Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program are losing some talent from their 2023 team, and it will be up to the coaching staff and players on the roster to make up for these losses.
The Tigers got hit in both the NFL draft and the transfer portal, with top players formerly on the roster entering both. There were some big losses, with 247Sports naming Clemson the No.8 roster most ravaged by NFL Draft and transfer portal losses.
Three notable starters were 2024 NFL Draft early exits for the Tigers and they’re forced to replace impact guys in the secondary, too. Clemson won five straight games to end the 2023 season, but there’s reason to believe Dabo Swinney’s team will not be mentioned among the frontrunners to take the ACC.
What’s happening to fix: The only program inside the top 25 in 2024 recruiting without a single transfer portal signee, Clemson has to hope much of its young talent from several elite classes in recent years are ready to star next season. Year 2 for former five-star quarterback Cade Klubnik is vital toward this offense’s success under Garrett Riley as is the expectation a few key returning starters defensively can carry the team.
While the Tigers did lose a lot, I would be lying if I didn’t say I think this is a drastic overreaction. Depending on where you look for betting lines, Clemson is between the No.10 and No.12 for the best odds to win the National Championship next year… Does that sound like a team that won’t be a frontrunner to win the ACC in 2024? No, it doesn’t.
There is talent all over this Clemson roster, and even if you lose a lot, that doesn’t mean your team is going to suffer. The Tigers’ defense is expected to once again be elite in 2024, with most of the concern revolving around the offense.
Now, let’s discuss this Clemson offense a bit. The losses are minimal here, with the biggest loss being star running back Will Shipley. While Shipley is an excellent player and was the focal point of Clemson’s offense for some time, Phil Mafah emerged as the Tigers’ top guy as the season kept going,
Losing Beaux Collins could hurt, but I won’t sit here and act like he was a game-breaker for the Tigers. He had his great moments, but with the great came a lot of bad. Collins had some massive drops this season that directly affected multiple games.
This offense returns a lot, and it truly revolves around development at this point. If Cade Klubnik takes the next step under center and gets more reliable play from the offensive line and wide receiver units… This Clemson team will undoubtedly be one of the most dangerous teams in the ACC.
Clemson is once again becoming something they thrived as: an underdog.