Clemson Tigers Football Offseason Preview

Few teams face a more fascinating, uncertain, and important 2022 college football season than the Clemson Tigers. This is true because head coach Dabo Swinney, after years of having a stable coaching staff, will have two different coordinators. More than that, Clemson has serious and legitimate concerns at quarterback, something it didn’t have to worry about when Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence were under center. One other big part of the uncertainty swirling around Clemson is Dabo Swinney’s reluctance to dive into the transfer portal. He can obviously recruit at an elite level, but he has been noticeably unwilling to get transfers – particularly at quarterback – who could instantly upgrade specific positions on the roster. There are fresh questions about whether the Tigers will be able to adjust and keep pace with the competition. This is going to be a season which will tell us a lot about the program’s staying power.

Key Personnel Lost

Offensive coordinator Tony Elliott went to Virginia to coach the Cavaliers. Elliott was part of Dabo’s staff for the last several years. He worked with Watson and Lawrence and was instrumental in giving Clemson’s coaching staff the continuity which helped the program thrive. Yet, that isn’t the biggest loss for Swinney.

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables is widely regarded as the man who helped Dabo turn around the program a decade ago and forge one of the best, most consistent defenses in the country. Venables outcoached Nick Saban and Alabama in the 2018 season’s national championship win over the Crimson Tide. He gave Clemson a strong defense, whereas other national championship contenders such as Oklahoma and Ohio State often failed to stop other elite offenses. Venables went to Oklahoma to be head coach of the Sooners after Lincoln Riley left for USC. Dabo has to coach without Venables this season, and many are wondering how that will go. The fact that these new coordinator changes are occurring while Clemson lacks a proven quarterback is precisely why some experts are no longer convinced that the Clemson machine will keep on rolling.

Important Incoming Freshmen

Five-star recruit Cade Klubnik, from Austin, Texas, is the hotshot freshman quarterback who will get a lot of buzz and attention if starting quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei falters. Clemson needs its quarterback to be elite, and with Uiagalelei struggling last season, Klubnik becomes a point of focus if the first few games of the season don’t go well.

Cornerback Jeadyn Lukus, cornerback Toriano Pride, and receiver Adam Randall are other high-end recruits who could make a significant impact on this team as freshmen in 2022.

Key Position Battles

Quarterback is the big position battle for Clemson. The Tigers have a tremendous defense and a solid offensive line. The quarterback and the receivers are the most important and uncertain position groups on the team. Uiagalelei had a horrible 2021 season. If he bounces back, this team looks like a College Football Playoff team. If not, there’s big trouble on the horizon.

Biggest Offseason Goal(s)

Dabo has to sort out his quarterback situation and establish a comfort zone with his two new coordinators. If Dabo can make those relationships work and he enters Week 1 with total trust and confidence in his QB and his coordinators, he will be in a good place, and Clemson will return to the mountaintop.