Clemson’s 2026 opener turned into a rough-night audit in Baton Rouge, and the Tigers came out of the 51-10 loss to LSU with a clear list of players who helped their standing and others who didn’t. In a game that got lopsided fast, some guys held up better than the final score would suggest. Others were exposed early and often.
One of the biggest bright spots was linebacker Trent Alexander. Even though plenty of people expected Kobe McCloud to be the other starter next to Sammy Brown, Alexander ended up seeing the second-most snaps in the group and made the most of them.
The Alabama transfer finished with seven total tackles and a pass deflection, and he was around the ball plenty when LSU tried to run past Clemson’s front. While McCloud was viewed as the more agile option, Alexander handled the speed of the game just fine.
Among Clemson defenders with at least 20 snaps, and he played 55, he posted the team’s top PFF grade on defense at 80.1. Clemson still won’t have an official starter next to Brown for Week 2, but Alexander clearly earned more run.
The cornerback room also had one player who came out of the opener with some momentum. Penn State transfer Avieon Washington was tested, and he answered with seven tackles and two pass deflections.
That was enough to give him the highest grade among Clemson corners last weekend, and it stood out in a secondary that needed steadier play. With Avieon Terrell gone to the NFL last offseason, Clemson has continued leaning on transfers to deliver, and Washington looked like one of the few reliable pieces on a night when LSU receivers and Clemson’s defense spent a lot of time in the spotlight.
On the other side of the ledger, Brayden Jacobs had a night to forget. The sophomore offensive lineman struggled to hold up against LSU’s front, whether the issue was technique or assignment.
His matchup with edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen went badly, as Umanmielen finished with 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss, both team highs. Jacobs had entered the season with real offseason buzz, but he couldn’t answer the bell on Clemson’s biggest stage of the year.
The offensive line had another rough spot in right guard Zach O’Connell. He earned his second career start and locked down a starting job to open his junior season, but the rest of the evening was ugly.
O’Connell finished with the lowest grade on the offense outside the quarterbacks, and LSU’s defensive line made him pay. Clemson knew that unit would be a problem, and O’Connell got picked apart in the loss.
He had been in a battle with sophomore Tucker Kattus for the right guard job, and he’ll get another shot, but this was not the start he wanted.
At edge rusher, Lawson’s stock slipped after he was quiet for most of the night. He finished with only two tackles, and LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. kept attacking his side.
Lawson couldn’t consistently set the edge, and he spent a lot of the game dealing with the size and power of Jordan Seaton. The fifth-year player has been praised for his work ethic and strength, but against LSU’s offensive line, those traits didn’t carry enough weight.
Still, both Lawson and senior Will Heldt are expected to start against Georgia Southern in Week 2.
There was at least one edge player who showed more promise than Lawson. Merritt, another offseason transfer, also ended with two tackles, but the numbers don’t tell the full story.
PFF graded him at 73.7, which counts as above average, and he looked more effective rushing off the edge. LSU had limited success running the ball to his side, and his athleticism showed up several times.
He even nearly got to Sam Leavitt on a rushing touchdown, coming across the field after the pass rush to help force the score. The sophomore still has plenty to clean up with the defense as a whole, but he flashed enough to suggest more snaps could be coming.
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