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Day/Time: Oct. 3/TBD
2014 Record: 10-3
Projected Returning Starters – Offense: Five
Projected Returning Starters – Defense: Three
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (seventh-year; 61-26)
2014 Points Scored: 30.8 (No. 51)
2014 Points Allowed: 16.7 (No. 3)
2014 Review
The Tigers boasted the nation’s best overall defense, the backbone of a team that won six straight games after dropping two of its first three. The senior-heavy unit held eight opponents to less than 20 points and led Clemson to a 10-win season. The offense might have lifted the Tigers to another couple of wins had quarterback Deshaun Watson not been hurt.
The true freshman shined in his four extensive outings, completing 68 percent of his passes for 1,466 yards, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Wide receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott were the team’s top targets, combing for nearly 2,000 receiving yards and 133 receptions. Only three starting defenders return in 2015, but the Tigers can continue their success if Watson stays healthy.
Expected Strengths
Quarterback is the best place to start. Watson is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback. And unlike a run-first, pass-second quarterback, the sophomore proved his arm is a legitimate weapon as well. He completed 68 percent of his passes for 266 yards and rushed for a score against Florida State. Against North Carolina, Watson tossed six touchdowns, one interception and completed 27-of-36. Watson tacked on a 14-for-19, 269-yard performance in the season finale against South Carolina. He threw two touchdowns that day and added another pair on the ground.
Watson isn’t the only talented member of the Clemson offense that opponents need to watch closely. Scott and Williams are talented options Watson can go to through the air. Scott caught 76 passes for 965 yards and scored eight touchdowns as a freshman. Williams complements the 5-foot-10 Scott with his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame. He chalked up 1,030 receiving yards on 56 receptions and added six touchdowns.
Sophomore Wayne Gallman is set to be the Tigers’ featured back. Gallman erupted in the final seven games—he averaged 5.2 yards per carry during that stretch—accounting for 571 of his 769 rushing yards and scoring three touchdowns along the way. Clemson’s offense has almost all of the pieces in place to be one of college football’s top offenses, with focus remaining squarely on an inexperienced offensive line.
The Tigers lost a large contingent of defenders, but two returning starters are in the secondary. Cornerback Mackensie Alexander started 13 games as a redshirt freshman and earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors. Six-foot-4 safety Jayron Kearse recorded 67 tackles, three sacks, seven pass breakups and two interceptions as a sophomore. For what the Clemson lacks in experience in the front seven, it certainly has at the backend of its defense.
Possible Weaknesses
The Tigers offensive line was dealt a major blow when senior left tackle Isaiah Battle announced his intention to enter the NFL supplemental draft. Unless right tackle Joe Gore slides over to the left, it’s possible a freshman will step in on a young offensive line. Fifth-year senior center Ryan Norton will finish his career as a three-year starter, but the remainder of the offensive line has a combined five starts.
Repeating the production on head coach Dabo Swinney’s defensive line could be a problem too. There’s an abundance of turnover on a defensive line and sophomore Ebenezer Ogundeko, who was listed on the two-deep during spring football, was kicked off the team in late May. Defensive end Shaq Lawson recorded 44 tackles (11 tackles for loss) as a reserve in 2014 and will shoulder more responsibility in 2015. He’s one of the more experiences pieces of a brand new front seven. But as a whole, Clemson’s roster is stacked with athletic playmakers and poses arguably the most difficult challenge for the Irish.
Key Players
Deshaun Watson; QB: The sophomore is a potential Heisman Trophy contender. The signal-caller seeks to build off an impressive freshman year that was limited because of injuries. His numbers—a 14-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio; 1,466 yards; 68 percent completion percentage and five rushing touchdowns—totaled from only 137 pass attempts should give the Irish defense plenty to worry about heading into Death Valley.
Wayne Gallman; RB: Gallman heated up toward the end of last season, and the sophomore has had a full offseason to fine-tune any weaknesses. His yards per carry total picked up in the final seven games—he averaged 5.2 yards per carry during that stretch—and all three of his 100-yard performances came in the final six games.
Artavis Scott; WR: Scott is as impressive a weapon as Clemson has. His 76 receptions, 965 yards and eight touchdowns as a true freshman indicate trouble for opposing secondaries, and Notre Dame’s finds itself on the outside looking in. In the Tigers’ final two games Scott tallied 15 receptions, 299 yards and three touchdowns. Like Gallman, his positive momentum could carryover into 2015.
Jayron Kearse; FS: Clemson has a freakishly athletic safety who will be waiting to pounce on Malik Zaire’s passes. The 6-foot-4 nephew of three-time Pro Bowler Jevon Kearse is Clemson’s leading returning tackler. And as a junior, there’s still plenty of room for Kearse to grow.
Notre Dame Matchup
Notre Dame’s Oct. 2 trip to Death Valley ranks right there with the Southern Cal matchup as its most difficult game this season. Clemson’s offense is loaded with weapons, and its athleticism alone on the defensive side of the ball should be enough to concern the Irish. This will be Malik Zaire’s second start on the road, and the probable night-game should contain a far more intimidating atmosphere than the week-two trip to Virginia. Zaire’s composure alone could be a decisive factor in this contest. It’s important for the Irish offense to control the ball and execute time-consuming drives to keep the ball out of Watson’s hands.
Notre Dame cornerbacks KeiVarae Russell and Cole Luke have their work cut out for them against Williams and Scott. Containing the talented duo, in addition to Gallman and Watson, is a frighteningly difficult job.
Early Prediction
If Clemson can shore up its offensive line and plays anywhere near as well defensively as it did a year ago, this is likely Notre Dame’s first loss.
Day/Time: Oct. 3/TBD
2014 Record: 10-3
Projected Returning Starters – Offense: Five
Projected Returning Starters – Defense: Three
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (seventh-year; 61-26)
2014 Points Scored: 30.8 (No. 51)
2014 Points Allowed: 16.7 (No. 3)
2014 Review
The Tigers boasted the nation’s best overall defense, the backbone of a team that won six straight games after dropping two of its first three. The senior-heavy unit held eight opponents to less than 20 points and led Clemson to a 10-win season. The offense might have lifted the Tigers to another couple of wins had quarterback Deshaun Watson not been hurt.
The true freshman shined in his four extensive outings, completing 68 percent of his passes for 1,466 yards, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Wide receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott were the team’s top targets, combing for nearly 2,000 receiving yards and 133 receptions. Only three starting defenders return in 2015, but the Tigers can continue their success if Watson stays healthy.
Expected Strengths
Quarterback is the best place to start. Watson is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback. And unlike a run-first, pass-second quarterback, the sophomore proved his arm is a legitimate weapon as well. He completed 68 percent of his passes for 266 yards and rushed for a score against Florida State. Against North Carolina, Watson tossed six touchdowns, one interception and completed 27-of-36. Watson tacked on a 14-for-19, 269-yard performance in the season finale against South Carolina. He threw two touchdowns that day and added another pair on the ground.
Watson isn’t the only talented member of the Clemson offense that opponents need to watch closely. Scott and Williams are talented options Watson can go to through the air. Scott caught 76 passes for 965 yards and scored eight touchdowns as a freshman. Williams complements the 5-foot-10 Scott with his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame. He chalked up 1,030 receiving yards on 56 receptions and added six touchdowns.
Sophomore Wayne Gallman is set to be the Tigers’ featured back. Gallman erupted in the final seven games—he averaged 5.2 yards per carry during that stretch—accounting for 571 of his 769 rushing yards and scoring three touchdowns along the way. Clemson’s offense has almost all of the pieces in place to be one of college football’s top offenses, with focus remaining squarely on an inexperienced offensive line.
The Tigers lost a large contingent of defenders, but two returning starters are in the secondary. Cornerback Mackensie Alexander started 13 games as a redshirt freshman and earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors. Six-foot-4 safety Jayron Kearse recorded 67 tackles, three sacks, seven pass breakups and two interceptions as a sophomore. For what the Clemson lacks in experience in the front seven, it certainly has at the backend of its defense.
Possible Weaknesses
The Tigers offensive line was dealt a major blow when senior left tackle Isaiah Battle announced his intention to enter the NFL supplemental draft. Unless right tackle Joe Gore slides over to the left, it’s possible a freshman will step in on a young offensive line. Fifth-year senior center Ryan Norton will finish his career as a three-year starter, but the remainder of the offensive line has a combined five starts.
Repeating the production on head coach Dabo Swinney’s defensive line could be a problem too. There’s an abundance of turnover on a defensive line and sophomore Ebenezer Ogundeko, who was listed on the two-deep during spring football, was kicked off the team in late May. Defensive end Shaq Lawson recorded 44 tackles (11 tackles for loss) as a reserve in 2014 and will shoulder more responsibility in 2015. He’s one of the more experiences pieces of a brand new front seven. But as a whole, Clemson’s roster is stacked with athletic playmakers and poses arguably the most difficult challenge for the Irish.
Key Players
Deshaun Watson; QB: The sophomore is a potential Heisman Trophy contender. The signal-caller seeks to build off an impressive freshman year that was limited because of injuries. His numbers—a 14-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio; 1,466 yards; 68 percent completion percentage and five rushing touchdowns—totaled from only 137 pass attempts should give the Irish defense plenty to worry about heading into Death Valley.
Wayne Gallman; RB: Gallman heated up toward the end of last season, and the sophomore has had a full offseason to fine-tune any weaknesses. His yards per carry total picked up in the final seven games—he averaged 5.2 yards per carry during that stretch—and all three of his 100-yard performances came in the final six games.
Artavis Scott; WR: Scott is as impressive a weapon as Clemson has. His 76 receptions, 965 yards and eight touchdowns as a true freshman indicate trouble for opposing secondaries, and Notre Dame’s finds itself on the outside looking in. In the Tigers’ final two games Scott tallied 15 receptions, 299 yards and three touchdowns. Like Gallman, his positive momentum could carryover into 2015.
Jayron Kearse; FS: Clemson has a freakishly athletic safety who will be waiting to pounce on Malik Zaire’s passes. The 6-foot-4 nephew of three-time Pro Bowler Jevon Kearse is Clemson’s leading returning tackler. And as a junior, there’s still plenty of room for Kearse to grow.
Notre Dame Matchup
Notre Dame’s Oct. 2 trip to Death Valley ranks right there with the Southern Cal matchup as its most difficult game this season. Clemson’s offense is loaded with weapons, and its athleticism alone on the defensive side of the ball should be enough to concern the Irish. This will be Malik Zaire’s second start on the road, and the probable night-game should contain a far more intimidating atmosphere than the week-two trip to Virginia. Zaire’s composure alone could be a decisive factor in this contest. It’s important for the Irish offense to control the ball and execute time-consuming drives to keep the ball out of Watson’s hands.
Notre Dame cornerbacks KeiVarae Russell and Cole Luke have their work cut out for them against Williams and Scott. Containing the talented duo, in addition to Gallman and Watson, is a frighteningly difficult job.
Early Prediction
If Clemson can shore up its offensive line and plays anywhere near as well defensively as it did a year ago, this is likely Notre Dame’s first loss.
