The case for Clemson (from CFB kings on X)

Aug 27, 2024, 6:55 AM

The Case for Clemson 🐅

After a 4-4 start last year and a very quiet offseason, a lot of the CFB world has overlooked the Clemson Tigers’ potential in 2024.

Last season, Clemson was the youngest team in the country with freshmen taking nearly 4,000 combined snaps. Their leader in receiving was a freshman. Their leader in sacks was a freshman.

They had several anomalies in all four of their losses last season, including things that had never happened in the history of their program on several different occasions.

From last year‘s team, on offense the Tigers return QB1 Cade Klubnik, RB1 Phil Mafah, WR1 Tyler Brown, TE1 Jake Briningstool, and ALL FIVE starting offensive linemen and most of their OL depth (OL is now coached by Matt Luke, who won a national title as OL coach with UGA in 2021).

In 2023, Clemson was missing projected WR1 Antonio Williams and WR2 Cole Turner after early-season injuries. They get both of them back and added 5🌟 WR recruit TJ Moore and 4🌟 WR recruit Bryant Wesco as well.

On defense, the Tigers return two of the best young DL in CFB in TJ Parker and Peter Woods. Parker was T-most sacks on the team last year as a true freshman. Woods was given the 3rd highest grade ever by PFF for a freshman DT.

They also get back Vic Burley, a 5🌟 and No. 3 DL in the class of 2023 who missed all of last season due to injury.

PFF ranks Clemson’s LB unit as the best in CFB for the 2024 season. They return star Barrett Carter, added 5🌟 No. 2 LB in the 2024 class Sammy Brown.

SCHEDULE ADVANTAGES:
• Clemson will travel the fewest miles of any team in the ACC this year.
• Throughout the season, Clemson will not face an opponent who has a bye week the week before their game.
• Clemson’s bye weeks come before hosting #24 NC State and before hosting #26 Louisville.

The Tigers have been quiet since early last season, but they ended last year on a 5-game win streak (3rd longest active streak in the FBS) and head into 2024 with a team that I believe is far better than the current consensus.