Spring Game Snapshot

This Saturday +30K orange clad Clemson faithful will make there way over to Death Valley just to catch a glimpse of an unfinished product. The Clemson program is in rarifired territory after finishing off their 4th consecutive +10 win season, ending the streak against South Carolina in convincing fashion, and a drubbing of Oklahoma in the bowl game. On top of the on-field success, Dabo and company just signed what is believed to be their most talented recruiting class ever. Over a dozen members of that scintillating class are on campus now, and will be on display for all to see this weekend. And while sophomore sensation Deshaun Watson won't be suiting up, there is still plenty for Clemson fans to keep an eye on.

Here's what to look for on Saturday:

5 Positions to Watch

Defensive End

Departures: Vic Beasley, Corey Crawford, Tavares Barnes

Returners: Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd, Ebenezer Ogundeko, Richard Yeargin, Martin Aiken, Dane Rogers

Recruits: Albert Huggins*, Austin Bryant, Clelin Ferrell, LaSamuel Davis

Stats to Replace: 73 Tackles, 33.5 TFL, 17 Sacks, 3 FF

Snapshot: Opposing quarterbacks will breath a little easier now that Vic Beasley is playing on Sunday's instead of suiting up for the Tigers. Just by looking at the numbers alone it's easy to see that Marion Hobby has plenty of work to do between now and August. Shaq Lawson brings plenty of experience and Kevin Dodd appears to have turned the corner after patiently waiting his turn. There is no experience behind the two starters, which means Clemson fans will have to accept the fact that production will likely drop off. The only question will be how much.

Defensive Tackle

Departures: Grady Jarrett, DeShawn Williams, Josh Watson

Returners: DJ Reader, Carlos Watkins, Scott Pagano, Jabril Robinson

Recruits: Sterling Johnson*, Christian Wilkins, Gage Cervenka

Stats to Replace: 91 Tackles, 21.5 TFL, 6 Sacks, 2 FF

Snapshot: Gone is the heart and soul of the defensive line in Grady Jarrett. His motor and ability to slip around blocks will be tough to replace, but Brent Venables is hoping his trio of talented returners can fill that void. Dabo was quoted saying that DJ Reader has been virtually unblockable towards the end of the Spring, and that is great news for the Tigers. More help is on the way and many expect 5-star Christian Wilkins to provide an immediate impact once he arrives this Summer.

Offensive Tackle

Departures: Kalon Davis, Reid Webster (Backup RT)

Returners: Isaiah Battle, Joe Gore, Maverick Morris

Recruits: Mitch Hyatt*, Jake Fruhmorgen*

Stats to Replace: 1749 Snaps

Snapshot: Kalon Davis was thurst into the right tackle role after Joe Gore went down with a stomach issue in the middle of the season. Gore and Battle are both back, but neither has truly taken ownership of their positions on the ends of the line. Early enrollees Mitch Hyatt and Jake Fruhmorgen have arrived and both appear to be ready to contribute right away. The two veteran tackles better not get too complacent in their starting roles, because the two young guns are closing in fast.

Running Back

Departures: DJ Howard

Returners: Wayne Gallman, Tyshon Dye, Zac Brooks, Adam Choice, CJ Davidson, CJ Fuller

Recruits: Ray Ray McCloud (Likely at WR)

Stats to Replace: 50 Att, 195 Yards, 3 TD

Snapshot: Six backs, one football. That's the blessing and the curse that Jeff Scott and Tony Elliot must figure out. Gallman seems to have a firm grasp on the No.1 spot, but behind him it's anyone's game. Dye, Brooks, Davidson, and Fuller all bring their own unique tools to the table. With Choice recovering from a torn ACL, his contributions this Fall may be few and far between although he was probably Clemson's best back before his injury last season. CJ Fuller looks to be more than an afterthought and is thought to be a real factor for playing time this coming season. If the offensive line can open up some holes, this backfield has a chance to be special. Everyone will get their carries on Saturday, but come September 5th it'll be a much different story.

Linebacker

Departures: Stephone Anthony, Tony Steward

Returners: Ben Boulware, BJ Goodson, Dorian O'Daniel, Kendall Joseph, TJ Burrell

Recruits: Chad Smith*, Jalen Williams*

Stats to Replace:: 133 Tackles, 20.5 TFL, 6 Sacks, 2 FF, 1 INT

Snapshot: Clemson fans finally got to see the two 5-star linebackers roam the field together this past Fall, and it was quite the treat. Anthony embraced his role as the quarterback of the defense, and his vocal leadership will be extremely hard to replace. Insert BJ Goodson, who has been Anthony's understudy for a couple years now, and you have to hope you'll see him play with the same passion. Opposite of Goodson will be local product Ben Boulware and a talented sophomore in Dorian O'Daniel. Those two showed flashes of greatness last year, and I expect they will be pedal to the metal when they get their opportunity as starters. Also, make sure to keep an eye on RS Freshmen Korie Rogers and Kendall Joseph.

*Denotes early enrollee

5 Players to Watch

Mitch Hyatt-OT

The 5-star freshman is on campus and is rumored to be making a push for immediate playing time. Both he and fellow early enrollee Jake Fruhmorgen (RT) will likely avoid redshirt seasons, which is uncommon for offensive linemen. Isaiah Battle hasn't lived up to his billing and you can bet the staff will use Hyatt to light a fire under him. I'm anxious to see how he looks against the power rusher in Shaq Lawson and the speed rusher in Ebenezer Ogundeko. Hyatt will likely need to add 5-10 pounds this Summer, but the fundamentals are there for him to be a superstar in the trenches at Clemson.

Cordrea Tankersley-CB

The time is now for Tankersley, a Junior out of Beech Island, SC. At 6-1 200lbs, Tankersley gives you some nice size in the secondary. He only played sparingly last season (12 tackles), mainly in part due to the excellent play of Peters and Alexander. With Alexander back, for what is likely his final season in a Clemson uniform, you can bet that Tankersley will see a lot of footballs thrown his way. If he can hold his own Saturday against the likes of Mike Williams and Artavis Scott then you have got to feel really good about this secondary. There is virtually no experience behind Tankersley on the depth chart, so his play will be a key factor for this defense's overall success.

Tyshon Dye-RB

Various injuries have sidelined the heralded running back out of Elberton, GA for his first two seasons in Clemson. Dye is finally back on track and has dropped weight to get down around 210-215lbs, which is his desired playing weight. We caught a glimpse of his abilities against Georgia State, a game in which he went over 100 yards. Personally, I've been excited about his kid since he stepped on campus and I firmly believe he is the most talented back on the roster right now. The backfield is crowded, but I expect Dye to vault himself into the starter conversation as the season progresses. This Saturday I'll be looking to see how he cuts and hopefully we'll get a glance at his speed in open field. Also, at his new weight Dye claims he can be in the 4.4-4.5 speed range, which is scary if true.

Nick Schuessler-QB

Many eyes will likely be on the two freshmen quaterbacks Kelly Bryant and Tucker Israel. The coaches have had nothing, but positives to say about Schuessler so far this Spring, but we've heard this story before in the Spring so I will take it with a grain of salt. His teammates have been just as adamant about his performance this Spring as well, stating he has really taken advantage of his opportunity to prove he's a worthy No.2. We haven't seen much of Schuessler so Saturday will be our first chance to see if he's capable of handling the tempo and distributing the rock to the plethora of playmakers around him. I know you can't read too much into these games, but this team desparately needs to have a reliable option behind #4 given his inclination to injuries. This is Schuessler's chance to show Tiger fans what he's capable of and I hope to see him take full advantage of this opportunity.

Ebenezer Ogundeko-DE

One of the more intriguing players to watch is Ebo. I thought he would have played more snaps last season, but for whatever reason he stayed on the sidelines for the better part of the year. The RS Sophomore out of the Empire State is believed to be the No.3 defensive end as we exit the Spring. He brings the "Freak" factor to the edge with his combination of size and speed. Not saying he is going to be the next Vic Beasley, but he has the potential to play in a similar fashion as Vic did. The offensive line won't present Ebo with any All-American counterparts to face so I would like to see him show out on Saturday. One of the keys to Clemson's top ranked defense last year was their ability to bring in quality talent off the bench when the starters took a breather. I'm hoping that Ebo and whoever snags the No.4 spot can provide quality depth this Fall.

Now that you've processed all that, just a reminder that Spring Game's are nothing but a glorified scrimmage that is open to the public. The best thing that can come out of Saturday is that the Tigers remain healthy headed in to the Summer. In a couple months, another injection of elite talent will arrive on campus that will be sure to shake some things up in the depth chart. Players like Deon Cain, Ray Ray McCloud, Christian Wilkins, & Mark Fields are all candidates to crack the 2-deep once they arrive. All in all, I hope to see a large fan contingent in Death Valley and I have a feeling we'll break the 33K attendacne mark set last season. Football's back! Well, kinda.

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