Clemson finally put a depth chart on paper Tuesday, and the first one of 2026 gives a clearer picture of how the Tigers are lining up after a rough opening night at LSU.
The timing matters. Clemson didn’t release a depth chart before the Week 1 trip to LSU, but the Tigers included one in their weekly game notes this week as they prepare for Saturday’s home opener against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network.
Clemson enters the game at 0-1 after a 51-10 loss to No. 11 LSU. That 41-point margin was Swinney’s worst defeat by scoring margin in 241 games as Clemson’s coach.
The first chart of the season doesn’t bring a ton of shock value - the team has already played a game, after all - but it does reveal how the staff currently sees the pecking order at a number of key spots.
On offense, Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds are listed as co-starters at quarterback. Gideon Davidson is the top running back, with Chris Johnson Jr., Jarvis Green or David Eziomume behind him.
At receiver, Bryant Wesco Jr. is listed at outside receiver with Chris Denson behind him, while T.J. Moore holds the other outside spot and Gordon Sellars III or Tristan Smith are next in line.
Tyler Brown is the slot receiver, with Juju Preston or Naeem Burroughs backing him up.
Tight end shows a split at the top as well, with Olsen Patt-Henry or Christian Bentancur listed ahead of Logan Brooking. Up front, the offensive line reads Brayden Jacobs at left tackle, Elyjah Thurmon at left guard, Harris Sewell at center, Ronan O’Connell or Tucker Kattus at right guard, and Collin Sadler at right tackle. Ian Reed, Gavin Blanchard, Grant Wise and Easton Ware are the listed backups at their respective spots.
The defense has its own set of co-leaders in a few places. Will Heldt opens at defensive end with Darien Mayo and Armon Mason behind him, while Andy Burburija starts at defensive tackle over Champ Thompson.
Amare Adams is listed as the other tackle, with Devarrick Woods next. Jahiem Lawson starts at the other end spot, backed by London Merritt and Caden Story.
At linebacker, Jeremiah Alexander is the middle linebacker with Kobe McCloud behind him, and Sammy Brown is the weakside linebacker with Fletcher Cothran next. In the secondary, Elliot Washington II is listed at corner with Donovan Starr behind him, Corian Gipson starts at the nickel “Tiger” spot with Misun Kelley behind him, and Corey Myrick or Ronan Hanafin are listed at rover with Jakarrion Kenan next. Jerome Carter III or Ronan Hanafin are the first names at free safety, followed by Kylon Griffin, while Ashton Hampton is the other corner with Branden Strozier behind him.
Special teams also came with a full set of names. Nolan Hauser is the placekicker, Robert Gunn III is the punter and kickoff specialist, Brodey Conn is listed as the long snapper for field goals and Jackson Reach is listed as the long snapper for punts. Clay Swinney is the holder, Bryant Wesco Jr. is the punt returner and Chris Johnson Jr. is the kickoff returner.
In Other News...
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Clemsons defensive front got a much-needed lift this week with the reinstatement of tackle Vic Burley after a suspension tied to a public disorderly conduct arrest. Burley still will miss the upcoming game against Georgia Southern, but his return is lined up for a far more important moment, with the Tigers expecting to have him back for their ACC opener against North Carolina.
That matters because Clemson is also bracing for the likely loss of defensive tackle Markus Strong, who is expected to be out for the season after suffering a lower-leg injury in a recent game. Between Burleys return and Strongs injury, the Tigers interior line picture has shifted quickly, and the next few weeks will tell just how much depth they can piece together before conference play starts to sharpen the stakes. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons Ugly Opener Put Dabo Swinney Under An Unwanted Spotlight
Clemsons season-opening loss to LSU did more than drop the Tigers into an early hole. It also put a sharp light on the parts of the roster that did hold up, especially in the secondary, where cornerback Ashton Hampton and safety Corey Myrick drew the kind of attention that can matter as the schedule tightens. For a team that came in expecting a cleaner start, there was at least some proof that a few individual pieces can still compete at a high level even when the overall performance falls short.
The bigger issue, though, is what the opener said about where Clemson stands around its head coach. Dabo Swinney is used to having the benefit of the doubt, but this one invited more questions than answers, from the way the game was handled to how much work remains before the Tigers look like a finished product. The next few weeks will say plenty about whether the loss was just a bad night or the first sign that Clemson has more fixing to do than anyone wanted to admit. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons Home Opener Comes With A Price Fans Will Notice
Clemsons home opener comes with a familiar kind of college-football cost, and this one is a hefty one. According to a contract obtained through public records, the Tigers will pay Georgia Southern for Saturday nights game at Memorial Stadium, a matchup set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on the ACC Network.
The deal also spells out the usual logistics that come with bringing a road team to town, including ticket allotments and access for Georgia Southerns team and staff. It is the sort of behind-the-scenes bookkeeping that rarely gets much attention on game day, even though it helps shape the business side of a September Saturday in Death Valley. [Read more 🡒]