Clemson football spring game 2024: What to Watch For
Spring football wraps up at Clemson this weekend with the 2024 spring game. Here's what you should be watching for as the Tigers look to get back to the College Football Playoff.
A sixth-place finish in the ACC is not what Clemson has come to expect in the last 15 seasons, but now with an expanded postseason format ready to debut this year, the Tigers are in prime position to end a three-year College Football Playoff drought and return to the national championship race.
Here's how you can watch, and what you should watch out for, as Clemson returns to the football field to put a bow on spring practice in the annual preseason scrimmage this weekend.
Clemson football spring game 2024 schedule
When: Sat., April 6
Time: 1 p.m. Eastern
TV: ACC Network Extra
Who stands out behind Phil Mafah?
Will Shipley's departure clearly paves the way for Mafah to start as RB1 for Clemson this fall, but it's always good for find depth at any position. One notable option to keep an eye on is who they call "Hammerhead:" Keith Adams, Jr., son of a Clemson HOFer, who has played in nine games and who has impressed this spring.
David Eziomume and Jarvis Green are also competing for snaps. Green redshirted a year ago and played on 10 snaps a year ago, but comes in with 91 touchdowns and over 6,000 total yards during his high school career.
Protecting the QB
New offensive line coach Matt Luke has emphasized physicality and aggression since joining the program late last year. The line allowed eight sacks in a loss to Kentucky in the Gator Bowl, and the unit's cohesiveness will be critical to quarterback Cade Klubnik's development.
Tristan Leigh (LT), Collin Sadler (LG), Ryan Linthicum (C), Marcus Tate (RG), and Blake Miller (RT) step out as the first-team line with starting experience in an important early test against Clemson's young and skilled defensive front seven.
Wide receiver watch
Key to Clemson's recent success and two national title runs has been a play-making wideout, something the program has lacked recently. Beaux Collins, one of the team's best, transferred to Notre Dame this year, and once again the Tigers have not relied on the portal to make additions.
Antonio Williams and Tyler Brown are two names to watch at receiver: Williams has over 800 career yards and 6 touchdowns, but should finally be fully healthy this year; Brown scored 4 times in 9 starts last season while posting over 10 yards per catch but averaged just 4 catches per game.
But maybe the most interesting WR prospect will be one of Clemson's recent additions...
Freshman faces
Clemson signed the No. 11 recruiting class in college football during the last cycle, a ranking buoyed in large part by two blue-chip additions.
Bryant Wesco, Jr.: One of the most talked-about prospects in 2024 at any position, the wide receiver has a tremendously high ceiling, with track speed and a sophisticated skill set who can challenge defensive backs out of the gate.
Sammy Brown: The five-star and No. 1 ranked linebacker in America comes out of Georgia and has already earned rave reviews during spring ball playing at the MIKE position, where he has the athleticism to drop into pass coverage and the physicality to contest opposing backs in the hole.
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