Breakout player projections: Seniors
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 the group of veterans who will be called on to lead the Tigers--the seniors.
1: K'Von Wallace: Wallace has already proven himself to be a weapon in the secondary for the Tigers, but this season he will have to become a leader of the entire defense.
Wallace enters 2019 with 97 career tackles (2.5 for loss), 12 passes broken up, three interceptions returned for 114 yards and two forced fumbles in 1,198 snaps over 44 games (21 starts).
In 2018, Wallace was named honorable mention All-ACC after being credited with 55 tackles (1.5 for loss), seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception in 661 snaps over 15 games (all starts).
2: Tanner Muse: The other half of the Tigers' safety duo, along with Wallace, Muse has already made a name for himself as a hard-hitting, bruiser of a safety who loves to hit people.
Now, entering his senior season, Muse will be needed to anchor a secondary that is expected to be a strength for the Tigers in 2019.
Muse enters 2019 with 164 career tackles (4.5 for loss), 10 passes broken up, 2.0 sacks, three interceptions for 89 yards (including a 64-yard return for a touchdown), a forced fumble and a 63-yard fumble return for a touchdown in 1,252 snaps over 44 career games (24 starts).
3: Diondre Overton: Overton has played the role of reserve receiver on a team that boasts NFL-level talent that is two-deep at the receiver spot.
But for the senior, this season he may be poised to have his biggest season yet.
In part, due to the injury to starting wide receiver Amari Rodgers, as well as his sheer determination to not only be a niche receiver, this year we expect big things from Overton.
Last season, Overton had three touchdown catches in 2018 including a key score in a road win at Texas A&M, and enters the 2019 season having amassed 30 career receptions for 425 yards and four touchdowns in 595 snaps over 36 games in his career.
