Clemson will start the 2021 season with some new faces, but there should be no concerns with this roster.
Dabo Swinney is the 3rd highest paid coach in college football for a reason. At this point in his tenure it’s all about reloading and not rebuilding. (Sidenote: Dabo was the highest paid coach before so graciously taking a pay cut due to the pandemic last year. Good Guy Dabo is what I like to call him for that move.)
Here are the guys who are poised to stand out this upcoming season:
Offensive Player of the Year: WR Justyn Ross
Justyn Ross is by far the biggest weapon on this Clemson offense when he is healthy. He sat out last season due to a congenital spinal fusion diagnosis. Ross caught 112 passes for 1,865 yards and 17 TDs his first two years at Clemson, so we know he has the potential to put up more huge numbers. Without Amari Rodgers, Cornell Powell and Travis Etienne, look for QB D.J. Uiagalelei to throw his way early and often. Ross could easily be a top three WR in the nation by the end of the year. At 6’4″ and 205 pounds, Ross is a NFL sized deep threat that every team the Tigers face this year will have trouble defending.
Defensive Player of the Year: LB James Skalski
James Skalski is the heart and soul of this Clemson defense as he returns for his sixth season. While probably not the most talented on the defense (that goes to DT Bryan Bresee or DE Myles Murphy) Skalski is still one of the top linebackers in the country and a phenomenal leader on the field. He is also the only player to play in five ACC championship games and will look to make that six this year.
Freshman of the Year: RB Will Shipley
Will Shipley comes in as the #2 RB in the 2021 class and the #2 player out of North Carolina. The running back room is pretty full with Lyn-J Dixon, Kobe Pace, and Michael Dukes, but Shipley has a chance to contribute in the punt return and kick return game. If I were offensive coordinator Tony Elliot, I would still find a way to get him catching some passes coming out of the backfield and allow Shipley to show off the sub 4.5 second 40-yard dash time. Shipley has the most skill and best opportunity to make things happen right away from Clemson’s 2021 class.
Most Underrated Player: LB Baylon Spector
I mentioned James Skalski above as the DPOY and leader of the defense, but he may not even be the best linebacker on the team. That title should go to fellow graduate senior Baylon Spector. Spector lead the team with 65 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss last year. 2020 was his first year in a starting role, so expect to see him get a lot more attention in 2021.
Breakout Player of the Year: DT Tyler Davis
2021 will be a big year for junior defensive tackle Tyler Davis. Davis will have plenty of opportunities to wreak havoc in the opponent’s backfield as offenses will focus on stopping DT Bryan Bresee and DE Myles Murphy. At 6’2″ and 300 pounds, Davis is a future NFL talent that has the opportunity to grab the spotlight on Clemson’s loaded defensive front.
Check out our other ACC Preseason Awards and stay tuned the next couple weeks for more:
