8 | 2023 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL GUIDE
CLEMSON
HEAD COACH: Dabo Swinney OC: Garrett Riley DC: Wes Goodwin
Clemson, SC
2022 RECORD: 11-3 (8-0) FOUNDED: 1889 STADIUM: Memorial Stadium (81,500)
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
This may surprise many fans, but the Clemson offense was pretty good last season. For all the criticism heaped on the Tigers’ offense, 410 yards a game and 33 points aren’t bad numbers. The Tigers converted 48 percent on third down, but committed 22 turnovers. Dabo Swinney brought in Garrett Riley, OC for TCU last season, to run the show in 2023. Cade Klubnik was sensational against North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game (20-24 for 279 yards), but inconsistent otherwise. His talent and experience from the 2022 growing pains suggest that he is poised to be a star in this league. The offensive line is healthy and as talented as expected from a Clemson front. Will Shipley returns after running for 1,182 yards and catching 38 passes. The receiving corps needs to make more plays after the catch. Leading receiver Antonio Williams averaged just 10.8 yards a catch.
The Clemson defense may not be as talented as some of the teams in the past, but this unit can’t be that far behind. The biggest assets are tackles Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro. Few schools in the nation have one 300-pound stud who can move and the Tigers have a couple. Not only can they occupy blockers and allow the athletic linebackers freedom, but Davis and Orhorhoro are big-time playmakers. Xavier Thomas is a star at end as well. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter form the best linebacker tandem in the nation. They combined for 24 stops behind the line and four picks last season. Wade Woodaz is the next star linebacker at Clemson. Expect more big plays from the secondary this season. They seemed to play tentatively last season, but Nate Wiggins will make his share of plays this season. Safety R.J. Mickens is one of the best in the ACC.
DEPTH CHART
DEPTH CHART
NO 2 1 80 8 0 9 78 74 56 64 71
PLAYER Cade Klubnik Will Shipley Beaux Collins Adam Randall Antonio Williams Jake Briningstool Blake Miller Marcus Tate Will Putnam Walker Parks Tristan Leigh
POS QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT
HT 6-2 5-11 6-3 6-2 5-11 6-6 6-6 6-5 6-4 6-5 6-6
WT 195 205 205 230 190 235 315 325 315 315 315
CLASS SO JR JR SO SO JR SO JR SR SR SO
NO 7 13 33 3 17 54 0 2 6 25 1
PLAYER POS Justin Mascoll DE Tyler Davis DT Ruke Orhorhoro DT Xavier Thomas DE Wade Woodaz LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. LB Barrett Carter LB Nate Wiggins CB Sheridan Jones CB Jalyn Phillips S Andrew Mukuba S
HT 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-0 6-1 6-2 6-0 6-1 6-0
WT 255 300 295 255 215 225 230 180 185 205 185
CLASS SR SR SR SR SO JR JR JR SR SR JR
18 7 10 22 13 11 50 77 53 73 76
Hunter Helms Phil Mafah Troy Stellato Cole Turner Brannon Spector Sage Ennis Collin Sadler Mitchell Mayes Ryan Linthicum Bryn Tucker John Williams
QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT
6-2 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-6 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-4
215 230 190 180 205 235 325 310 300 330 305
JR JR SO FR SR SR FR JR SO JR JR
12 55 11 44 36 32 21 10 23 24 9
T.J. Parker Payton Page Peter Woods Cade Denhoff Khalil Barnes Jamal Anderson Kobe McCloud Jeadyn Lukus Toriano Pride Jr. Tyler Venables R.J. Mickens
DE DT DT DE LB LB LB CB CB S S
6-4 6-4 6-2 6-5 6-1 6-4 5-10 6-2 5-11 5-11 6-0
255 315 305 255 190 200 230 190 185 210 205
FR JR FR SO FR FR FR SO SO SR SR
38 39
Robert Gunn III Aidan Swanson
K P
6-0 6-3
180 170
FR SR
1 0
Will Shipley Antonio Williams
KR PR
5-11 5-11
205 190
JR SO
SPECIAL TEAMS
2023 SCHEDULE
SPECIAL TEAMS
NEWCOMERS
S.4 ...............................at Duke
O.21 .........................at Miami
S.9 .....Charleston Southern
O.28 .................... at NC State
S.16 .............Florida Atlantic
N.4 .....................Notre Dame
S.23 .................. Florida State
N.11 ................ Georgia Tech
S.30 .....................at Syracuse
N.18 .............North Carolina
Jamal Anderson, LB — Among the top 15 linebackers in the nation, Anderson enrolled in January and will see the field early this fall. He’s the son of former NFL running back Jamal Anderson.
O.7 ..................... Wake Forest
N.25 ........at South Carolina
Khalil Barnes, ATH — It will be interesting to see what position coach will win the lottery for Barnes’ services at Clemson.
Peter Woods, DT — The big fella enrolled in January and immediately announced his presence in spring ball. Woods had a terrific showing in the spring game and should find his way onto the field behind Clemson’s two stars Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro.
