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Replies: 19
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National Champion [7881]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Key players for 2026
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Jun 4, 2025, 7:33 PM
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IMO, Clemson’s season comes down to these few players.
Offense:
Adam Randall
Gideon Davidson
Olsen Patt-Henry
Collin Sadler
Brayden Jacobs
Elyjah Thurman
Defense:
Darien Mayo
Amare Adams
Vic Burley
Sammy Brown
Jaedyn Lukus
Ricardo Jones
Ronan Hanafin
We need someone to emerge for us at RB by the end of the season. An alpha that we can truly rely on in the playoffs. IMO, Randall and Davidson are the only 2 with that potential.
Briningstool didn’t have reliable enough hands to make up for his deficiencies as a blocker. I believe OPH will be much better as a blocker, but I still think we need him to emerge in the passing game for Cade. Our WRs are going to get a lot of attention.
Our starting 5 at OL will be really good, probably one of the best we’ve had under Dabo. Leigh, Sewell, Linthicum, Parks and Miller have played a ton of snaps. But the depth behind them is crucial. Sadler can play 4 positions but has struggled to stay healthy. Thurmon looked good in his limited snaps last year. The coaches rave about Jacobs like he’s going to be a superstar. If those 8 are ready to go, we could have a huge year at OL. Love how this group is trending under Matt Luke.
Parker and Heldt will be one of the better DE duos in the country. But there is very little depth behind them. Denhoff and Lawson are JAGs with very little potential. Mayo has the most upside. If he can take over as DE3, we’ll be in a good spot.
Woods and Capehart will be like our DEs, being one of the better DT duos in the country. So the depth matters here just as much. Burley was so highly recruited. He’s in year 3. This just has to be his year that he makes an impact. Kind of a now or never thing. The coaches rave about Adams like he’s going to be a superstar as well. Those 2 could be hugely impactful this year.
Sammy Brown is an obvious pick. We need him to be great. Woodaz is going be one of the better LBs in the ACC. We need Sammy to be as well.
Jaedyn Lukus was a 5 star recruit. He’s now a senior. He has struggled to stay healthy. Avieon is one of the best CBs in the ACC. Ashton Hampton has all-world potential. If either of those 2 get banged up, we’ll need Lukus to be ready. Plus, the potential to be great is still there.
Ricardo Jones flashed ability last year in his limited action. Barnes is a good player but I’m not sold on Griffin as a starter yet. Venables won’t give us much. So, Ricardo needs to step up and compete to start opposite of Barnes.
Ronan Hanafin can play multiple positions on defense. To me, he’s a more athletic and skilled version of Woodaz. I’m excited to see how Tom Allen utilizes his unique skillset. He can play the dime, nickel, and even both safety positions. I even think he can play inside the box.
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Top TigerNet [30113]
TigerPulse: 100%
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OL. If it is elite, then...
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Jun 4, 2025, 7:53 PM
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.... Clemson is as good a choice as anyone to win it all.
If it is top 20, then Clemson is a favorite to win the ACC and have a legit shot at winning it all, but not the favorite.
OL performance and injuries. That is the secret between good, great and outstanding.
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Top TigerNet [31853]
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Posts: 13548
Joined: 1998
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Re: OL. If it is elite, then...
Jun 4, 2025, 8:05 PM
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Unless your have elite qb,rb and wr play. Oh, and really good defense. I’d argue we haven’t had a steller OL since the Ford era.
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Game Day Hero [4202]
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Have to disagree
Jun 4, 2025, 9:01 PM
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You don't win 2 National Championships and have 6 playoff appearances without a "stellar" offensive line.
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Orange Elite [5350]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Have to disagree
Jun 4, 2025, 9:38 PM
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I agree, but when you look at the OL of ND, OSU, Penn State, UGA etc... our guys during our run didn't quite look like them. I think how many OL we have playing right now in the NFL speaks to that. Hyatt was a day one starter that couldn't make a practice team. We had other guys like Sean Pollard who also was a day one starter that didn't even get a tryout in the NFL.
Our OL were good, but we had so much skill talent and not to mention DW and TL. They were good, but I wouldn't call them dominant, even in our natty years and CFP runs from 2015-2020.
According to the below link, we have 5 players that played OL for us in the NFL, no starters, Putnam is a back up, the rest are 3rd or 4th in the depth chart. Luke hire I think will be looked upon like a BV hire.... hoping Tim Allen is too.
That being said, there are 32 NFL teams which makes 160 offensive line starters.... based on our run of CFPs and 2 nattys, we should have one or two that are starters in the NFL you would think.
https://www.ourlads.com/ncaa-football-depth-charts/active-nfl-players-by-college/clemson/90314
Message was edited by: bobbyb99®
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National Champion [7881]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: Have to disagree
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Jun 4, 2025, 10:46 PM
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The 2016 and 2018 OLs were good, not great.
Mitch Hyatt was a 4 year starter. John Simpson has started games in the NFL. Tremayne Anchrum and Jordan McFadden are on 53 man rosters. Jackson Carman was a 2nd round pick.
I believe Blake Miller has a higher ceiling compared the starters from 16 and 18.
Tristan Leigh has similar potential to McFadden and Anchrum.
I believe Linthicum could be the best C we’ve had under Dabo.
Parks is a 4 year starter like Hyatt, but doesn’t have the body or athleticism to be in the NFL.
I have really high hopes for Harris Sewell. I think he can be an All-ACC caliber IOL as well. He was certainly highly recruited.
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National Champion [7881]
TigerPulse: 99%
42
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Re: OL. If it is elite, then...
Jun 4, 2025, 10:47 PM
[ in reply to OL. If it is elite, then... ] |
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We need to have 8 legit guys at OL. Sadler, Thurmon and Jacobs are hopefully up for the task.
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Orange Elite [5350]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Key players for 2026
Jun 4, 2025, 9:35 PM
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I'd throw Jeremiah Alexander in there too on players to watch for defense. 5 star talent and body, just needs to be put in a position to be successful.
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National Champion [7881]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: Key players for 2026
Jun 4, 2025, 10:33 PM
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He’ll definitely start when we are in the 4-3
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Campus Hero [13680]
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Re: Key players for 2026
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Jun 4, 2025, 9:42 PM
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Wait, 2026 or 2025?
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Paw Warrior [4917]
TigerPulse: 97%
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Re: Key players for 2026
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Jun 4, 2025, 9:45 PM
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Wait, 2026 or 2025?
He may have mistaken the year but Leon is by far the best Poster on Tigernet!
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Orange Elite [5350]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Key players for 2026
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Jun 4, 2025, 9:50 PM
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Leon's posts are great... he is up towards the top. Could be JK's nemesis (hahahahahahah)
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Campus Hero [13680]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Key players for 2026
Jun 4, 2025, 9:50 PM
[ in reply to Re: Key players for 2026 ] |
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If its 2025, then why didnt he mention Klubnick, Parker, or Woods. If it is 2026, then why not mention Vizzina?
This is why I have the confuse.
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Orange Elite [5350]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Key players for 2026
Jun 4, 2025, 10:03 PM
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If you want to talk about 2027.... who is going to hold now that we don't have a Swinney boy back there?
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Campus Hero [13680]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Key players for 2026
Jun 4, 2025, 10:08 PM
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Nah, Dabo will find another Daniel HS dude for that, I'm still trying 25 or 26 conversation.
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National Champion [7881]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Campus Hero [13680]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Key players for 2026
Jun 4, 2025, 10:50 PM
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I was just putting players with seasons and things were not lining up with follow up posts and etc.
Ok, Carry-on
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Paw Warrior [4917]
TigerPulse: 97%
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Re: Key players for 2026
Jun 4, 2025, 9:43 PM
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Brown,Hanafin, and Woodazz will thrive under the tutelage of Tom Allen.
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National Champion [7881]
TigerPulse: 99%
42
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Re: Key players for 2026
Jun 4, 2025, 10:32 PM
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I think so as well. Versatile athletes.
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Rival Killer [3044]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Key players for 2026
Jun 4, 2025, 11:38 PM
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I think EZ emerges ahead of AR at RB.
I'm not convinced Randall is an every down back. I'm especially concerned going into the opener that LSU will punch the ball out.
By mid-season it will be obvious that GD is the man. Maybe sooner if he grasps his blocking assignments better than ETN did at the same stage.
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Replies: 19
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