Hope
The excruciating five game losing streak to South Carolina could have meant a long off-season but
Dabo Swinney
Dabo Swinney
Head Coach
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found a way to give Clemson Nation hope each year.
In 2009, the regular season ended with the loss to Carolina, but Clemson won the Atlantic Division, played in the ACC title game for the first time and won a bowl game against Kentucky.
After the 2010 loss, Swinney hired a new offensive coordinator in
Chad Morris
Chad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
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and hope was once again renewed.
In 2011, the Tigers followed the loss to the Gamecocks with a win over Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game giving the Tigers its first ACC title since 1991.
After the 2012 loss, Clemson enjoyed a walk-off win over ninth ranked LSU.
Last season, Clemson beat seventh ranked Ohio State to give the Tigers its first win in a BCS bowl game.
This year the Tigers didn't win the division and won't be playing in Saturday's ACC title game in Charlotte and they may not win a bowl game, but fans were given hope for the future with a dominating performance against the arch rival this past weekend.
We saw Clemson dominate the Gamecocks in every aspect of the game and the feeling around the program is the rivalry has once again turned back in Clemson's favor.
You never know what a program will really look like nine months before next season's games will be played, but on paper I see reason for optimism in the rivalry. South Carolina will enter the season with major question marks at quarterback. The Gamecocks may lose Mike Davis to the NFL draft. I like Pharroh Cooper at wide receiver but I am not impressed with the rest of the unit. Jerrell Adams has been good at tight end but depth may be an issue there and the offensive line loses its two best players in Corey Robinson and A.J. Cann.
On defense the Gamecocks were awful in 2014 and lose J.T. Surratt, Brison Williams and Sharrod Golightly. I like Skai Moore and Jonathan Walton, but no one else on defense impressed me at any point this past season.
South Carolina is hoping to close strong in this recruiting class and answers could emerge on defense, but the schedule looks brutal next season and I think it could be a second straight long season in Columbia.
Meanwhile Clemson has reasons for optimism.
Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson
Fr. Quarterback
#4 6-3, 204
Gainesville, GA
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needs to stay healthy but has as much potential as any offensive player in the country next season.
The running game looked much better in the last half of the season when
Wayne Gallman
Wayne Gallman
RS Fr. Running Back
#9 6-1, 209
Loganville, GA
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rushed for over 500 yards in the last five games of the season including 191 against the Gamecocks.
Tyshon Dye
Tyshon Dye
RS Fr. Running Back
#23 5-11, 214
Elberton, GA
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had 100 yards in the only full game he has played in his career. The Tigers also get back
Zac Brooks
Zac Brooks
Jr. Running Back
#24 6-1, 199
Jonesboro, AR
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,
Adam Choice
Adam Choice
Fr. Running Back
#26 5-10, 211
Thomasville, GA
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and
C.J. Davidson
C.J. Davidson
RS Jr. Running Back
#32 5-10, 203
Clemson, SC
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.
The Tigers return
Artavis Scott
Artavis Scott
Fr. Wide Receiver
#3 5-11, 190
Oldsmar, FL
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,
Mike Williams
Mike Williams
So. Wide Receiver
#7 6-5, 208
Vance, SC
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and
Charone Peake
Charone Peake
RS Jr. Wide Receiver
#19 6-3, 204
Moore, SC
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at wide receiver and add Ray Ray McCloud and Deon Cain next season.
The tight end position should be loaded with
Jordan Leggett
Jordan Leggett
So. Tight End
#16 6-5, 251
Navarre, FL
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returning and future star
Milan Richard
Milan Richard
Fr. Tight End
#80 6-3, 243
Savannah, GA
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coming off of a redshirt season.
The offensive line will miss
Kalon Davis
Kalon Davis
RS Sr. Offensive Guard
#67 6-5, 340
Chester, SC
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,
Reid Webster
Reid Webster
RS Sr. Offensive Tackle
#77 6-3, 300
Woodstock, GA
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and
David Beasley
David Beasley
RS Sr. Offensive Guard
#68 6-4, 323
Columbus, GA
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but both centers come back.
Isaiah Battle
Isaiah Battle
Jr. Offensive Tackle
#79 6-7, 285
Brooklyn, NY
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,
Joe Gore
Joe Gore
RS Jr. Offensive Tackle
#73 6-5, 283
Lake Waccamaw, NC
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,
Tyrone Crowder
Tyrone Crowder
RS Fr. Offensive Guard
#55 6-2, 322
Marston, NC
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and Eric MacClain may be pushed by a terrific freshman class getting here in January.
Offensively, there is reason to like the running game with the emergence of Gallman and Dye. The passing game has talented wide outs like we experienced in the
Sammy Watkins
Sammy Watkins
Wide Receiver (2011 - 2013)
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL
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, Nuke Hopkins and
Martavis Bryant
Martavis Bryant
Wide Receiver (2011 - 2013)
#1 6-5, 200
Calhoun Falls, SC
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days.
Defensively, big names will need to be replaced and I expect a step back from this year's unit which was the best in the country. But
D.J. Reader
D.J. Reader
Jr. Defensive Tackle
#48 6-2, 322
Greensboro, NC
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,
Carlos Watkins
Carlos Watkins
RS So. Defensive Tackle
#94 6-3, 294
Mooresboro, NC
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,
Scott Pagano
Scott Pagano
RS Fr. Defensive Tackle
#56 6-4, 292
Honolulu, HI
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,
Shaq Lawson
Shaq Lawson
So. Defensive End
#90 6-3, 269
Central, SC
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,
Kevin Dodd
Kevin Dodd
RS So. Defensive End
#98 6-5, 275
Taylors, SC
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,
Ben Boulware
Ben Boulware
So. Outside Linebacker
#10 5-11, 235
Anderson, SC
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, BJ Goodson,
Kellen Jones
Kellen Jones
RS Jr. Linebacker
#52 6-1, 233
Houston, TX
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,
Korrin Wiggins
Korrin Wiggins
So. Defensive Back
#12 5-11, 190
Durham, NC
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,
Travis Blanks
Travis Blanks
Jr. Safety
#11 6-0, 210
Tallahassee, FL
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,
Jayron Kearse
Jayron Kearse
So. Safety
#20 6-4, 215
Fort Myers, FL
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,
MacKensie Alexander
MacKensie Alexander
RS Fr. Cornerback
#2 5-11, 190
Immokalee, FL
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and TJ Green give the staff hope on defense.
This off-season will be different than the past five. Dominating your arch rival and Deshaun Watson have a way of making the off-season a lot brighter around here.
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Brandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle (2008 - 2011)
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
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Levon Kirkland
Levon Kirkland
Linebacker
# 0, 0
,
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