Clemson’s first depth chart after the bye week did a lot of talking for a piece of paper. On the defensive line, it made one thing plain: Vic Burley is the odd man out.
Andy Burburija and Amare Adams are still listed as starters, but now Darien Mayo and Champ Thompson are in that group too. Burley, meanwhile, is listed behind Burburija, Mayo, and Devarrick Woods.
Coming into the year, Clemson’s front was already viewed as the weakest spot on the roster, and heading into the second half, it still looks like a unit searching for answers. The offensive line has been the bigger disappointment overall, but at least the players up front on defense have kept fighting.
Burley has not been much of a factor.
Mayo’s rise matters here. He has clearly moved into the mix alongside Adams, Burburija, and Thompson as the fourth key piece of this defense’s front.
With Clemson not facing any world beaters the rest of the way, there’s at least a path for this group to start settling in during the back half of the season. If the defensive line gets better, the rest of the defense can benefit too.
That is what happens when you elevate the constraint.
Depth charts do not tell the whole story, but the move to have Mayo and Thompson listed as co-starters with Burburija and Adams feels meaningful after a bye week that gave Clemson a chance to rework things. Mayo and Thompson also started against Miami.
Dabo Swinney appears perfectly comfortable leaning on the other guys on defense.
Instead of dwelling on another quiet stretch from Burley, the better story is what Adams, Burburija, Mayo, and Thompson have done with him mostly on the outside looking in. Burburija and Mayo lead the group with nine combined tackles over five games.
Burburija has added a sack. Thompson has half a sack.
He and Mayo also lead the way with two pass breakups.
For players at positions where stats do not always jump off the page, that is still real production. Through three games with Clemson, Burley has only a fumble recovery against North Carolina.
Devarrick Woods has actually done more, despite missing one game with an injury. He has four combined tackles and half a sack, which is a solid return for a transfer.
The overall message from Clemson’s post-bye defensive depth chart is clear: Swinney is willing to roll with the guys he has. This group has not been dominant, but the players in it keep showing up every week. That could be read as a push to get more out of Burley, but it feels more like a nod to the others who have earned the snaps.
There were a couple of other notable defensive changes, too. Donovan Starr is now the starting TIGER with Corian Gipson out for the season.
Ronan Hanafin is listed as a co-starter at ROVER behind Corey Myrick and at free safety behind Jerome Carter III. In the end, Hanafin, Staff, Mayo, and Thompson look like the players who will determine how good this Clemson defense can be.
In Other News...
Clemsons New Depth Chart Sends A Clear Message Up Front
Clemsons bye week brought a few notable tweaks to the depth chart, and the clearest change came up front on offense. Offensive line coach Matt Luke moved Easton Ware into the starting role at right guard over Ronan OConnell, a shift that points to the staff continuing to sort out the best combination before the Tigers face Charleston Southern.
There were also some fresh wrinkles on defense, where Darien Mayo moved into a co-starter role at interior defensive line and Champ Thompson was elevated to co-starter at defensive tackle. Head coach Dabo Swinney said both players have drawn attention for their performances and health status, another sign that Clemson is still fine-tuning the rotation even with a lighter matchup ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons Defensive Line Is Getting A Return Fans Have Waited On
Clemsons defensive front is about to get a little deeper, and the timing could hardly be better. Defensive tackle transfer Kourtney Kelly is expected to return against Charleston Southern after working his way back from an ACL injury that kept him out to start the 2026 season, with Dabo Swinney saying the junior has been ramped up in practice and is in line to help the Tigers up front.
Kelly arrived as one of Clemsons more notable offseason additions after transferring from West Georgia, and his return gives the staff another piece to work with inside. For a line that has been waiting to see what Kelly can add, the next step now is simply getting him back into game action and seeing how quickly he can settle in once the Tigers turn to the Bulldogs on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Has Little Margin For Error Entering A Crucial Early Stretch
Clemson entered the season with a respectful but cautious nod from the ACC, landing sixth in the preseason poll behind five other teams with 623 points. There is enough talent on the roster to keep the Tigers in the conversation, but the early outlook is complicated by injuries to key players Zac Foster and Carter Welling as both work back from torn ACLs. Add in a freshman guard like Harris Reynolds, who even drew a Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year vote, and there is intrigue around how quickly this group can find its footing.
The challenge now is that Clemson does not have much room to stumble while the schedule is still offering chances to build a postseason case. Its non-conference slate is going to matter a great deal for NCAA Tournament positioning, especially with the ACC projected to be a grind from top to bottom. For a team trying to balance patience with urgency, the opening stretch will say a lot about how much margin the Tigers really have. [Read more 🡒]