Who’ll play what, when? Clemson’s depth chart is complex

Down and distance, field position, the score, and even weather influence the choice of players during a Clemson football game. Depth charts are for folks who need everything tied up in neat packages and often bear little resemblance to the actual hierarchy.

In choosing the best 11 players at a particular juncture of a game, defensive coordinator Brent Venables won’t use a template. He frequently shifts from even to odd fronts, has been known to deploy four ends, stand up a tackle and use as many as three and four safeties.

Offense coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott might run out two and three tight ends, rotate the line like a game of musical chairs and select a running back based on that day’s production.

As the season nears, the two-deep may include up to five at one position and the backups might not be the actual replacements.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Left tackle Mitch Hyatt, left guard Eric Mac Lain, center Ryan Norton, right guard Tyrone Crowder, right tackle senior Joe Gore

Gore, Mac Lain and Norton are graduate students and of their 28 starts, Norton has 24. The cream of the talent pool is comprised of two freshmen and two redshirt freshmen.

Originally, freshman Hyatt was to intern behind senior Isaiah Battle who’d just begun to reach his promise. When Battle left for the NFL, Hyatt, the nation’s No. 2 prospect at tackle in the 2015 signing class, immediately went to the head of the class.

Because Clemson prepares most of its linemen for more than one position, there’s not a clear pecking order behind Hyatt. Redshirt freshman Taylor Hearn, also a capable guard, may get the first call. If Hyatt goes on the shelf for an extended time, Gore might move to left tackle with freshman Jake Fruhmorgen slotted at right. Mac Lain has practiced at tackle and could slide creating an opportunity for Justin Falcinelli, who also worked at center behind Norton and Jay Guillermo. Hearn and sophomore Maverick Morris could become utility pieces much like Reid Webster last season.

TIGHT END

Jordan Leggett, Stanton Seckinger

Seckinger has caught twice as many touchdown passes (six to three), but for depth-chart purposes and his bountiful skill, Leggett was listed as the starter. These guys are easily four or five deep with redshirt freshman Milan Richard, freshman Garrett Williams and enigmatic junior Jay Jay McCullough. Williams could be the surprise here, having been the most proficient blocker in preseason practice.

WIDE RECEIVER

Charone Peake, Artavis Scott, Mike Williams

All of the receivers can be launched from more than one spot on the field. Williams and Scott combined for 14 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 yards last season, and they’ll again be frequent targets.

Peake’s promising career has been interrupted by injuries, so he enters his final season with a shot at redemption. There are five others eager for a shot, including junior Germone Hopper, redshirt freshmen Trevion Thompson and Hunter Renfrow, and highly touted freshmen Deon Cain and Ray Ray McCloud.

Thompson and Renfrow turned heads in camp, and Cain and McCloud are “as advertised,” so it may be tricky to keep everybody involved. Good news is that most of them could be contributors in kickoff return and punt return.

RUNNING BACK

Wayne Gallman, C.J. Davidson, C.J. Fuller, Tyshon Dye, Zac Brooks

If these five generate a more efficient run attack to complement the pass, two-deep won’t do them justice. Gallman, the team’s top returning rusher, continued to remain at least a step ahead of the competition through preseason. Davidson, the most experienced, has a toughness and nose for the end zone.

Fuller began to emerge in practice last year. Fans are still hoping for that breakout season from a bigger, stronger Dye. And once he’s fully healthy, Brooks could be the most versatile of them all.

QUARTERBACK

Deshaun Watson, Nick Schuessler, Kelly Bryant

Nobody after Watson matters, really, as long as he remains able to take a snap. When he was at Georgia Tech and seemed done for the year there was some thought that Schuessler might get a chance, but he wasn’t ready. Running the offense during spring practice while Watson rehabbed, he revealed a refreshing maturity and level of preparation he hadn’t shown.

Bryant, who enrolled in January, brings similar skill to the position as Watson, and someday could be next in line. Tucker Israel, a classmate of Bryant’s and a record-setting high school passer in Florida, missed all of August with a broken foot but could be ready soon for full practice.

TACKLE

Carlos Watkins, Scott Pagano, Rod Byers, Christian Wilkins

D.J. Reader’s decision to “step away” until he resolves a personal matter left the interior defensive line in a bit of turmoil, but it may result in an immediate impact by another of the Freshman Fab 15. The freakishly talented Wilkins should assert himself quickly, sharing at least initially Reader’s spot with Pagano. Watkins seems to have recovered from an auto accident, and with Byers returned to defense after half a season as a blocking tight end, the line may survive the loss of six seniors.

END

Shaq Lawson, Richard Yeargin, Kevin Dodd, Dane Rogers

While there’s not another Vic Beasley in this group, juniors Lawson and Dodd are eager to leave their own legacies. Lawson could be even more productive with his size and quickness. As a backup last season, he was the leading tackler among the ends. Dodd has made huge strides as an understudy to Corey Crawford. Yeargin added muscle and could be one of the surprises on defense. Freshman Albert Huggins might see time here as well as at tackle.

MIKE/WILL LINEBACKERS

B.J. Goodson, Ben Boulware, Kendall Joseph

Venables doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room – actually he has been vocal about the absence of depth here – but in Goodson and Boulware he has two solid players with great instincts and an old-school passion for the position. Goodson started six games last season and Boulware two. Goodson had 45 tackles and recovered three fumbles. Boulware was sixth in total tackles (58) including five tackles for loss. They’re salty.

Joseph, a redshirt freshman, nearly played last season, and Venables needs him. He missed some of preseason after surgery to repair a meniscus but should be up to speed by Louisville. And though junior Martin Aiken was moved from end, next up could be freshman Jalen Williams.

SAM LINEBACKER/NICKEL

Travis Blanks, Dorian O’Daniel

Losing Korrin Wiggins was a major hit, but this was an area that could absorb it. After a strong start to his career, Blanks missed all of last season and the spring recovering from knee injuries. His knowledge and leadership should be critical in this hybrid role. O’Daniel returned stronger and quicker after playing in 12 games – one as a starter – and totaling 31 tackles in 87 snaps.

SAFETY

Jayron Kearse, T.J. Green, Jadar Johnson

Long and athletic, these three are like privacy fences in the secondary. The trick will be replacing the leadership and savvy of Robert Smith. Kearse had six interceptions in two seasons and last year was fifth in total tackles. Johnson, who started a game as a sophomore, tied Kearse last year with a pair of picks. Green, a converted receiver after the 2013 season, grabbed one. The sleeper here could be Jeffrie Gibson, a guy who is always looking to hit somebody.

CORNERBACK

Mackensie Alexander, Cordrea Tankersley, Ryan Carter, Adrian Baker, Marcus Edmond, Mark Fields

Depth isn’t a problem starting with Alexander, the showcase talent. A cover corner in the truest sense, he should be matched against an opponent’s best receiver. As a result, Tankersley could face trial by fire. Baker, Carter and Edmond all had good summers and freshman Fields could force his way into the rotation with his speed and pedigree.

This story was originally published August 26, 2015 at 8:28 PM with the headline "Who’ll play what, when? Clemson’s depth chart is complex."