3 burning questions for Clemson football, Dabo Swinney as Tigers start spring practice
Spring is here. So is Clemson football.
Anxious to build on an 2022 season that ended with an ACC championship and Orange Bowl appearance but didn’t meet the program’s lofty championship standards, Clemson will officially turn things over to 2023 with Monday’s opening of spring practice.
Coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers will practice 15 times over the next two months in their first formal, team-wide preparations for next season. The schedule wraps with an April 15 spring game at Memorial Stadium.
All eyes will be on Cade Klubnik, Clemson’s sophomore starting quarterback, and Garrett Riley, his new offensive coordinator who was poached from TCU to take Klubnik and the Tigers’ offense to the next level.
But those are far from the only story lines for a Clemson team that returns 15 starters — seven on offense, eight on defense — from last year’s 11-3 season. Here are three more lingering questions for Swinney and company entering spring practice.
Can the wide receivers play at an elite level?
Clemson’s reputation as “Wide Receiver U” has taken a hit over the past two seasons. The Tigers produced 12 NFL Draft picks at wide receiver from 2010 to 2021, including three in the first round, but their recent lack of productivity there has been glaring.
Clemson had the third most drops in the ACC in 2021 with 27, according to The Athletic. And last season, position coach Tyler Grisham’s group graded out as the 88th best wide receivers group nationally, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics.
That put a damper on the individual success of players such as slot receiver Antonio Williams, a freshman All-American selection who led Clemson with 604 receiving yards, and outside receiver Beaux Collins, who recorded Clemson’s first four-game touchdown streak since 2019.
There’s also plenty to like about Clemson’s other two 2022 wide receiver signees outside of Williams. Adam Randall made a freaky-fast recovery from a torn ACL, played his way back into shape and contributed in the Orange Bowl, and Cole Turner, who only played in three games as a redshirt but averaged 20.1 yards a catch, is looking like another recruiting steal.
But is a top four of Williams, Collins, Randall and Turner a truly elite group? Whether it’s because of injury or inconsistency or both, raw talent hasn’t exactly translated for Clemson wide receivers such as Justyn Ross, EJ Williams and Joseph Ngata the past two seasons.
Who emerges at left tackle?
The Tigers only lost one scholarship player from an offensive line that ended up being one of its more consistent units in 2022 and returns four of five starters. But their lone departure, starting left tackle Jordan McFadden, leaves some massive shoes to fill.
McFadden, a team captain who won the Jacobs Trophy as the ACC’s top blocker, had an extra year of eligibility remaining but opted to pursue an NFL career after starting all 14 games and holding down the 2022 “blindside” position for quarterbacks DJ Uiagalelei and Klubnik.
His replacement is up in the air.
Tristan Leigh, McFadden’s primary backup all season and the former No. 14 recruit in his class, is expected to rep at the starting left tackle position throughout spring ball. Same for Collin Sadler, a former four-star recruit who played tackle in high school but ended his redshirt season as a backup left guard. Both players have good size at 6-foot-6.
Complicating spring ball reps: last year’s starting left guard, Marcus Tate, and starting right guard, Walker Parks, won’t participate because of minor surgeries. That means more reps — and cross-training reps at the guard and tackle spots — for a host of backup linemen.
What’s the next step for the pass defense?
Clemson was stacked at linebacker and defensive line last season and got solid production from a group that’ll produce a handful of NFL Draft picks this year and perhaps even more next year.
The secondary? Not so much.
The Tigers’ passing defense was a season-long issue in 2022. It allowed 231.7 passing yards per game, which was No. 8 in the ACC and No. 76 nationally, and had critical miscommunications against teams such as Wake Forest, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Much like the wide receiver qualms, that 1,000-foot view does obscure some solo feats. Cornerback Nate Wiggins excelled late as a true sophomore starter and probably would’ve been the ACC championship game MVP if not for Klubnik. Toriano Pride Jr. and Jeadyn Lukus, two of the Tigers’ top 2022 signees, also flashed some talent.
But with cornerback Sheridan Jones and safety Jalyn Phillips returning for their “COVID years,” this is essentially the same group as last season — and they’ll be expected to improve fast. That falls on not only the players but their position coaches and defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin.
Clemson football key spring practice dates
March 6: First practice
March 14: On-campus pro day
March 15: First scrimmage
April 5: Second scrimmage
April 15: Orange & White Spring Game
