Opponent Preview: Clemson
Andy Backstrom
Staff Writer
There’s no mercy in college football, especially not in the ACC. Just look at Georgia Tech: 3-9 last season as the league’s bottom dweller, the Yellow Jackets return for 2020 with the toughest schedule in the conference, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI).
Boston College doesn’t have it easy, either. With a new head coach, limited spring ball, and probably the weirdest offseason in the sport’s history, the Eagles are back on campus gearing up for a 10-game slate that includes the ACC’s divisional frontrunners, Clemson and North Carolina. As far as FPI is concerned, BC now has the fourth-hardest schedule in the conference. How will the Eagles fare? I’ll break down each of their 2020 opponents, one by one.
Syracuse | Ohio | Kansas
You have to scroll pretty far down Bill Connelly’s 2020 returning production rankings to find Clemson.
The Tigers are only bringing back a combined 55% of their offensive and defensive output from their national runner-up campaign in 2019. They rank ahead of just three ACC teams—Miami, Syracuse, and Wake Forest—in that department. Meanwhile, the other 10 teams in the conference are in the top half of the FBS in returning production, and five are in the top 25.
Clemson lost the positionless weapon that is Isaiah Simmons, 1,000+ yard wide receiver Tee Higgins, the freakish Justyn Ross (to injury), three starting defensive backs, four starting O-Linemen. The list goes on. But the program was built to survive such an exodus of talent.
The Tigers are still the team to beat in the ACC. They’re still the five-time defending conference champions. They’re still led by one of the best coaches in the sport’s recent history. And they’re still the program with the most highly-touted college quarterback since Stanford’s Andrew Luck, not to mention an uber-efficient, NFL-bound running back and a 2020 recruiting class that ranks second in the country.
When is BC playing?
Friday, Oct. 2, TBA
Where is BC playing?
Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Series History
Clemson has won nine straight games against BC, and it hasn’t been close of late. Head coach Dabo Swinney’s teams have outscored the Eagles, 176-31, in their last four meetings. During that span, Clemson has piled on the only two 50-burgers in the all-time series (which Clemson now leads, 18-9). Last year in Death Valley, BC completed just six passes, went three-and-out seven times, and logged 11 punts. The Tigers nearly covered the 35-point spread by halftime, and Trevor Lawrence and the rest of the starters sat out the final quarter and a half, while Clemson’s twos and threes polished off a monstrous performance. The 59-7 Tigers win marked the largest margin of victory in the programs’ series, as well as the largest margin of defeat in then-BC head coach Steve Addazio’s seven-year tenure.
Clemson’s 2019 Record: 14-1 (8-0), 1st ACC Atlantic
Breaking down the Tigers
Offense: It all starts with Lawrence, who saw a rise in virtually every major statistical category last season. He tossed for 385 more yards and six additional touchdowns, increased his completion percentage by 0.6 points (from 65.2% to 65.8%) and his yards per attempt by 0.7 yards (from 8.3 to 9.0), and, yes, he threw more interceptions. That last stat, however, hardly quantifies a “sophomore slump.” Each of Lawrence’s eight picks occurred in the first seven games of the year. The final eight contests of the 2019 season? A clean 22 touchdowns and zero interceptions. He didn’t shy away from attacking secondaries downfield during that span, either. In fact, he eclipsed the 270-yard passing mark in five of Clemson’s final eight matchups, something he only accomplished once in the Tigers’ first seven weeks of action.
The newest wrinkle to Lawrence’s game in 2019 was his dual-threat ability. The sophomore carried the rock 103 times, picking up chunks of yards a time, often with the zone-read. He finished the year with 563 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. To put that in perspective, he averaged a measly 3.0 yards per carry as a freshman and scored with his legs just once (actually, it was against then-No. 17 BC). Lawrence’s productivity in the run game benefits tailback Travis Etienne, who is coming off his second straight season with 23+ total touchdowns. Etienne grinded out 1,614 rushing yards last year—71 fewer yards than AJ Dillon in 111 fewer carries. In the process, he posted the second-best yards per carry numbers (7.8 yards per rush) in all of college football.
Etienne’s versatility as a receiver will help soften the blow of losing both Higgins and Ross. Last year, the 5-foot-10 back hauled in 37 passes for 432 yards and four touchdowns. As far as the wideout room goes, Amari Rodgers will provide experience and veteran leadership. The wide receiver/punt return man caught 30 balls for 426 yards and four scores in 2019. And then there’s the blue-chippers, guys like Joe Ngata, Frank Ladson Jr., and E.J. Williams.
Where Clemson really needs players to step up is the offensive line. Although the Tigers return tackles Jackson Carman and Jordan McFadden—the fourth-highest graded returning offensive tackle in the Power Five, according to PFF College—they have some holes to fill up front. The backups from last year should fall in line, though, and maybe four-star recruit Walker Parks gets thrown into the rotation. If the past few years are any indication, offensive coordinator Tony Elliott doesn’t have too much to worry about, in terms of new blood in the Tigers’ trenches.
Defense: Clemson is projected to finish 2020 nine spots lower in defensive SP+ than they did last season. A drop from fourth to 13th isn’t so bad, particularly after losing a trio of talented defensive backs: cornerback A.J. Terrell (Atlanta Falcons’ first-round pick), as well as safeties Tanner Muse (Las Vegas Raiders’ third-round pick) and K’Von Wallace (Philadelphia Eagles’ fourth-round pick). Luckily, the Tigers have cornerback Derion Kendrick to build around. Kendrick deflected five passes and picked off two others last year to go along with 43 total tackles at the cornerback position. He was part of a Clemson secondary that allowed just 172.3 yards per game through the air, the fourth-fewest in the nation.
Senior Nolan Turner will likely get the nod at safety after making 48 tackles in 2019. The other two jobs will probably be decided in camp. At the second level, the Tigers have some big shoes to fill. Isaiah Simmons was Clemson’s eraser last year. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables lined him up everywhere, and, at 6-foot-4, 235-some pounds, Simmons blew up plays left and right, becoming the first Tiger to ever win the Butkus Award (given annually to the best linebacker in the nation). It’ll be a group effort to make up for Simmons’ lost production, starting with graduate student James Skalski. The Sharpsburg, Ga. native had the second-most tackles (90) on the team last year, in addition to tallying 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Redshirt sophomore Mike Jones Jr. is a player to keep tabs on—he saw limited snaps in 2019 but is primed for a breakout year.
It’s nothing like the “Big Four” Clemson had in 2018, but the defensive line is definitely the unit’s strong suit. Justin Foster, who logged the second-most TFLs (11.5) and third-most sacks (4.5) on the team last season, will look to carry over his success to 2020. And on the other edge, you have Xavier Thomas, a junior who was named a Third-Team All-ACC selection in 2019 following an impressive 2018 rookie campaign that landed him on several Freshman All-American lists. Yet arguably the more valuable tandem is made up of interior tackles Tyler Davis and Nyles Pinckney, who combined for 14.5 TFLs last year.
Andy Backstrom
Staff Writer
There’s no mercy in college football, especially not in the ACC. Just look at Georgia Tech: 3-9 last season as the league’s bottom dweller, the Yellow Jackets return for 2020 with the toughest schedule in the conference, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI).
Boston College doesn’t have it easy, either. With a new head coach, limited spring ball, and probably the weirdest offseason in the sport’s history, the Eagles are back on campus gearing up for a 10-game slate that includes the ACC’s divisional frontrunners, Clemson and North Carolina. As far as FPI is concerned, BC now has the fourth-hardest schedule in the conference. How will the Eagles fare? I’ll break down each of their 2020 opponents, one by one.
Syracuse | Ohio | Kansas
You have to scroll pretty far down Bill Connelly’s 2020 returning production rankings to find Clemson.
The Tigers are only bringing back a combined 55% of their offensive and defensive output from their national runner-up campaign in 2019. They rank ahead of just three ACC teams—Miami, Syracuse, and Wake Forest—in that department. Meanwhile, the other 10 teams in the conference are in the top half of the FBS in returning production, and five are in the top 25.
Clemson lost the positionless weapon that is Isaiah Simmons, 1,000+ yard wide receiver Tee Higgins, the freakish Justyn Ross (to injury), three starting defensive backs, four starting O-Linemen. The list goes on. But the program was built to survive such an exodus of talent.
The Tigers are still the team to beat in the ACC. They’re still the five-time defending conference champions. They’re still led by one of the best coaches in the sport’s recent history. And they’re still the program with the most highly-touted college quarterback since Stanford’s Andrew Luck, not to mention an uber-efficient, NFL-bound running back and a 2020 recruiting class that ranks second in the country.
When is BC playing?
Friday, Oct. 2, TBA
Where is BC playing?
Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Series History
Clemson has won nine straight games against BC, and it hasn’t been close of late. Head coach Dabo Swinney’s teams have outscored the Eagles, 176-31, in their last four meetings. During that span, Clemson has piled on the only two 50-burgers in the all-time series (which Clemson now leads, 18-9). Last year in Death Valley, BC completed just six passes, went three-and-out seven times, and logged 11 punts. The Tigers nearly covered the 35-point spread by halftime, and Trevor Lawrence and the rest of the starters sat out the final quarter and a half, while Clemson’s twos and threes polished off a monstrous performance. The 59-7 Tigers win marked the largest margin of victory in the programs’ series, as well as the largest margin of defeat in then-BC head coach Steve Addazio’s seven-year tenure.
Clemson’s 2019 Record: 14-1 (8-0), 1st ACC Atlantic
Breaking down the Tigers
Offense: It all starts with Lawrence, who saw a rise in virtually every major statistical category last season. He tossed for 385 more yards and six additional touchdowns, increased his completion percentage by 0.6 points (from 65.2% to 65.8%) and his yards per attempt by 0.7 yards (from 8.3 to 9.0), and, yes, he threw more interceptions. That last stat, however, hardly quantifies a “sophomore slump.” Each of Lawrence’s eight picks occurred in the first seven games of the year. The final eight contests of the 2019 season? A clean 22 touchdowns and zero interceptions. He didn’t shy away from attacking secondaries downfield during that span, either. In fact, he eclipsed the 270-yard passing mark in five of Clemson’s final eight matchups, something he only accomplished once in the Tigers’ first seven weeks of action.
The newest wrinkle to Lawrence’s game in 2019 was his dual-threat ability. The sophomore carried the rock 103 times, picking up chunks of yards a time, often with the zone-read. He finished the year with 563 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. To put that in perspective, he averaged a measly 3.0 yards per carry as a freshman and scored with his legs just once (actually, it was against then-No. 17 BC). Lawrence’s productivity in the run game benefits tailback Travis Etienne, who is coming off his second straight season with 23+ total touchdowns. Etienne grinded out 1,614 rushing yards last year—71 fewer yards than AJ Dillon in 111 fewer carries. In the process, he posted the second-best yards per carry numbers (7.8 yards per rush) in all of college football.
Etienne’s versatility as a receiver will help soften the blow of losing both Higgins and Ross. Last year, the 5-foot-10 back hauled in 37 passes for 432 yards and four touchdowns. As far as the wideout room goes, Amari Rodgers will provide experience and veteran leadership. The wide receiver/punt return man caught 30 balls for 426 yards and four scores in 2019. And then there’s the blue-chippers, guys like Joe Ngata, Frank Ladson Jr., and E.J. Williams.
Where Clemson really needs players to step up is the offensive line. Although the Tigers return tackles Jackson Carman and Jordan McFadden—the fourth-highest graded returning offensive tackle in the Power Five, according to PFF College—they have some holes to fill up front. The backups from last year should fall in line, though, and maybe four-star recruit Walker Parks gets thrown into the rotation. If the past few years are any indication, offensive coordinator Tony Elliott doesn’t have too much to worry about, in terms of new blood in the Tigers’ trenches.
Defense: Clemson is projected to finish 2020 nine spots lower in defensive SP+ than they did last season. A drop from fourth to 13th isn’t so bad, particularly after losing a trio of talented defensive backs: cornerback A.J. Terrell (Atlanta Falcons’ first-round pick), as well as safeties Tanner Muse (Las Vegas Raiders’ third-round pick) and K’Von Wallace (Philadelphia Eagles’ fourth-round pick). Luckily, the Tigers have cornerback Derion Kendrick to build around. Kendrick deflected five passes and picked off two others last year to go along with 43 total tackles at the cornerback position. He was part of a Clemson secondary that allowed just 172.3 yards per game through the air, the fourth-fewest in the nation.
Senior Nolan Turner will likely get the nod at safety after making 48 tackles in 2019. The other two jobs will probably be decided in camp. At the second level, the Tigers have some big shoes to fill. Isaiah Simmons was Clemson’s eraser last year. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables lined him up everywhere, and, at 6-foot-4, 235-some pounds, Simmons blew up plays left and right, becoming the first Tiger to ever win the Butkus Award (given annually to the best linebacker in the nation). It’ll be a group effort to make up for Simmons’ lost production, starting with graduate student James Skalski. The Sharpsburg, Ga. native had the second-most tackles (90) on the team last year, in addition to tallying 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Redshirt sophomore Mike Jones Jr. is a player to keep tabs on—he saw limited snaps in 2019 but is primed for a breakout year.
It’s nothing like the “Big Four” Clemson had in 2018, but the defensive line is definitely the unit’s strong suit. Justin Foster, who logged the second-most TFLs (11.5) and third-most sacks (4.5) on the team last season, will look to carry over his success to 2020. And on the other edge, you have Xavier Thomas, a junior who was named a Third-Team All-ACC selection in 2019 following an impressive 2018 rookie campaign that landed him on several Freshman All-American lists. Yet arguably the more valuable tandem is made up of interior tackles Tyler Davis and Nyles Pinckney, who combined for 14.5 TFLs last year.
