Mixed bag for Clemson: 8 starters return on offense; 8 lost on defense

Clemson looks loaded on offense, with eight returning starters plus a bevy of developing young players and talented newcomers. On defense, the Tigers must replace eight starters. How Clemson’s roster for the 2016 season shapes up when spring practice starts on Feb. 29.

Quarterback

The only question for Clemson at quarterback is who will be second-string. Deshaun Watson, the 2015 Davey O'Brien Award winner, returns as the best signal-caller in college football. Kelly Bryant and Nick Schuessler remain co-second-team. Add in 2015 redshirt Tucker Israel and incoming freshman Zerrick Cooper, who is a likely candidate to redshirt.

Running Back

Wayne Gallman, who had more than 66 percent of Clemson’s rushing attempts by non-QBs in 2015, returns as the team’s bellcow running back. Added to Clemson’s backfield mix this season will be Adam Choice, who redshirted the 2015 season while recovering from a torn ACL, and Tavien Feaster, a five-star recruit from Spartanburg who was named this past season’s Mr. Football for South Carolina.

The Tigers also have RBs Tyshon Dye and C.J. Fuller returning.

Wide Receiver

Even though the Tigers lost starter Charone Peake, they project to be better at the position in 2016 thanks to the return of Mike Williams, who suffered a season-ending neck injury in the first game of 2015 but was the Tigers’ leading receiver in 2014.

Artavis Scott and Hunter Renfrow give the Tigers two returning starters. Ray-Ray McCloud, Trevion Thompson and Deon Cain all made impacts off the bench last year in their freshman seasons, though Cain will have to earn his way back onto the depth chart after being suspended for the College Football Playoff.

Incoming freshmen T.J. Chase, Diondre Overton and Cornell Powell are four-star recruits with enough talent to make a difference.

Tight End

Jordan Leggett, a Mackey Award finalist last season as one of college football’s best tight ends, is back for his senior season. Behind Leggett, however, the Tigers have little experience at the position. Garrett Williams, Milan Richard, Cannon Smith and D.J. Greenlee, who each saw limited playing time in 2015, could face immediate competition for playing time from incoming freshman J.C. Chalk.

Offensive Line

Clemson has three returning starters on the offensive line in Freshman All-American left tackle Mitch Hyatt, redshirt senior center Jay Guillermo and redshirt junior right guard Tyrone Crowder. The Tigers also have a number of other returning offensive linemen who saw playing time last season, including Maverick Morris, Taylor Hearn, Justin Falcinelli and Jake Fruhmorgen.

Zach Giella and Noah Green, who redshirted in 2015, could also factor into the competition. Midyear enrollees Sean Pollard and Tremayne Anchrum and incoming recruits John Simpson and Chandler Reeves add depth.

Defensive End

With a need to replace 2016 NFL draft entrants Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd at both starting defensive end spots, Swinney acknowledges that there will likely be more attention placed on that position – both from coaches within the program and outsiders looking in on the program – than any other this spring.

Austin Bryant, who filled in when Lawson injured in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl, is expected to start at one defensive end spot. Richard Yeargin is the favorite to start opposite him, but the door is wide open for every defensive end on the roster – redshirt sophomore Chris Register, redshirt freshmen Clelin Ferrell and Sterling Johnson, midyear enrollee LaSamuel Davis and incoming freshman Xavier Kelly among them – to compete for playing time.

Defensive Tackle

Carlos Watkins, Scott Pagano and Christian Wilkins saw regular playing time last year at defensive tackle and should continue to this upcoming season. Dexter Lawrence, a midyear enrollee and the top-ranked player in Clemson’s entire 2016 recruiting class, is a strong candidate to immediately earn a role.

Albert Huggins and Jabril Robinson played sparingly last year, but could be candidates for bigger roles in their second seasons. Redshirt Gage Cervenka will also be in the mix, while Nyles Pinckney will also have an opportunity to begin competing for playing time this spring as a midyear enrollee.

Linebacker

With weakside linebacker Ben Boulware being Clemson’s only returning starter at the position, 2015 backups Kendall Joseph, Jalen Williams and Dorian O'Daniel will all have a chance to earn significant playing time. So too will midyear enrollees Rahshaun “Shaq” Smith and Tre Lamar, who were both ranked within the top 16 overall players in the high school class of 2016 by Rivals.com.

Incoming freshman James Skalski will give the Tigers additional depth, along with rising sophomores J.D. and Judah Davis and 2015 redshirt Chad Smith.

Cornerback

Clemson is replacing three of its four starters in the secondary from last season, but the Tigers can at least be relieved they are not replacing four, as cornerback Cordrea Tankersley made the decision to return for his senior year.

“It’s big getting Cordrea back,” coach Dabo Swinney said. “You look at our corner situation, love Mark Fields, Adrian Baker, Marcus Edmond, Ryan Carter, (Kaleb) Chalmers, these are guys that I think are all on their way to being good players.”

Baker is a favorite to start opposite Tankersley, while Carter is likely to start in the slot. They could have plenty of competition for playing time, though, not only on from Fields, Edmond and Chalmers but also from National Signing Day commitments Trayvon Mullen and K'Von Wallace.

Safety

Jadar Johnson and Van Smith, who both contributed as backups for Clemson’s defense last season, are slated to be starters as the only returning safeties on the roster who saw playing time in 2015.

Korrin Wiggins, who missed the 2015 season with a torn ACL but started as a nickel linebacker in 2014, could challenge Johnson and Smith for a starting safety spot. 2015 redshirt Tanner Muse should also factor into the safety competition. With so little depth at the position, incoming freshmen Isaiah Simmons and Nolan Turner could have opportunities to play too.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 1:13 PM with the headline "Mixed bag for Clemson: 8 starters return on offense; 8 lost on defense."