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CLEMSON — Clemson football is entering a pivotal 2026 season.
The Tigers lost 14 starters (seven on defense and offense) after going 7-6 last season to miss the College Football Playoff and ACC championship.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney brought in 11 transfers to help fill those voids and is banking on development from the Tigers' young players to step up.
Here are Clemson's best position groups entering the season.
Clemson lost star wideout Antonio Williams to the NFL draft but retained juniors Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore.
Both could have departed in the portal after offensive coordinator Garrett Riley was fired and quarterback Cade Klubnik's eligibility expired. Instead, both return to be arguably the best wide receiver duo in the ACC.
Wesco recorded 31 catches for 537 yards and six touchdowns in seven games last season before suffering a season-ending back injury. In his freshman year, he had 41 catches for 708 yards and five touchdowns.
Moore led Clemson in receiving yards with 837 and had 52 catches for four touchdowns in 2025.
MORE: Clemson football's ceiling, floor in push to redeem Dabo Swinney's disappointing 2025
Behind the duo are Tyler Brown, Cole Turner, Tristan Smith and three freshman wide receivers, notably top signee Naeem Burroughs.
For these receivers to thrive, Clemson will need first-year starter Christopher Vizzina or Tait Reynolds to succeed, but this unit boasts the most talent on the Tigers.
This is another position where the Tigers have high-end talent and quality depth.
Gideon Davidson enters as Clemson's top running back after serving as a backup to Adam Randall last year. Davidson rushed for 260 yards on 60 attempts and caught 11 passes for 93 yards in 13 games in 2025.
He will be the team's starter but will be supported by a variety of running backs.
Chris Johnson Jr., Clemson's top offensive portal addition, has added speed to the room that can be used for big gains in the run and pass. David Eziomume is a bruising power back.
The Tigers also have Jay Haynes, who would have been Clemson's likely starter at running back last year but missed the season after tearing his ACL in the 2024 ACC championship.
The group can also thrive with new offensive coordinator Chad Morris' willingness to run the ball. When he served in the same role at Clemson from 2011-14, the Tigers had a running back rush for 1,000 yards in three of his four seasons (Andre Ellington, Roderick McDowell).
Despite losing T.J. Parker to the NFL draft, Clemson's edge rushers are the strongest unit on the defense.
Clemson retained star defensive end Will Heldt, who transferred from Purdue last year to lead the Tigers in sacks and tackles for loss. Clemson is also getting a fully developed Jahiem Lawson, who is entering his fifth year after setting a career high in sacks.
Behind them, Clemson has Darien Mayo, Colorado transfer London Merritt, Howard transfer CJ Weasley and Ari Watford.
Mayo and Merritt showcased their speed and power in Clemson's spring game, displaying they can be contributors when they rotate into games. Weasley is coming from the FCS level, and Watford has progressed to be featured in sets.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Which Clemson football position groups Dabo Swinney should feel best about in 2026
Continue reading...
The Tigers lost 14 starters (seven on defense and offense) after going 7-6 last season to miss the College Football Playoff and ACC championship.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney brought in 11 transfers to help fill those voids and is banking on development from the Tigers' young players to step up.
Here are Clemson's best position groups entering the season.
Wide receiver
Clemson lost star wideout Antonio Williams to the NFL draft but retained juniors Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore.
Both could have departed in the portal after offensive coordinator Garrett Riley was fired and quarterback Cade Klubnik's eligibility expired. Instead, both return to be arguably the best wide receiver duo in the ACC.
Wesco recorded 31 catches for 537 yards and six touchdowns in seven games last season before suffering a season-ending back injury. In his freshman year, he had 41 catches for 708 yards and five touchdowns.
Moore led Clemson in receiving yards with 837 and had 52 catches for four touchdowns in 2025.
MORE: Clemson football's ceiling, floor in push to redeem Dabo Swinney's disappointing 2025
Behind the duo are Tyler Brown, Cole Turner, Tristan Smith and three freshman wide receivers, notably top signee Naeem Burroughs.
For these receivers to thrive, Clemson will need first-year starter Christopher Vizzina or Tait Reynolds to succeed, but this unit boasts the most talent on the Tigers.
Running back
This is another position where the Tigers have high-end talent and quality depth.
Gideon Davidson enters as Clemson's top running back after serving as a backup to Adam Randall last year. Davidson rushed for 260 yards on 60 attempts and caught 11 passes for 93 yards in 13 games in 2025.
He will be the team's starter but will be supported by a variety of running backs.
Chris Johnson Jr., Clemson's top offensive portal addition, has added speed to the room that can be used for big gains in the run and pass. David Eziomume is a bruising power back.
The Tigers also have Jay Haynes, who would have been Clemson's likely starter at running back last year but missed the season after tearing his ACL in the 2024 ACC championship.
The group can also thrive with new offensive coordinator Chad Morris' willingness to run the ball. When he served in the same role at Clemson from 2011-14, the Tigers had a running back rush for 1,000 yards in three of his four seasons (Andre Ellington, Roderick McDowell).
Defensive end
Despite losing T.J. Parker to the NFL draft, Clemson's edge rushers are the strongest unit on the defense.
Clemson retained star defensive end Will Heldt, who transferred from Purdue last year to lead the Tigers in sacks and tackles for loss. Clemson is also getting a fully developed Jahiem Lawson, who is entering his fifth year after setting a career high in sacks.
Behind them, Clemson has Darien Mayo, Colorado transfer London Merritt, Howard transfer CJ Weasley and Ari Watford.
Mayo and Merritt showcased their speed and power in Clemson's spring game, displaying they can be contributors when they rotate into games. Weasley is coming from the FCS level, and Watford has progressed to be featured in sets.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Which Clemson football position groups Dabo Swinney should feel best about in 2026
Continue reading...
