With Clemson’s NFL Draft decisions in, we project Tigers’ starters for 2020 season
Clemson received some good news last week when ACC Player of the Year Travis Etienne announced he is returning for his senior season.
That keeps one key member of Clemson’s starting lineup the same for 2020, but there will also be some turnover.
Clemson is losing four starters on its offensive line to graduation, and linebacker Chad Smith and safeties Tanner Muse and K’Von Wallace have also used up all of their eligibility. The Tigers also had three players leave early for the NFL Draft with receiver Tee Higgins, linebacker Isaiah Simmons and cornerback A.J. Terrell all turning pro.
With NFL decisions in, here is a look at what Clemson’s starting lineup might look like next season:
Offense
Quarterback — Trevor Lawrence: The rising junior is the preseason Heisman favorite for 2020 after tossing 22 touchdowns, with no interceptions in his final eight games of 2019.
Running back — Travis Etienne: He shocked many when he decided to return for his senior season, but Etienne wants to improve his draft stock and help the Tigers get back to the College Football Playoff for a sixth consecutive season. Etienne is one of the best backs in the country and was named the ACC Player of the Year each of the past two years.
Wide receiver — Justyn Ross: With Tee Higgins moving on, Ross will move into the lead receiver role and should be the go-to target for Lawrence.
Wide receiver — Amari Rodgers: The Tennessee native didn’t get a ton of opportunities in 2019, but he seemed to always make plays when his number was called. Rodgers should be a bigger part of the offense as a senior in 2020 after catching 30 passes for 426 yards and four touchdowns last year.
Wide receiver — Frank Ladson: The rising sophomore showed flashes of being a big-time playmaker as a freshman and should get more opportunities in 2020. Fellow freshman Joseph Ngata should also be in the mix for this starting spot, but we’ll give the nod to Ladson thanks to his speed and big-play potential.
Tight end — Braden Galloway: He offered a glimpse of what could have been had he been eligible all season in the national championship game, catching two passes for 60 yards against LSU. J.C. Chalk, who started for Clemson in 2019, will be back for his senior season, but Galloway offers much more in the passing game and will likely overtake Chalk as the starter.
Left tackle — Jackson Carman: The former five-star recruit excelled in his first season as a starter and will be the leader of Clemson’s offensive line as the only returning starter in 2020.
Left guard — Matt Bockhorst: The most trusted backup offensive lineman last season, Bockhorst should have no problem filling in for All-American John Simpson.
Center — Cade Stewart: The Daniel High product has appeared in 37 games over the past three seasons, with one start, and is a veteran who should be ready to step into a starting role.
Right guard — Will Putnam: The former four-star recruit appeared in 11 games as a freshman and gained valuable experience as he looks to move into a potential starting role.
Right tackle — Jordan McFadden: Offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell was high on McFadden entering 2019, viewing the redshirt freshman as a third starting offensive tackle alongside Carman and Tremayne Anchrum. McFadden played in 14 of 15 games as a redshirt freshman in 2019 and has a bright future as a key member of Clemson’s offensive line.
Defense
Defensive end — Justin Foster: The most productive defensive end for Clemson in 2019, Foster started 13 of 15 games and finished with 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
Defensive tackle — Nyles Pinckney: An All-ACC selection this past season, Pinckney considered turning pro before opting to return for his fifth and final year.
Defensive tackle — Tyler Davis: As a true freshman Davis led Clemson’s defensive line with 51 tackles and 5.5 sacks. The Florida native has the potential to be an All-American in 2020.
Defensive end — Xavier Thomas: He underachieved this past season, finishing his sophomore year with only two sacks. Thomas is a former top five overall recruit who has a ton of talent but who has spent time in the doghouse throughout his time at Clemson. He was suspended for the first quarter of the national title game after violating a team rule and will need to get more serious about football to lock down a starting spot and reach his potential in 2020. Clemson has some other talented defensive ends on its roster, including Logan Rudolph, K.J. Henry and Justin Mascoll. If Thomas doesn’t take this offseason more seriously, there are plenty of potential replacements.
SAM linebacker — Mike Jones: Replacing Isaiah Simmons, Clemson’s best defensive player, will be nearly impossible. Jones will likely get the opportunity to fill in as the starter. Whereas Simmons played in pass and run situations, no matter the offensive personnel, Clemson could opt to take Jones off the field and bring in a nickel corner in passing situations.
MIKE linebacker — James Skalski: Clemson’s second leading tackler in 2019, Skalski finished the season with 105 stops, two behind team leader Isaiah Simmons. The rising senior will be the defensive leader of Brent Venables’ unit next year.
WILL linebacker — Baylon Spector: Jake Venables could also get a look here after finishing third on Clemson’s team with 9.5 tackles for loss as a redshirt freshman in 2019. Spector and Venables were clearly Clemson’s top two reserve linebackers this past season and both should get plenty of opportunities for playing time.
Cornerback — Derion Kendrick: He was named All-ACC in his first season on the defensive side of the ball and has a chance to become a true lockdown corner and a high draft pick as he continues to grow at the position. Kendrick surpassed all expectations in 2019.
Strong safety — Lannden Zanders: Played mostly on special teams in 2019 but made the most of his opportunities, finishing with 21 tackles, including two sacks, in 14 games. Zanders has big shoes to fill if he ends up being K’Von Wallace’s replacement. Joseph Charleston could also be in the mix to be a starter.
Free safety — Nolan Turner: Made one of the biggest plays of the season when he picked off Justin Fields in the end zone to preserve Clemson’s win over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Turner was already an important piece of Clemson’s defense and will take on an even bigger role in 2020.
Cornerback — Mario Goodrich: The sophomore didn’t get a ton of opportunities but played well when he did while battling nagging injuries throughout the season. Clemson has some talented young cornerbacks in Andrew Booth and Sheridan Jones who could push Goodrich for a starting spot.
