Final Thoughts: Clemson Football Is Here!
By: Grayson Mann
Clemson Football kicks off its season tomorrow, and what has felt like months of waiting will finally be put to a close Monday night. This offseason, more than most, has been filled with questions and what seemed like no answers for all Clemson fans.
So, how did we get here?
What should we expect tomorrow night?
As it has been all offseason, all questions start and finish with the quarterbacks. It is no secret to anyone watching that DJ’s sophomore campaign did not go as planned. Whether the issue was injuries that plagued this team, DJ’s inconsistencies, or the separate injuries he dealt with himself, a lot was going against the young quarterback. The noise has undoubtedly shifted in a big way to his current backup in Cade Klubnik, a pure winner coming out of Westlake. DJ has risen above every challenge this offseason, taking every question about his play, good and bad. Tomorrow is his chance to silence the noise and show fans what his game has evolved to.
A facet of this team that did not see any change until this offseason was the coordinators. Brent Venables and Tony Elliot left Clemson to pursue head coaching opportunities in Oklahoma and Virginia. Bring in, Wes Goodwin and Brandon Streeter. Both Coaches gave fans a preview in Clemson’s win over Iowa State last season and allowed personal momentum to grow for both new coordinators going into the offseason. Goodwin and Streeter are raved about by Swinney and players alike, and fans should look forward to their regular season debut in tomorrow’s matchup.
If you had to put this offseason into one word, what these players and coaches have told us, it would have to be depth. The depth of this team has been celebrated across all sides of the ball. Receivers like Antonio Williams have mastered the offense in record time. There is also Adam Randall, who is not expected to play tomorrow but can step up when he returns from injury. Linebackers that have emerged, such as Wade Woodaz, who could come in on a moment’s notice and play up to Goodwin’s standard. You can also come back to the quarterback room with players like Hunter Johnson, the only transfer on this team. This Clemson team, should they stay healthy, will benefit from the depth they have accumulated this season.
Can the Tigers make it back to the promised land? Questions like that will undoubtedly be answered as kickoff draws closer than ever.
