Breakout player projections: Sophomores

With just two months to go before the start of the new season, coaches for the Clemson Tigers will no doubt be taking a hard look at the roster, filling spots and closing gaps in potential weak spots in the offense and defense.

With just two months to go before the start of the new season, coaches for the Clemson Tigers will no doubt be taking a hard look at the roster, filling spots and closing gaps in potential weak spots in the offense and defense.

Injuries, off-season changes and vacancies left from graduating seniors could provide opportunities for previously untested players to shine.

In this series of stories, we take a look at three players from each class who could have breakout seasons in 2019.

Today, we look at sophomores.

Justyn Ross

This one could be filed under the "duh" category, as Ross is a darkhorse candidate for the Heisman Trophy and enters his sophomore season as one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the nation.

Ross announced his presence on a national stage in a big way as a true freshman in 2018, combining for 12 catches, 301 yards and three touchdowns in College Football Playoff games against No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 1 Alabama. Despite not starting a single game, he led Clemson with 1,000 receiving yards a season ago, including nine touchdowns among his 46 receptions. He joined Sammy Watkins (1,219 in 2011) as the only two players in school history to post 1,000 receiving yards as a freshman.

Trevor Lawrence

While not necessarily needing to have a breakout season for the Tigers, all eyes will be on the sophomore, who led the Tigers to an undefeated 15-0 season and national title as a true freshman. 

Lawrence, the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, completed 259-of-397 passes for 3,280 yards with 30 touchdowns and four interceptions in 15 games (11 starts). A repeat performance in 2019 would make Lawrence only the third quarterback in Clemson history with multiple 3,000-yard, 30-touchdown campaigns, joining Tajh Boyd (three) and Deshaun Watson (two).

Xavier Thomas

Thomas is the one sophomore who will be counted on to have a big year for the Tigers, as the defensive end will step into a starting roll and replace the fourth-pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Clelin Ferrell.

Thomas, while only a sophomore, will be the anchor of a defensive line that lost all four starters to the NFL.

The freshman All-American and consensus Top 5 recruit from the Class of 2018 posted 43 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and 3.0 sacks, including a highlight-reel sack of Eric Dungey on the final drive of Clemson’s come-from-behind victory against the Orange.