biggest thing that you said that I agree with too is that wide receiver group last year struggled and and I think the number one reason why is because they couldn't create separation they just couldn't create separation that that's the number one thing Bo struggle with it all these guys struggle with it there now as far as losses go I Notable Losses don't know if you want to say DJ using notable loss you got Club Nick coming in there um I'm just gonna say from just a uh probably just from a different perspective of a note of the loss like hey it's it's a weight lifted off their shoulders hey we tried it didn't work now let's move on to our next spot right I think that's where it's at Kobe Pace it feels like he's been in college for a long time he's out of there Jose negata was fine just couldn't stay healthy Dakari Collins is a kid I like uh you know but I don't again notable probably the one is Jordan McFadden after that not not necessarily pieces they can't live without yeah nagada was one of those guys that struggled with separation as well last year when he was on the field uh but I do want to shout him out because he's been doing really well in in Eagles Camp so um you know that's another Clemson wide receiver that hit the NFL might you know realize his potential a little bit more when he leaves there and I think that speaks to how stale that offense had gotten um but yeah you know dju is definitely not notable in terms of his play from last year because I have to imagine clubs and fans were ripping their hair out watching him play last year it was just um just really tough to watch but yeah Jordan McFadden as well this is a group that like in theory is very notable uh in practice every single one of these positions got upgraded everyone yeah yeah really yeah and Cody Pace isn't really like he wasn't out there um we talked 2023 Offensive Recruits about recruiting though so when we're going to the recruiting Trail so let's talk about Clemson's ability to recruit this is what keeps them in the college football playoff you know category because they do recruit well they don't go after trans as a portal the transfer rank is 101 we're going to talk about that later but composite rank they're a top 11's team here um they got Christopher Vezina I you know I've watched them a little bit I like them he's a Clemson quarterback though I don't I will see what that is moving forward with Club Nick being there Zach Owens was the good one you know when you're looking at what Zach Owens did four star kids six six three sixty five he's a big boy he's gonna lose about 20 30 pounds but he'll put on the muscle um Harrison did really well I thought they did a pretty good job at their wide receivers a little it's pretty much the same guys you know you see Noble Johnson in there some of these other guys there but a very solid class now their defensive class is really good so when you talk about their defense what they've been able to do there really really good there but on the offensive side here I thought they went after some wide receivers if you know filled some depth pieces there and they did fine yeah mazina is kind of like a knockoff version of Club neck so I'm I'm interested to see what that looks like in a couple of years uh yeah it's he wasn't my favorite quarterback prospect if I'm being honest but I think you know being in this new uh uh system I think that he could be something in the future but yeah this is a fine Class A lot of receivers uh and I feel like that'll work itself out later and here's the thing with Riley being there now you don't need a quarterback dependent guy to uplift his offense anymore I don't think look at Duggan Duggan you know he was a Heisman candidate and I he could be visiting it could be that kid right so like I do think with the new offensive system it gives him a little leeway now where they don't necessarily need that top Trevor Lawrence to Sean Watson guys to really carry them to the playoff anymore because I do think that it gives them a little just a little leeway I think that helps this team kind of its upside because the defense is always going to be good they do a great job on the defensive side of the ball recruiting wise and everything like that so like again that offensive side is Key Offensive Transfers going to be good again transfer wise they got guys they got they got Paul Tyson Arizona State kid um coming in so when you're looking at kind of their quarterback room it's Club Nick probably Hunter Helms Tyson kind of in there was the Xena kind of redshirting this year but I don't know you have any scouting uh breakdown on Paul Tyson for us Hmm this is a fine player to have in your quarterback room I think that's about it yeah yeah that's pretty much it Impact Players - Offense all right impact players the guy for me is Kade I want to see how he's going to step up and be there I think the big thing for me with Kade was like hey what is his weight 195 is just kind of where he's listed at will he get in that 200 range because he came in to call into college pretty you know pretty small in terms of the weight area there um so like hey how does that look right there five star kid can he step up I like Shipley and Martha I think we like Shippy a little bit more than some out there I do think that he's a good Pat probably one of the best pass catching backs in the country MAF is going to be that Lindale white type back if you if I'm aging myself right there it's because I am but that idea just pound pound Pound I mean Antonio Williams can really step up I think the sleeper in this one is and um Adam Randall if Randall can kind of come off that injury from last year and really step up that can Elevate this offense yeah I mean there were people too that that regarded Randall higher than Antonio Williams despite their their recruiting rankings that wasn't me I like a smaller guy who can separate I think a little bit more after what the NFL has taught us that is translatable and and how these new College offenses are working uh but this group like I said this this wide receiver group is gonna really help Club Nick out this scheme is going to really help him out this is a good offense this should be one of the best offenses in the country yeah all right let's go over to the 2023 Defensive Breakdown defensive side of the ball so the big thing about the defense you know overall they lost some guys they lost four and studs into the NFL so for all ACC players and NFL Draft so they're definitely gonna have to figure that out but they have eight starters returning right so it's really one of those things where like they lost some studs but they're just gonna replenish them um Wes Goodwin did a pretty good job last year as defensive coordinator after venables left for Oklahoma so you'd like to see him kind of take that Elite level they got a lot of guys coming back and they have some studs coming up um what are we thinking about this defense another fantastic group uh Tyler Davis you know being in the draft Community I saw a lot of Buzz for Tyler Davis when a lot of folks thought he was declaring a lot of people saying you know this is the best Clemson defensive tackle I watched I still like Brian brzee I thought he was uh a pretty good player in there but I get it um Tyler Davis can anchor that middle Jeremiah Trotter if they get by Tyler Davis they're not getting by Jeremiah Trotter so when you're solid up the middle that's really going to help you out Barrett Carter's another returner that I think is going to have a good year Nate Wiggins was good last year as well so this is a group that I mean when we talk about the defense last year it was a lot of really good guys I think there could be a couple of superstars on this current defense um Trotter being the number one I think in my opinion um so yeah I mean a lot of continuity a lot of consistency I think this is going to be the group that takes a bigger step forward even than the offense oh yeah no I think it can be and I think this is a this is a this right here this defense is a college football playoff championship like that they can win just based on this defense that's why you're excited about that offense because we say we could say Clemson's back even Notable Losses though they didn't really leave so don't yell at me Clemson fans but you can you know notable losses I you and me kind of like miles Murphy I feel like you know going into the process last year um I think that he kind of got slept on a little bit in the in the in the pre-draft process and everything that was going on there obviously that's a big loss I wanted brisi to go to the Cowboys so you know I love Brian Breezy out there Trent Simpson as well KJ Henry these guys obviously that defensive line took a hit but the guys that we're talking about with Trotter Davis some of these other guys are going to step in there um but yeah I was a big fan of all these guys yes it's notable losses but because of the way that the recruiting they do they hit the they hit the recruiting Trail they just fill these guys in just like Georgia just like Alabama for sure I mean KJ Henry a good player as well miles Murphy was one of my favorites in the class um but when you've got guys like Xavier Thomas coming back he only played in three games last year but was good in those three games you've got Barrett Carter that can generate pressure like they're still going to be able to to plug and play with the guys that are stepping in so I think Clemson fans should you know it sucks seeing those guys leave because I think if one or two of those guys stayed at Brazilian miles Murphy stay for this defense I think we're talking about like a Georgia level defense Unfortunately they took off and and that's okay they're still gonna have one of the best defenses in the country yeah and it'll be interesting for me 2023 Defensive Recruits with you know you could tell anytime we have the logo up and not a player that means they just attacked that side of the of the ball in the recruiting Trail and they did and I think the you know the fun thing about this is they went in and you know they have 11 recruits from Georgia and they got Vic Burley from Georgia he's positioned you know third overall defensive lineman six five two seven six five star kid he's a beast man I love watching his tape Burley could be one of those guys that steps in maybe a little early um tamari and Parker as well they got him from Alabama they got four four guys from Alabama so they're two top defensive linemen are top six guys at the position and so this is when we're talking about they just reload baby Peter Woods same thing Alabama kid he's number eight at his position as well on the defensive line um I think green if you look at there the top four guys are just gonna be defensive lineman six four two sixty seven has the wiggle that you like to see also from Georgia they go out and get Georgia boys and and you saw that I know I know the coaching staff has talked about Kyle kylan Webb as well he was an athlete from Florida it looks like he's playing safety six one one eighty and you have to like that too um in terms of their roster and kind of their and their you know their secondary but they went out got the safety position as well but they they they freaking they they did it they went through and they got their dudes and they and I do like that they're attacking Georgia Alabama in those areas for their positions for sure Clemson's always going to recruit like this I think you know there were times where when Ohio State and Clemson really started to come on as you know prominent prominent programs um obviously they have been for a while but over the last decade or so they really stepped up the recruiting rivaled some of the the SEC uh recruiting Trails I think where some of the other teams have faltered is they've put some resources toward the transfer portal but we don't have that problem here Clemson baby we're we're still hitting the recruits and uh things are going well on that front I think you're right Vic Burley has an opportunity with the loss of Brian brzee to kind of um play in there with rook and and Tyler Davis and kind of rotate in this is a a more of a ready group than most recruiting classes too I think um so you're going to see some of these guys on the field this year I think yeah no I think so too and I do know they like Peter Woods as well like he's really kind of stepping up there you Key Defensive Transfers know we put the transfers here and I put question marks on purpose because um they don't have any like you know in terms of the transition they only have Paul Tyson quarterback and we know that davo Sweeney does not believe in getting transfers so I just kind of wanted to mention that like and I get Clemson people mad when I talk about this and I don't it's gonna be sustainable to do this if you can still recruit like we just showed you if you can still get Vic Burley in some of these guys and you don't miss I think oh yeah that's fine I think the question becomes like when you start missing on some of these prospects if you're not going to go out there and get an offensive line because hey offensive line I mean those dudes are getting millions of dollars in the port in the portal like because of how bad offensive line play is like if you're not gonna go fill your roster with some transfers like everybody else is doing it look at Ohio State look at Alabama look at Georgia those guys do go get portal guys and if you're not doing it then you have to trust your staff you're recruiting everything a hundred percent and I do think at some point it might capture catch up to Clemson and I understand why Sweeney I guess I understand why like does this I I guess I I understand like his whole mind says like those guys in that locker room need to believe in that I believe in them I get it I've seen the interviews and I've seen all that I just struggle to see how this is sustainable for especially with the expansion and everything that we see but baby I'm wrong I think you're right though if they start to miss on these prospects and and some of these guys just don't turn out I think the way they kind of ease that is they go out and get guys in numbers like we just saw a ton a ton of players in in each class and maybe it's not Vic Burley that's the one that stands out maybe it's the three star that also tagged along that you know we didn't get on the on the graphic because there's too many of them for example like it's it's those things that could potentially make this sustainable yeah but this is kind of ignoring where college football is going and we've had those conversations so I I you know if I'm a Clemson fan I get a little worried about this but it hasn't failed yet and so I think you're you're still feeling good about it but we're just kind of at the tip of the iceberg for for transfer portal stuff maybe when they tighten the restrictions it'll be better for Clemson um but we'll we'll see I don't know that you know go get one one or two players maybe that might might be a good idea but well yeah I mean Clemson fans let us know in the comments what do you think do you think that it's going to affect your program or do you are you okay with it like I I'm generally asking I'm not trying to be uh a person here trying to get engagement I really want to know like what do you guys think around that program Impact Players - Defense um impact players we already you know we talked about these guys Barrett Carter Jeremiah Trotter Jr Tyler Davis the thing about Tyler Davis that I do want to mention that if if he could become the first ever four-time all-acc defensive tackle in Clemson history um so that is a that is a big kind of deal like that you're kind of a stud if you could do that um and so I think that's something to notice as well I didn't really put any of their you know their you know Nate Wiggins he's kind of a rising star in the secondary I could have put him in there they do definitely need to Sure up that they were like 76 and passing defense last year so you definitely need to have that they have a big test week four but overall this defensive line linebackers Edge rushers that's where their their strengths are yeah whole team's full of impact players Jeremiah Trotter Jr is you know being regarded as probably one of the top three to four linebackers in the country um and I just I I don't know I look at this defense and I don't know how they lose many games um you know you this defense is gonna allow for some growing pains with the new offense if they have them if they don't have them then we're talking about yeah two seed three seed in the college football playoff that's good stuff yeah I honestly like when you're looking at Jeremiah um Trotter excuse me and Barrett Carter like those two guys are some the two that might be that duo could you imagine being a running back in ACC and then trying to get to the edge or even you know just trying to put your head down I mean this is scary like this is a scary ass defense on this side and and I think that's where Clemson's gonna make its money this year sort of the scare 2023 Schedule schedule goes we break this down basically get the first three wins that's no big deal they should be 3-0 Duke I guess at Duke that's that's Riley Leonard that's that's Christians yeah but I do I don't I if they sure up that defensive side I think they're going to be after riding Leonard all game so like I don't know if he's gonna survive that game I think that's the big one Florida State's the big you know our this is the big in game if week four you know Florida State's getting all the buzz if Florida State beats LSU they're gonna get even more buzzed they could go both going there undefeated but outside of Florida State and in Notre Dame they're gonna I don't see a ton of losses on the schedule nope I mean here's the thing though the last couple iterations of Clemson I haven't also seen many losses and then the losses pop up so tju is there so I think that's the that was the best and you're right and you know we were still living in the old Clemson offense and things like that so I do you know I think the Florida State game is going to be very very difficult and and I think that that is one of the Marquee matchups of that week without even looking at the rest of the Slate um if they get through Florida State I think there's a chance they go undefeated and they're in the playoffs so yeah and even if they lost the Florida state if they they ran the table too and they go to the ACC Championship game and beat them or whatever the case may be there I think at home helps uh against Florida State as well and and Florida State's got to beat them like and and you know what Clemson dominates the ACC that's the other thing too to think about so they're over under nine and a half I feel pretty safe with the over like I I feel very very safe there that's probably the lowest over under I've seen for Clemson in some time yeah over easy easy over yeah yeah all right so let's talk about it let's just Outro - Overall Outlook kind of wrap it up you know I think that Clemson has a chance they could definitely run the table like we just talked about I think the ACC is there for the taking I think there's some teams down in the ACC as well they kind of miss some of those teams that you don't necessarily I mean they want to give you know revenge in South Carolina obviously SEC but that that ride really there after what happened um but overall I think that people are sleeping on Clemson a little bit and if Kade can take that next step they are a playoff team and even if he doesn't take like a huge step that defense can lead him there yeah I 100 and I think you know we've talked about the state of the program I think they are in good shape moving forward you know whatever happens with ACC whatever happens with conference realignment I think Clemson still stands out as easily the best uh team in the ACC on the on the football side of things at the very least um and I think you know with dabo's faults comes uh you know a lot of success as well so yeah you know we like to give him crap on on this show but he's a good coach that wins a lot of games and I think that'll continue in 2023. man taking a shot at Clemson's basketball program right before we get out of here all right we'll talk to you guys later hit that like And subscribe button let us know what you guys think what is Clemson's football team going to look like this year do you think they can make the playoff let us know in the comments below [Music] thank you