Clemson’s offense is heading into a reset, and Chad Morris is back in the building to steer it. After a 7-6 season that fell far short of national-title expectations, Dabo Swinney moved on from Garrett Riley and turned to a coordinator he trusts. Morris returns to Clemson 12 years after his first run there, with the job of helping spark the kind of attack that made those early 2010s teams so dangerous.
The obvious names will draw attention right away - Gideon Davidson, TJ Moore, Bryant Wesco Jr., and quarterback hopeful Christopher Vizzina among them. But the players who could really tilt this offense are the ones sitting a little farther from the spotlight. By season’s end, Clemson fans may know these three just as well.
Chris Johnson Jr. is one of the more interesting pieces in the backfield. Swinney has already called him out earlier this offseason, but Johnson is set on doing the work.
He arrives at Clemson after a stop at SMU, following his first two college seasons at Miami, and he’s already seen what it takes to be around winning programs in the ACC. Still, his production has been modest so far, with 583 career rushing yards.
What makes Johnson intriguing is how Morris plans to use him. Behind Davidson, most of the depth chart is expected to operate behind the quarterback, but Morris is comfortable moving Johnson all over the Clemson backfield.
That kind of usage should make him a tougher matchup than he was with the Canes or Ponies. His maturity and versatility give him a real chance to matter in this offense.
At tight end, Christian Bentancur looks like a player who can become a steady outlet for Clemson’s new quarterback. Olsen Patt-Henry was one of three Tigers to represent the program at ACC Media Days, but Bentancur may be the one climbing highest on the depth chart. He’s been at Clemson for two years, and after a limited role as a true freshman, he took a bigger step last season with 20 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns.
That profile fits what Clemson may need early. Whether it’s Vizzina or true freshman Tait Reynolds taking the snaps, the quarterback is likely to lean on the tight end for clean, reliable completions.
If Bentancur’s hands hold up, there’s a path for him to double last season’s numbers in Morris’ offense. With a more seasoned play-caller in charge, he could become one of the easiest ways for Clemson to stay on schedule.
Gordon Sellars III may not be near the top of the pecking order at receiver, but he has a chance to pop in a group that should force defenses to pick their poison. Naeem Burroughs is expected to handle a heavy load as a true freshman alongside Moore and Wesco, yet Sellars is another freshman worth watching. Morris’ uptempo spread should create enough volume for a few chances to come his way.
With Moore and Wesco drawing most of the attention outside and Burroughs working into the mix, Sellars could find himself on the receiving end of a timely big play or two. Clemson has often been at its best when one wideout after another starts making plays downfield, and this group gives Swinney a chance to lean into that formula again. Sellars may not be targeted often, but the opportunities should be there.
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The one lingering decision is at right guard, where the competition remains open and the flexibility up front could still shape how the line looks when the season starts. Swinney has stressed how important communication will be in the opener, and that kind of detail matters when a line is still sorting out one final piece and figuring out which combinations give Clemson the best chance to start fast. [Read more 🡒]
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Dabo Just Turned Up The Pressure On Clemsons Unsettled Depth Chart
Clemson is coming out of the stretch of camp where coaches can still treat every rep like an audition, and Dabo Swinney made it clear the latest one did not go to plan. After limiting some of the Tigers more established players so he could get a better look at the rest of the roster, Swinney said the practice was the worst of preseason camp, pointing to a lack of focus and mistakes on both sides of the ball.
That matters now because Clemson is moving from broad camp evaluation into actual game planning for its season opener against LSU. The staff wanted answers on who can handle bigger roles, but the latest practice suggested some of those questions are still very much open, which leaves the depth chart feeling a lot less settled than the Tigers would like this close to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]