Clemson’s competition rages on at mike linebacker

The battle to replace James Skalski in the middle of Clemson’s defense continues. Nine spring practices in, and there’s been little separation among those competing for the top spot on the depth chart at middle linebacker, a position Skalski manned …

The battle to replace James Skalski in the middle of Clemson’s defense continues.

Nine spring practices in, and there’s been little separation among those competing for the top spot on the depth chart at middle linebacker, a position Skalski manned the last three seasons. Skalski led Clemson in tackles last season, but after six years with the program – and more than 1,900 snaps over 69 career games – he’s exhausted his eligibility.

That has left a massive void at the second level of the defense for first-year coordinator Wesley Goodwin to work on filling. Even with additional attrition, there’s no shortage of viable candidates.

Clemson lost its top three mike linebackers off last year’s depth chart when Kane Patterson (transfer to Vanderbilt) and Jake Venables (stepping away from football) opted not to return next season. But rising juniors LaVonta Bentley and Keith Maguire are still around and have gotten the majority of the first-team reps this spring, Goodwin said.

Bentley and Maguire, who have combined to play in 55 games at Clemson, are among the most experienced ‘backers still on the roster. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the coaching staff is close to making any long-term decisions at the position.

“Just mixing and matching guys, per se,” Goodwin said. “It’s been a great competition. We’ll see how it all works out, but all of those guys in the linebacker room have been great. They’re unselfish. They’re team guys. They’re learning to play every day with more confidence and being more vocal.”

In fact, the number of options appears to be expanding. Goodwin said rising sophomore Jeremiah Trotter, a former blue-chip recruit who contributed primarily on special teams last season, has progressed to the point that he is legitimately competing for a starting job.

Even Trenton Simpson is splitting time between the mike and will, where he was initially moved at the start of the spring after starting 12 games at the strongside ‘backer position last season. Simpson, who finished second on the team in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (6) last season as a premier edge rusher, made the move to replace another departing member of the linebacking corps, Baylon Spector, but Clemson coach Dabo Swinney hinted that Simpson has also gotten his fair share of reps in the middle.

“We’re rolling those first four guys pretty consistently,” Swinney said. “Maguire, Trotter, LaVonta and Simpson, those four are kind of splitting all of those reps, competing, battling and doing a good job.”

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Clemson’s linebackers transitioning with ‘dynamic’ group

Clemson may no longer have quite the experience and proven production at the second level of the defense that it’s been used to in recent years, but there’s a certain collective skill set this year’s group of linebackers possesses that could help …

“I think we’re going to be incredibly fast and athletic,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Dynamic is probably the word for the group that we have.”

The group no longer includes veterans James Skalski and Baylon Spector, who combined for 11 years in the Tigers’ program and started alongside each other for multiple seasons. Skalski, Clemson’s middle linebacker, was the team’s leading tackler during his sixth and final season with the Tigers while Spector was right behind him on the weak side.

The Tigers are retooling without them at the position, using the athleticism of some of their younger players to get their best three linebackers on the field this spring. That means Trenton Simpson is sliding inside to take over at Spector’s old spot while rising sophomore Barrett Carter will go through the spring as the top option at the sam/nickel position vacated by Simpson.

Simpson was third on the team in tackles behind his running mates at the position last season, and he proved to be Clemson’s best pass-rushing ‘backer. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder finished second on the team in sacks (6) and tackles for loss (12) and still figures to be used as a blitzer often in new defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin’s scheme.

Meanwhile, Clemson’s coaching staff has raved about Carter’s speed and athleticism ever since he signed with the Tigers as a five-star athlete during the 2021 recruiting cycle. Swinney said Carter, who played in all 13 games this past season, owns a skill set that could even be used at safety in a pinch.

“He gives us a very unique guy at that spot,” Swinney said of Carter.

The most heated competition this spring may be in the middle with LaVonta Bentley and Keith McGuire being the primary candidates to replace Skalski, though rising sophomore Jeremiah Trotter will also throw his hat in the ring. Swinney said Trotter, another former five-star signee, is as talented of a linebacker as he’s signed during his time as the coach at Clemson.

“He’s a true, bonafide dude, and he can play the Mike or the Will,” Swinney said. “It’s a fun group. They’ll be fun to watch this spring. And I think the future is really bright right now and really bright for the future of that position.”

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Five storylines to watch for Clemson during spring football

Clemson’s return to the field in preparation for the 2022 college football season is imminent. The Tigers’ spring practices will begin Wednesday and culminate April 9 with the annual Orange-White game at Memorial Stadium. Clemson is coming off yet …

Clemson’s return to the field in preparation for the 2022 college football season is imminent.

The Tigers’ spring practices will begin Wednesday and culminate April 9 with the annual Orange-White game at Memorial Stadium. Clemson is coming off yet another 10-win season, but the Tigers are trying to get back to the top of the ACC’s Atlantic Division standings and ultimately the College Football Playoff after missing out on both for the first time since 2015.

Clemson will try to do it amid an offseason of change for both the Tigers’ roster and Dabo Swinney’s coaching staff. Here are five storylines to follow for the Tigers this spring:

Coordinator influence

For the first time in a long time, Clemson will be going through a spring without Brent Venables and Tony Elliott, who are now running their own programs at Oklahoma and Virginia, respectively.

So the Tigers have two new coordinators. Kind of.

Brandon Streeter was promoted to take over for Elliott as the offensive coordinator while Swinney promoted Wesley Goodwin to coordinate the Tigers’ defense. Both are first-time playcallers at Clemson but have been on the Tigers’ staff for years.

The good thing for Clemson is players are already familiar with both coaches and generally know what they like to do, which brings a sense of comfort that’s rare with this kind of change. With Streeter and Goodwin having been promoted before Clemson’s bowl game in December, players have already gotten a feel for their new coordinators in their new roles.

But both have had a couple of months now to further evaluate their personnel and tinker. Streeter and Goodwin said in December they envision keeping things largely the same with systems already in place that have been highly successful in recent years, but, like any coach, they will also add their own flavor to how the Tigers operate on both sides of the ball.

What exactly is that going to look like? The spring figures to give everyone a better idea.

Middle men

Specifically, we’re talking the middle of the offensive line and the middle of the defense.

James Skalski was not only a two-year captain but also an ironman at middle linebacker for the Tigers, playing 1,920 snaps over 69 games during his six-year collegiate career before exhausting his eligibility this past season. Meanwhile, is Clemson’s starting center even on the roster at this point with the Tigers experiencing more attrition than expected up front?

Veteran center/guard Matt Bockhorst also played his final season at Clemson last fall after five years with the program. Earlier this month, Hunter Rayburn, who ended the season as the starting center, moved into an off-field role after a medical disqualification abruptly ended his playing career, leaving Clemson short on experience at the position. Mason Trotter, redshirt freshman Ryan Linthicum and walk-on Trent Howard – a trio that’s combined for just five starts at center – are left to duke it out for the starting job if the Tigers don’t dip into the transfer portal for another option.

As for who Clemson turns to at middle linebacker, that’s also up in the air considering it’s not just Skalski it has to replace. The Tigers lost their entire three-deep at the position with Kane Patterson (transfer) and Jake Venables (giving up football) no longer around either. Juniors Lavonta Bentley and Keith Maguire and sophomore Jeremiah Trotter Jr. may battle it out, though Bentley is an option to take over for the departed Baylon Spector on the weak side after filling in there at times last season. Or Barrett Carter, a former five-star signee who played in every game with one start as a true freshman, could become a permanent starter on the outside, allowing the Tigers to keep Bentley in the middle.

There’s a lot for Goodwin, who will also coach the linebackers, to figure out at the second level of the defense starting Wednesday.

Receiver rotation

Clemson’s receiving corps went from one of the deepest on the roster to a true freshman (Beaux Collins) finishing as the team’s second-leading pass catcher last season. Now the Tigers are beginning life without their No. 1 target.

Star wideout Justyn Ross is off to the NFL after bouncing back from his spinal fusion surgery in 2020 to lead Clemson in receptions (46) and receiving yards (514), though the bar wasn’t exactly high for a passing offense that ranked 103rd nationally. No one had more than three touchdown grabs.

Joseph Ngata, E.J. Williams and Collins, who caught 31 passes primarily in the slot last season, enter the spring as the presumed starters, but nothing is set in stone. Ngata continued to be snakebitten with injuries last season, missing the last four games with a bum foot, while Williams also dealt with thumb and leg injuries that limited him to just nine catches in eight games.

Frank Ladson Jr. transferred to Miami, creating another opening on the depth chart out wide. It’s an opportunity for Dacari Collins, Troy Stellato, true freshman Adam Randall (who will go through spring ball) and Brannon Spector, who’s expected back after missing all of last season because of injuries and COVID-19 complications.

Secondary competition

Skalski and Spector aren’t the only significant personnel losses for the defense. Clemson is also losing three starters in the secondary, including the ACC’s top cornerback tandem in Andrew Booth Jr. and Mario Goodrich.

Booth and Goodrich will hear their names called during this year’s NFL Draft, and veteran safety Nolan Turner hopes to join them at the next level. The Tigers still have some experience at the free safety spot Turner has vacated in seniors Jalyn Phillips, R.J. Mickens and Tyler Venables, who combined for 117 tackles and three interceptions as part of the safety rotation this past season. Phillips may be entering the spring as the favorite after starting four games last season, including the bowl game, but the competition to run out first alongside Andrew Mukuba will be fierce.

The same could be said at corner, where senior Sheridan Jones has the inside track on taking over as a starter after serving as Clemson’s No. 3 corner a season ago. Jones is the only corner still on the roster that’s started a game for the Tigers.

Depth could be a concern with Fred Davis, Nate Wiggins and Malcolm Greene, primarily a nickel, the only other scholarship players back at the position from last season, but true freshmen Jeadyn Lukus and Toriano Pride Jr. will help with that as early enrollees.

Quarterback situation

There likely won’t be a player with more attention on him this spring than D.J. Uiagalelei, who returns for his second year as the starting quarterback. That’s with the understanding that the strong-armed sophomore has to be better than he was last fall.

Clemson’s offense took a major step back in explosiveness and overall production in part because of Uiagalelei’s inconsistencies. The low completion rate and turnover issues (more interceptions than touchdown passes a season ago) have been well-documented.

Swinney has said Uiagalelei’s supporting cast needs to also be better with injuries and ineffectiveness plaguing the offense at times as a whole this past season. Uiagalelei was one of those ailing after spraining his knee late in the year.

Uiagalelei was recently spotted at a camp in Texas still wearing a brace on his right knee, so how healthy he is going into the spring is still a question mark. But Uiagalelei has worked to shed some weight after playing last season around 250 pounds.

Clemson has added another former five-star recruit to the quarterback room this offseason in Cade Klubnik, who will go through the spring as a mid-year enrollee. It’s hard to gauge exactly how much Klubnik might be able to push Uiagalelei for the starting job in a spring setting, but Uiagalelei’s performance over the next five weeks will either help him take tighter hold of the starting job exiting the spring or open up a real competition heading into fall camp.

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3 pressing offseason questions for Clemson’s defense

With the offseason a couple of weeks old now, The Clemson Insider is pondering some of the most pressing on-field questions for Clemson’s football program as the Tigers wipe the slate clean and start fresh in 2022. Clemson is coming off yet another …

Clemson is coming off yet another 10-win season, but there’s still some uncertainty and room for improvement in all facets of the Tigers’ game heading into Dabo Swinney’s 14th season at the helm. After probing the offense, here are some inquiries regarding the defensive side of the ball.

Will Bryan Bresee return to his pre-injury form?

Longtime defensive assistant and first-year defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin is inheriting one of the ACC’s top defensive lines. With players like Myles Murphy, Tyler Davis and K.J Henry returning – the Tigers are also awaiting a decision from veteran defensive end Xavier Thomas – Clemson should once again have one of the country’s more formidable defensive fronts next fall.

Bresee may be the best of the bunch.

Clemson’s star defensive tackle was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and a freshman All-American in 2020 and started the first four games this season before it ended prematurely after he suffered a torn ACL in late September. Through the first 16 games of his Clemson career, Bresee has 9.5 tackles for loss, including 5.5 sacks. How highly do coaches and media members think of Bresee’s talent? He was named third-team all-ACC this year despite playing in less than one-third of the season.

There’s a reason why some recruiting services ranked Bresee as the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect a couple of recruiting cycles ago. At 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, he has a combination of strength, get-off and quick-twitch ability that not many interior defensive linemen possess at that size.

If he can get back anywhere close to his pre-injury form, Bresee will almost certainly be a high NFL draft pick come 2023. There’s no reason to think he can’t other than any injury requiring reconstructive surgery is always tricky.

Barring any setbacks, Bresee is on track to return in some capacity during spring practice with the expectation that he’ll be back at full strength come the fall if not earlier. He’s a massive piece for Clemson’s defense not only because of his talent but also because of the opportunities that can be created for other players up front given the attention he requires from opposing offenses.

What do the Tigers do at linebacker?

Clemson does have one starter at the second level returning in Trenton Simpson, but the Bruise Brothers are gone.

That was the nickname given by Swinney to James Skalski and Baylon Spector, Clemson’s veteran linebacking duo. They played alongside each other as starters for the last couple of seasons and spent a combined 11 seasons in Clemson’s program.

Skalski, who’s played in as many games as any player to ever come through Clemson, led the Tigers with 100 tackles this season from his middle linebacker spot. Spector was right behind him from his weak-side ‘backer spot, racking up 85 stops. Skalski (698) and Spector (593) logged more snaps than anybody on defense this season, and the duo combined to play more than 3,300 snaps during their collegiate careers.

That’s a ton of seasoning, production and leadership to be losing. And with Skalski and Spector hogging the field, there’s not a lot of experience behind them.

LaVonta Bentley, who got a couple of spots starts for Spector when the latter was injured this season, figures to get a long look as Spector’s potential replacement. Meanwhile, Skalski’s primary backup in the middle, Kane Patterson, transferred out of the program late in the season.

Clemson has a couple of former five-star signees at the position in Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter, who saw some extended reps at times in certain packages at outside linebacker. If the Tigers want to get more athletic at the position as a whole, they could also mix things up with Simpson, who had 12 tackles for loss, six sacks and three pass breakups from his strong-side spot and may be Clemson’s most complete ‘backer.

Might Clemson move Simpson to the middle and slide Carter in as a starter on the outside? The Tigers have options at the position, including the transfer portal if they feel like they need a plug-and-play guy or two.

Who takes over at corner?

The defense is being hit hardest by attrition in the secondary, where Clemson is losing all but one starter.

The Tigers feel like they have answers for the departure of sixth-year safety Nolan Turner in Jalyn Phillips, R.J. Mickens and Tyler Venables, who were all part of the rotation at the position this season. Phillips started three games at free safety when Turner was injured and finished the season with 47 tackles and three pass breakups.

Those answers are less clear at cornerback.

Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich are taking a lot of all-around production with them to the NFL after forming the top corner tandem in the ACC this season. They combined for 14 pass breakups and five interceptions and may have been the league’s best tackling corners, too, combining for 87 tackles.

Sheridan Jones has to be considered a favorite to take over at one spot after spending the season as Clemson’s No. 3 corner. He’s also the only corner left on the roster (not counting nickel Malcolm Greene) with any starting experience. Fred Davis, Nate Wiggins and early enrollees Jeadyn Lukus and Toriano Pride will make for an interesting competition beginning this spring, and don’t be surprised if Clemson brings in more at the position through its current recruiting class.

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Six compelling storylines for Clemson football in 2022

Clemson put a bow on the 2021 season with its Cheez-It Bowl win over Iowa State on Wednesday, which means the Tigers’ offseason is already a few days old. Players will take a couple of weeks off before starting winter workouts in mid-January, but …

Clemson put a bow on the 2021 season with its Cheez-It Bowl win over Iowa State on Wednesday, which means the Tigers’ offseason is already a few days old.

Players will take a couple of weeks off before starting winter workouts in mid-January, but the work for next season has already started for Dabo Swinney and his coaching staff. There’s plenty to do before and after spring practice starts in a couple of months.

Here are six compelling storylines for Clemson’s football program entering the new year:

How will the Tigers finish their 2022 recruiting class?

Clemson officially started working on its incoming crop of recruits last month when it signed 12 players during college football’s early signing period, but the Tigers aren’t done.

There are still some positional needs the Tigers have to address during the traditional signing period in February, including running back (they’ve yet to sign any), linebacker (they’ve signed one, but would like to add another ), defensive back (a position that needs depth) and perhaps even quarterback, where there just isn’t a whole lot of game experience behind D.J. Uiagalelei now that Taisun Phommachanh has decided to transfer.

Of course, Clemson could also choose to dip into the transfer portal. Speaking of…

Will Clemson sign any transfers?

Swinney’s preference to recruit high school players and develop them over signing transfers has been well-documented, but might this be the year Clemson finally supplements its roster with players that began their careers at other schools?

With most high school prospects already off the market, it’s certainly possible. And if the Tigers were to miss on some of their top remaining prep targets – someone like, say, Jennings (Louisiana) four-star running back Trevor Etienne – they might not have a choice. Clemson has been active with its interest in the portal, reaching out to a couple of interior offensive linemen already. It’s also the prime location for Clemson to find a more seasoned quarterback if it wants, though the Tigers already have four scholarship quarterbacks in their plans for next season.

How many transfers will Clemson end up losing?

The Tigers have already had nine players elect to transfer since the start of the season, and, so far, that number has stood firm. Clemson hasn’t had any players enter the portal since the bowl game ended.

All but one of those players (receiver Frank Ladson) were backups or reserves. Still, the departures have delivered hits to the Tigers’ depth at running back, quarterback, linebacker, safety and along the offensive line, which is part of the reason why Clemson is still searching for more players at those positions.

One thing to remember: The NCAA is allowing teams to sign up to seven players beyond the usual 25-man signing limit during this recruiting cycle to replace outgoing transfers, though it’s highly unlikely Clemson will use 32 scholarships in this recruiting class.

Who will replace the veterans?

As hard as it is to believe, guys like James Skalski, Nolan Turner, Matt Bockhorst and Baylon Spector have played their last games in a Clemson uniform. The Tigers finally have to plan for life without some of the most accomplished players on their roster.

Skalski and Turner were both six-year seniors on this year’s defense. Skalski was not only a leader but widely considered the heart and soul of the defense from his middle linebacker spot, playing a whopping 69 games in his Clemson career and leading the Tigers in tackles the last two seasons.

Turner played in more than 60 at safety while Bockhorst and Spector, both fifth-year players, combined for 100 career appearances. That’s a ton of experience on the way out the door, and that doesn’t include starting corners Andrew Booth Jr. and Mario Goodrich, who are both headed to the NFL.

Clemson isn’t completely green behind all of them. LaVonta Bentley is the favorite to take over for Spector at weak-side ‘backer after filling in for him twice this season, though there are fewer known commodities at middle linebacker. Jalyn Phillips, R.J. Mickens and Tyler Venables rotated in at safety and even got some starts there this season while Mason Trotter, Hunter Rayburn, Marcus Tate and Bryn Tucker got reps on the interior of the offensive line.

But there could be some outside competition that joins the fold by the time spring practice rolls around.

Will D.J. Uiagalelei remain the starting quarterback?

Of course, the position under the biggest microscope this offseason will be quarterback, where D.J. Uiagalelei was serviceable but not much more than that in his first season as a full-time starter.

To be fair, the step back taken by the offense wasn’t all on Uiagalelei, who didn’t have as much quality help around him with attrition along the offensive line and at receiver taking its toll on the Tigers throughout the season. But the big-armed quarterback struggled with his touch and accuracy from the start, finishing with the second-lowest completion rate among starting ACC signal callers with as many interceptions as touchdown passes (9) for an offense that scored 17 fewer points on average than it did a season ago.

Uiagalelei was benched early in the second half of Clemson’s loss at Pittsburgh in late October after throwing a pair of interceptions in that game, though he sat for less than a quarter before coming back in. He finished the season as the starter, fighting through knee and finger injuries to do so.

But the Tigers need more from the position if they’re serious about becoming a playoff contender again. A true sophomore, Uiagalelei still has just 15 career starts to his name and time to develop, but Clemson is bringing in the nation’s top prep signal caller, Cade Klubnik, as his primary competition this spring.

Can Clemson get back to the College Football Playoff?

The Tigers’ most disappointing season in nearly a decade still ended with them notching double-digit wins, but Clemson is used to playing for championships. That didn’t happen this season.

Not only were the Tigers not part of the CFP, but they didn’t play for an ACC championship either after finishing runner-up in the Atlantic Division. Of course, winning the conference was a prerequisite for Clemson to advance to the playoff each of the previous six seasons. The Tigers were the conference’s champion during all of those.

As previously mentioned, there are plenty of questions that Swinney and his reshuffled staff have to get answered between now and next season. But Clemson has recruited at a high enough level that there’s still plenty of talent on the roster.

Whether or not the Tigers can put all of the pieces, new and old, together enough to retake their spot among the sport’s elite remains to be seen.

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What to watch for in Clemson’s bowl game

ORLANDO, Fla. – The final day of the 2021 season is here for Clemson and Iowa State, which will square off in the Cheez-It Bowl at 5:45 p.m. inside Camping World Stadium. Clemson (9-3) is vying for its 11th straight double-digit win season while …

ORLANDO, Fla. – The final day of the 2021 season is here for Clemson and Iowa State, which will square off in the Cheez-It Bowl at 5:45 p.m. inside Camping World Stadium.

Clemson (9-3) is vying for its 11th straight double-digit win season while Iowa State (7-5) will try for its second straight bowl win in the teams’ first-ever meeting. Both teams head into this one having undergone some alterations since the last time they played a game.

Here are five things to watch for once it’s kicked off:

Coordinator debuts

Technically, Brandon Streeter has called plays before. He did so at the FCS level with Liberty and Richmond and also on an interim basis during the Tigers’ College Football Playoff semifinal against Ohio State last season.

But this will be the first time for Streeter and Wesley Goodwin to coordinate their respective groups since their promotions to their new titles following the departures of Brent Venables and Tony Elliott. What that might look like?

Streeter, Clemson’s quarterbacks coach for the last seven seasons, said he generally likes to be aggressive with his offensive play calling. Part of that, at least according to running back Will Shipley, is pushing the tempo.

As for Goodwin — Venables’ lesser-known right-hand man as Clemson’s senior defensive assistant — he also isn’t the type to sit back and let the opponent dictate things. As Goodwin put it, “I want to take the fight to the offense.”

Don’t expect Clemson to make any drastic changes to what it’s been doing on both sides of the ball under a couple of coaches who are well-versed with the systems already in place, but it’ll take more than one game for Streeter and Goodwin to add all of their flavor to it.

Still, today should provide a taste as to what that might be.

Clemson’s defense vs. Iowa State’s other RBs

Though Clemson has been one of the ACC’s top run defenses all season, it looked as if the Tigers might get tested this week by arguably the best running back they’ve seen all year.

But that won’t happen.

Iowa State’s star running back, Breece Hall, led the Big 12 in rushing during the regular season (1,464 yards). His 122 rushing yards per game rank sixth nationally while his 20 rushing touchdowns are tied for third. Only Syracuse’s Sean Tucker averaged more yards per game among the running backs Clemson has faced this season.

But Hall has opted out of the bowl game, leaving the Cyclones not only without one of the nation’s top rushers but also much more green in the backfield. Sophomore Jirehl Brock, the projected starter in Hall’s absence, has rushed for just 132 yards and one score. He’s combined with freshman Deon Silas for just 34 carries this season.

Iowa State’s leading available rusher? Quarterback Brock Purdy, who’s rushed for 224 yards.

Purdy is capable of being dangerous with his arm as the Big 12’s leading passer, but if he can’t get help from an effective running game sans Hall, will it matter?

Clemson’s offense vs. a stout Iowa State defense

Clemson isn’t the only team bringing a quality defense into this one.

Iowa State ranks in the top 21 nationally in points and yards allowed, which figures to be a stiff test for the Tigers’ up-and-down offense that’s still missing some key personnel. Clemson was better on that side of the ball over the last six games of the regular season behind a much-improved rushing attack, which included a 265-yard effort the last time out against South Carolina.

Of course, Clemson would increase its chance of being effective against the Cyclones if it can keep them honest through the air. Can D.J. Uiagalelei do that consistently?

It hasn’t happened often this season for the Tigers’ quarterback, who’s had his good moments but went just 9 of 19 for 99 yards with a pick in the regular-season finale against Carolina. And he’s still dealing with that sprained right knee.

If nothing else, Uiagalelei could use a high-note ending to take some confidence into the offseason.

Which receivers are available?

Speaking of offensive personnel, breaks continue to be hard to come by for Clemson out wide.

Swinney said a couple of weeks ago that star wideout Justyn Ross (foot surgery) was officially out for the bowl. Clemson got some good news when E.J. Williams (leg) returned to practice earlier this month after missing the last two games of the regular season, but Williams will miss the bowl because of COVID-19 protocols. Frank Ladson, whose season ended prematurely with a groin injury, has entered the transfer portal.

But Clemson may be getting its second-leading receiver, Joseph Ngata, back for today’s game. A foot injury sidelined Ngata late in the regular season, but he’s been practicing this week with no visible limitations. Freshmen Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins figure to keep getting plenty of reps regardless whether Ngata plays or not given the lack of depth at receiver. If Ngata doesn’t end up giving it a go, expect to see more of Will Swinney, too.

Next up at linebacker?

The Tigers were always going to have a couple of new opportunities at the second level of the defense next season with their veteran linebackers on the way out, but one of those opportunities is coming earlier than expected.

James Skalski will play his final game in a Clemson uniform along fellow linebacker Trenton Simpson, but Baylon Spector’s collegiate career is over after recently undergoing hand surgery that will keep him out of the bowl game. That leaves a vacancy at the weak-side ‘backer spot, which is likely to be filled by LaVonta Bentley.

Bentley has already stepped into the starting lineup once for Spector this season when the latter was dealing with an early season knee injury, recording a team-high 13 tackles in Clemson’s September win over Georgia Tech. For Bentley, the bowl game could be another audition for the permanent job.

Keith McGuire and freshmen Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter are younger players who could also get some reps today.

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Taking inventory: Linebacker

Clemson still has a bowl game left to play this season, but it’s never too early to look ahead. With the regular season in the books, TCI is taking some time to analyze how the Tigers performed at each position this fall and where the Tigers stand …

Clemson still has a bowl game left to play this season, but it’s never too early to look ahead.

With the regular season in the books, TCI is taking some time to analyze how the Tigers performed at each position this fall and where the Tigers stand with each as the offseason quickly approaches. Quarterback, running back, tight end, receiver, center, guard, offensive tackle, defensive tackle and defensive end have already been assessed.

Next up is linebacker.

A quick note first: This is where things currently stand with Clemson’s personnel at linebacker. With the one-time transfer rule and recruiting still in full effect, things are always subject to change. This story will be updated as needed to reflect any future modifications at the position.

2021 in review

Clemson began the season with its Bruise Brothers still intact. Will it stay that way after the bowl game?

It will be the final game in a Clemson uniform for James Skalski, a sixth-year senior who’s roamed the middle of the Tigers’ defense as a starter for the last few seasons. His sidekicker, weak-side linebacker Baylon Spector, has been around for five seasons.

The duo ended the regular season as Clemson’s leading tacklers. Skalski is sitting on a team-best 97 tackles, including some timely goal-line stops late against Georgia Tech and Louisville. He also leads the Tigers with 14 quarterback hurries. Spector isn’t far off that pace with 85 tackles.

Throw in strong-side ‘backer Trenton Simpson, and Clemson’s three leading tacklers all reside at the second level of the defense. Perhaps the most athletic and versatile of the trio, Simpson has 72 tackles, six sacks and 12 tackles for loss (second-most on the team) in his first year as a full-time starter.

Simpson is a true sophomore, so he’s in line to return. The Tigers will need a new middle linebacker with Skalski out of eligibility, but does Spector, who recently underwent hand surgery and won’t play in the bowl, stay or go? He still has a COVID year to use if he chooses to do so.

Clemson has some depth at the position, though not as much as it did at the beginning of the season.

There weren’t many extra snaps to go around considering how much Skalski, Spector and Simpson have stayed on the field – none of them have logged fewer than 516 snaps this season – but sophomore LaVonta Bentley has gotten as much work as any of the backups (145 snaps). Bentley, who has already filled in for Spector once on the weak side, could be auditioning for a starting job next season in the bowl game.

True freshman Barrett Carter logged 147 snaps during the regular season as Simpson’s primary backup. Jake Venables, Kane Patterson, Keith McGuire, Sergio Allen and another freshman, Jeremiah Trotter, have gotten some reps here and there, but Patterson is transferring to Vanderbilt. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Venables, a junior, also won’t be returning to the program as a player next season.

The group will certainly look different next season. The question at his point is how much different?

Who’s leaving?

Skalski, Spector (maybe), Patterson, Venables

Who’s staying?

Simpson, Spector (maybe), Bentley, McGuire, Allen, Carter, Trotter

Who’s joining?

Jesuit (Florida) High three-star signee Wade Woodaz. Clemson’s other linebacker commitment for the 2022 recruiting cycle, Hays (Kansas) High standout Jaren Kanak, recently decommitted and has already enrolled at Oklahoma, where former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables is now the head coach.

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Grading Clemson’s defense through the first half of the season

Clemson won’t officially hit the halfway point on its 12-game regular season until after its game at Syracuse next week, but it’s close enough. With an open date to take a step back and evaluate where the Tigers are as a team, TCI is handing out …

Let’s hand out some grades for each position on defense through five games:

Defensive line

The front was expected to be the strength of the defense coming into the season given the mix of talent and depth the Tigers had there. Both have taken a hit because of some significant injuries, but the line is still holding its own.

Not many defenses would be able to lose both starting defensive tackles and keep rolling the way Clemson’s has. First, it was Tyler Davis who had to have surgery on his bicep that will keep him out until November. Then it was Bryan Bresee, who went down with a torn ACL against North Carolina State. Ruke Orhorhoro and Tre Williams have now become starters on the interior, and the Tigers have developed some depth with Darnell Jefferies, Etinosa Reubun and true freshman Payton Page having to be part of the rotation, too.

Meanwhile, the Tigers still have their numbers intact at end. Myles Murphy and Xavier Thomas (10 tackles for loss and six sacks) have been terrors off the edge while K.J. Henry, Justin Mascoll and Justin Foster (who’s also slid inside some) are there as well. Clemson has ranked in the top 30 nationally in points allowed, yards allowed and rush defense all season, and the front four is a big reason why. Grade: A

Linebackers

Clemson began the season with a strong blend of experience, athleticism and high football IQ at the second level of its defense. The first five weeks have shown the Tigers have more quality depth than they may have initially thought, too.

Super senior James Skalski and Baylon Spector, a fifth-year player, lead the Tigers in tackles with 80 combined stops. Skalski, whom the Tigers consider the heart and soul of the defense, showed his knowledge and instincts in a big way when he snuffed out Georgia Tech’s goal-line shovel pass late in that game to help preserve the victory. Spector has quietly been a productive player on the weakside.

If there’s a weakness for Skalski and Spector, it’s pass coverage. But sophomore Trenton Simpson helps there. The sophomore strong-side ‘backer has shown the physicality to play in the box and the speed to run with tight ends when needed. And then there’s LaVonta Bentley, a backup who hasn’t played like one when filling in for Skalski and Spector, who have been slowed by injuries at times. Bentley is fourth on the team with 24 tackles and has three tackles for loss. Grade: A-

Secondary

Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich have answered most of the questions about Clemson’s cornerbacks coming into the season. Both have not only played well in coverage, but they’ve been some of the ACC’s top tackling corners when attacking the line of scrimmage. Booth is the Tigers’ third-leading tackler (26 stops) while Goodrich is right behind him (23).

Goodrich has produced his stats in four games after not playing last week against Boston College with a groin injury, forcing Sheridan Jones into a starting role. Jones had seven tackles in that game.

Sixth-year senior Nolan Turner is holding down one safety spot while true freshman Andrew Mukuba has been a revelation for the Tigers at the other. Mukuba is tied with Goodrich in tackles and leads the team with four pass breakups. But there’s depth at the safety position, too, with Jalyn Phillips, Joseph Charleston and R.J. Mickens, who has two of the Tigers’ five interceptions.

The group hasn’t been perfect. Boston College threw for more than 300 yards last week. But the Tigers are still in the top 50 nationally in passing yards allowed (203 per game), and they’ve done it without nickel Malcolm Greene (shoulder injury) for the last two games. Grade: B+

Overall

Even with the attrition, the defense has been one of the ACC’s best and has carried Clemson while the offense gets things figured out. The Tigers have yet to allow more than 14 points in regulation, though depth will be something to watch going forward if injuries continue to mount. There isn’t a glaring weakness at any level of the defense. Grade: A

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Swinney: Bentley is ‘such a great example to everybody on the team in being ready’

LaVonta Bentley found out during pregame warmups that he’d be starting. The hard-hitting redshirt sophomore linebacker was thrust into the starting lineup against Georgia Tech after Baylon Spector was ruled out due to knee inflammation. Talking with …

LaVonta Bentley found out during pregame warmups that he’d be starting.

The hard-hitting redshirt sophomore linebacker was thrust into the starting lineup against Georgia Tech after Baylon Spector was ruled out due to knee inflammation.

Talking with reporters during Tuesday’s media availability, Bentley admitted that Spector told him to be ready. According to Bentley, Spector was “shaky” about his status heading into the week, so Bentley prepared as he usually does.

“Knowing Spec, he be trying to push through all the small tweaks that you have,” Bentley said Tuesday. “We talk in the meeting room daily. So, we had a conversation about if someone goes down, then you gotta be ready. So, we just be on each other about knowing what to do when that time presents itself.”

Bentley took first-team reps in the week of practice leading up to Ga. Tech, just in case Spector wouldn’t be able to play through his injury. When Spector was unable to go, that opportunity presented itself to Bentley.

“It was very important,” Bentley said when asked about receiving first-team reps. “The standard is the same. It shouldn’t be no drop-off when one person or the starter goes down. That’s what I look up to. You need to be consistent, play a great game so we can win.”

Bentley racked up a team-high 13 tackles, including a team-high three tackles for loss and a sack, en route to being named the ACC Linebacker of the Week. His performance helped Clemson’s defense hold an opponent without an offensive touchdown for the third straight week.

“I would say it was great,” he said when asked to evaluate his performance during Saturday’s win. “Supposed to make those plays and things like that…I had said the week before what I should do if I go out there and get that opportunity to play a lot. How many tackles? Write it down. I know I had said like 15 tackles I’d try to get…It was just crazy how everything worked out.”

“LaVonta, he’s just such a great example to everybody on the team in being ready,” Dabo Swinney said Tuesday. “He’s a redshirt sophomore. He comes in redshirts, he’s got a lot to learn…He’s got veteran guys in front of him. I always say, what are you doing when nobody’s paying attention? What are you doing when nobody’s watching? Are you preparing for your opportunity? Or are you just distracted?

“LaVonta is one of those guys where every rep is his rep. That’s the mentality he’s always had. Every rep is his rep, whether he’s in there or not. He’s always listening. He’s always paying attention. He is about his business. He’s definitely one of the most respected guys on this team. He’s that way in the weight room. He’s that way with his academics. He’s that way with his meetings. He’s that way with his practice habits. He’s just an incredibly committed young man. And when you have that and you’re talented, it’s just a matter of time. What a great example of being ready…He’s one of those guys who stays ready.”

While Bentley has had to be patient and wait his turn, he’s had the opportunity to learn from two consummate professionals in Spector and James Skalski. Two guys who know the standard and are quite familiar with what it takes to see the field from a preparational standpoint.

Who better for Bentley and his fellow linebackers to learn from?

“We always together. [When] practice is over with, we go up and watch film, Bentley said. “Making sure we know the little details about each play, what’s going on around us and then, they make sure that we know what’s going on. They know the playbook like the back of their hand, like a coach. They just help me and help the other linebackers that’s in the room.”

Bentley’s kept that next-man-up mentality, all while waiting in the wings. He said that it starts and ends with film study.

“Everything’s a process,” he added. “Stuff that we do off the field, not being in the room with Coach, just taking the time aside to study on your own. Have those guys like Spec and [Skalski], if I need something or need help on a play, I can go to ‘em and they’ll tell me right away. It’s just a little process just to know all those things and tackle it.”

Now, you may be asking yourself how a young man from Birmingham (Ala.) ended up at Clemson?

“I would say the family vibes that’s here,” Bentley said. “It’s just something different and also I wanted to get away from home. Bama’s like 45 minutes (away) and I just wanted to get outside, see things different. And, the coaches up here, they be real with me.”

Bentley was obviously recruited by both Alabama and Auburn. As a four-star recruit, he was ranked as the No. 16 inside linebacker and No. 10 prospect in the state of Alabama for the 2019 class, per the 247Sports Composite. While he grew up watching former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster and emulates his playstyle, that didn’t keep Bentley from wanting to leave his home state.

He’s embraced the local atmosphere that Clemson has to offer and it’s paid off.

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The good, the bad and the ugly from Clemson’s escape of Georgia Tech

Clemson’s navigation of its ACC schedule got off to a white-knuckle start Saturday as the Tigers hung on for a 14-8 win over Georgia Tech at Memorial Stadium. Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from the Tigers’ survival (not counting that 1-hour, …

The good

What can you say about the defense at this point? And, if you’re Clemson, how much more can you realistically ask of that group? The Tigers limited Tech to 2.7 yards per carry, 4.3 yards per play, got to Tech quarterback Jordan Yates for four sacks, pressured him countless other times and pitched another touchdown shutout on a day when they had to have it. Clemson is the only team in the Football Bowl Subdivision that still hasn’t allowed an opponent to reach the end zone.

Tech certainly had its chances. Three of the Yellow Jackets’ drives reached Clemson’s 5-yard line or deeper. They were turned away each time, none more timely than the Tigers holding on four straight plays from their 3 with less than 2 minutes left to keep Tech from potentially drawing even in what was an eight-point game at the time.

Clemson may also have more linebacker depth than it thought. The Tigers didn’t have Baylon Spector (knee inflammation) and played most of the game without another starting linebacker after Trenton Simpson was ejected for targeting late in the first half. But LaVonta Bentley filled in for Spector on the weak side and racked up a game-high 13 tackles (2.5 for a loss) and a sack.

And Will Shipley continued to make a strong case as the Tigers’ top running back. The freshman got more carries (21) than Kobe Pace and Lyn-J Dixon combined (12) in a game that was tightly contested throughout, an indication of what Dabo Swinney and his coaching staff think of Shipley’s talent and maturity. He scored Clemson’s only two touchdowns.

The bad

D.J. Uiagalelei wasn’t asked to do much in the passing game — and there’s certainly an argument to be made as to whether the Tigers should be doing more through the air — but the misfires on the mid-to-deep throws are starting to become a pattern for the sophomore quarterback.

Numbers-wise, Uiagalelei had his most efficient performance of the season by completing 72% of his passes (18 of 25), though almost of them were short to intermediate throws against a Tech defense that often dropped seven or eight defenders in coverage in an attempt to keep everything in front. But on the few shots Clemson did take down the field, whether they were deep crossing routes, seam routes or back-shoulder throws, Uiagalelei was well off the mark, something that’s going to have to change if the Tigers’ offense is going to reach its full potential at some point.

But on a night when the Yellow Jackets’ defense sagged off, it was a prime opportunity for Clemson to get its running game going, right? Eh.

While Shipley (4.2 yards per carry) and Uiagalelei (5.8) used speed, power and brute strength at times to turn what would’ve been short gainers into longer runs, Clemson averaged just 3.9 yards per carry as a team against a Tech defensive line that’s smaller than most it will go against this season and, again, a box that wasn’t all that crowded. In other words, the push from the offensive line was decent at best, which isn’t a great sign considering the Tigers will see better defenses in the future than what they saw Saturday.

The ugly

Swinney reiterated afterward that the Tigers are going to do whatever is needed to try to win each week, but there’s no identity to Clemson’s offense right now. The Tigers ran for 166 yards Saturday but needed 41 attempts to do it. In the opener against Georgia, Uiagalelei threw it nearly 40 times.

And the explosiveness for an offense that’s been among the most explosive in the country in recent years is sorely lacking. Uiagalelei’s longest completion went for 17 yards, and that was on a broken play where the quarterback found Pace out of the backfield for a catch-and-run first down in the first half. The Tigers’ longest run? 15 yards.

The Tigers also put the ball on the ground far too many times, which is starting to become an uncomfortable pattern. Clemson technically only had one turnover, but Uiagalelei’s fumble inside Tech’s 20-yard line early in the fourth quarter was a drive killer. It easily could’ve been more with the Tigers fumbling three other times, including one by Shipley in the shadow of his own end zone in the waning seconds of a one-possession game that nearly turned disastrous.

Of course, it was also a head-scratching coaching decision for the Tigers to still be lined up in the shotgun and start a play three yards deep in its own end zone in that situation.

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!