In 17 days, Clemson fans will be waking up and heading to Charlotte for the first Clemson game of the year. Cars will be donned with magnets and Clemson flags headed up 85N and expectations are going to be high, as they should be.
Coach Dabo Swinney has been putting a pretty good product on the field for the last 10 years and Clemson fans have come to expect to win every game. Dabo has said “Best is the standard.” Since 2011, the Tigers have recorded 10 straight seasons of 10+ wins, with a record of 121-18. This record includes a 9-5 bowl record, two National Championships, and six straight ACC Championships. These accomplishments are well known.
The Trevor Lawrence-Travis Etienne era is over at Clemson. Just like the Deshaun Watson-Tee Higgins era came to an end. We know are in the beginnings of a new era —- DJ Uiagalelei is entrenched at quarterback now and he will be on the biggest stage in college football to start the season —- playing the big bad SEC and the Georgia Bulldogs.
After watching him perform against BC and Notre Dame last year in two spot starts, Clemson fans are hoping he picks up right where he left off. Uiagalelei was last seen completing 29 of 44 passes for 439 yards and two touchdowns. Big Bad SEC foe Georgia comes in with all the hype of playing in the best conference in the world (little brother in Columbia clings to that) and they will come into Charlotte with a big chip on their shoulder. Will DJ knock it off?
Uiagalelei will do his thing. The Georgia secondary is suspect, even with former Clemson cornerback Derion Kendrick wearing a different uniform this year, but Kirby Smart’s team isn’t exactly without turmoil and injuries going into this game. Prized WR transfer Arik Gilbert has been a no-show of late due to “personal reasons”. Georgia fans are not happy about this but this is Gilbert’s business. Top WR George Pickens and Dominick Blaylock are both out with ACL injuries. JT Daniels finished 4-0 last year, and has a strong running game behind him, but he might have a rough go with so many receivers out against the Tigers.
Clemson’s defensive front is receiving a ton of hype this season, as well as it should. The Georgia offensive line is also nursing a few injuries but they are deep on that side of the ball and their line will be formidable. The Dawgs can promote Daniels all they want, but if he can’t find receivers and his offensive line can’t keep the likes of Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee from breaking through, it’s going to be a long day for the Georgia offense.
This Georgia defensive line is already being pumped up as one of the best in college football, though I don’t see the production meeting the hype. Are they big? Yeah, of course, most college football teams in the Power 5 have big defensive lines. WIll the Tigers be able to open holes for Lyn-J Dixon consistently? How much will Uiagalelei actually be involved in the RPO game? Will Clemson’s offensive line keep the quarterback on his feet?
The Clemson secondary was last seen giving up chunks of yardage to Justin Fields and Ohio State in the college football playoffs. The tigers return everyone in the secondary except the aforementioned Kendrick. I’m not going to pile on but the secondary will be improved and Daniels is no Justin Fields, and the Dawgs don’t have a Chris Olave at WR. This Clemson defense will be ready to take it to the Dawgs and will be looking to right the ship. The defense was shown up against the Buckeyes in their last game. Look for the Tigers to put up points against Georgia and for the defense to make amends. With a win against their toughest opponent in 2021, the Tigers will be well on their way, albeit with a target on their back and the entirety of college football continuing to claim Clemson still doesn’t play anyone.
