Clemson ranked in Top 2 of ESPN's projected offenses

by Tony Crumpton - Assoc. Editor - Tue May 17 10:08:44 GMT-04:00 2016

ESPN's FPI has released their top projected offenses for 2016 and Clemson is ranked #2 in the nation behind only ACC Atlantic rival Florida State.

The FPI projects expected points added (EPA) which is "points per game an offense is expected to contribute against an average defense to the team's net scoring margin, with an average offense expected to contribute zero net points."

The four main factors in projecting the top offenses using EPA were offensive efficiencies, the number of returning starters, four-year average recruiting rankings and coaching tenure.

"With consensus All-American QB Deshaun Watson back for his junior year, the Tigers are poised for another productive offensive campaign. Watson, the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, had the second-highest Total QBR in the FBS last season (87.8) and was a model of consistency, with a QBR above 70 in every game," ESPN.com said.

Watson finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting last season and will be one of the favorites in 2016. Watson completed 333-of-491 passes for 4,104 yards and 35 touchdowns and also had 207 rushes for 1,105 yards and 12 scores this past season. He became the first player in NCAA FBS history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.

"With three All-ACC selections returning -- RB Wayne Gallman, WR Artavis Scott and TE Jordan Leggett -- Watson will have plenty of help at the skill positions," ESPN.com said. "Wide receiver Mike Williams, who missed most of last season with a neck injury, also returns and could take Clemson's offense to new heights because of his ability to stretch the field (he led the ACC in 20-yard receptions in 2014). If Clemson can fill the holes left on its offensive line, its 2016 offense may be even more dominant than last season's."

The Top 20 projected offenses according to ESPN's FPI were Florida State, Clemson, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, LSU, Baylor, Tennessee, USC, Texas Tech, North Carolina, Oregon, Georgia, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Arizona, Michigan, Western Kentucky, Miami, Louisville and Nebraska.