Clemson released its official preseason depth chart Wednesday, offering few surprises for a team that returns 17 starters, including its specialists. However, the depth chart did settle one of the most publicized position battles in college football — for now, at least.
Kelly Bryant began and ended the spring as the Tigers' starting quarterback, holding off five-star freshman Trevor Lawrence, who is listed as Bryant's primary backup. After former Clemson quarterbacks Zerrick Cooper and Hunter Johnson announced their decisions to leave the program this offseason, it was expected Bryant and Lawrence would be No. 1 and No. 2 on the depth chart in some order.
Redshirt freshman Chase Brice is listed as the team's third-string quarterback.
At the skill positions, Tee Higgins and Trevion Thompson are listed as co-starters at the 9-man receiver spot, with Hunter Renfrow operating out of the slot as the 5-man, and Amari Rodgers at the 2-man after a strong spring camp.
Despite closing his freshman season in a timeshare with Tavien Feaster, sophomore Travis Etienne exits the spring as Clemson's starting running back, followed by Adam Choice and Feaster. Etienne led the team in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns with 766 yards and 13 scores — a Clemson freshman record — on 107 carries.
Incumbent starter Milan Richard is listed as a co-starter at tight end with Garrett Williams, who returns from a torn ACL.
Clemson's offensive line features four players who started at least one game last season; Mitch Hyatt anchors the line at left tackle, with the 6-foot-4, 320-pound John Simpson next to him at left guard. All-ACC selection Justin Falcinelli returns at center, and Sean Pollard and Tremayne Anchrum are listed as the team's starters at right guard and right tackle, respectively.
Defensively, Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant will man the defensive end spots and Christian Wilkins retained his spot at defensive tackle after all three players decided to skip the 2018 NFL Draft.
Projected first-round pick Dexter Lawrence is listed as a co-starter with senior Albert Huggins, but it's worth noting Lawrence did not practice in full this spring as he nursed a foot injury.
The first true shake-up of the preseason depth chart occurs at linebacker, where Isaiah Simmons is tapped as Dorian O'Daniel's replacement at strong-side linebacker. The former safety Simmons will play a hybrid linebacker/nickel back role.
Clemson's leading tackler from last season, Kendall Joseph, slides from weak-side linebacker to middle linebacker, and J.D. Davis takes over at weak-side linebacker. Joseph's transition to middle linebacker is a bit of a surprise given the return of last year's starter Tre Lamar, who is listed as the team's backup at the position.
A.J. Terrell and Mark Fields are listed as co-starters at field corner, while Trayvon Mullen retains his position as the Clemson's starting boundary corner. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables and head coach Dabo Swinney each stressed the team's lack of depth at cornerback, so the current standing is very likely to shift once 2018 signees Mario Goodrich and Kyler McMichael arrive on campus.
K'Von Wallace and Tanner Muse are listed as Clemson's starters at strong safety and free safety, respectively.
Alex Spence and Greg Huegel are listed as the co-starters at placekicker as the latter returns from a torn ACL this season, and Will Spiers appears to have won the spring battle at punter of Carson King.
OFFENSE
Left Tackle
72 Blake Vinson 6-4 290 *Fr.
79 Jackson Carman 6-6 350 Fr.
Left Guard
74 JOHN SIMPSON 6-4 320 Jr.
65 Matt Bockhorst 6-3 305 *Fr.
79 Jackson Carman 6-6 350 Fr.
Center
59 Gage Cervenka 6-3 320 *Jr.
77 Zach Giella 6-4 295 *Jr.
Right Guard
76 SEAN POLLARD 6-5 315 Jr.
62 Cade Stewart 6-2 300 *So.
77 Zach Giella 6-4 295 *Jr.
Right Tackle
73 TREMAYNE ANCHRUM 6-2 290 Jr.
78 Chandler Reeves 6-7 285 *So.
68 Noah DeHond 6-6 310 *Fr.
Tight End
80 MILAN RICHARD 6-2 255 *Gr.
or 44 GARRETT WILLIAMS 6-4 245 *Jr.
84 Cannon Smith 6-4 270 *Sr.
25 J.C. Chalk 6-3 250 *So.
Wide Receiver
14 Diondre Overton 6-5 205 Jr.
Quarterback
16 Trevor Lawrence 6-5 205 Fr.
7 Chase Brice 6-2 210 *Fr.
Ben Batson 6-1 185 Fr.
Running Back
26 Adam Choice 5-8 210 *Gr.
or 28 Tavien Feaster 5-11 220 Jr.
Wide Receiver
13 HUNTER RENFROW 5-10 180 *Gr.
18 T.J. Chase 6-1 185 *So.
16 Will Swinney 5-9 185 So.
Wide Receiver
3 AMARI RODGERS 5-9 210 So.
17 Cornell Powell 6-0 205 Jr.
or 10 Derion Kendrick 6-1 190 Fr.
DEFENSE
Defensive End
99 CLELIN FERRELL 6-5 260 *Jr.
35 Justin Foster 6-4 255 So.
22 Xavier Kelly 6-4 265 *So.
13 K.J. Henry 6-5 235 Fr.
49 Richard Yeargin 6-4 260 *Gr.
Defensive Tackle
90 DEXTER LAWRENCE 6-4 340 Jr.
or 67 ALBERT HUGGINS 6-3 305 Sr.
44 Nyles Pinckney 6-1 300 *So.
Defensive Tackle
42 CHRISTIAN WILKINS 6-4 300 Gr.
67 Albert Huggins 6-3 305 Sr.
59 Jordan Williams 6-4 280 *Fr.
91 Darnell Jefferies 6-3 285 Fr.
Defensive End
7 AUSTIN BRYANT 6-5 265 Sr.
45 Chris Register 6-3 255 *Gr.
54 Logan Rudolph 6-2 230 *Fr.
3 Xavier Thomas 6-3 255 Fr.
Strong-side Linebacker/Nickel Back
11 ISAIAH SIMMONS 6-3 225 *So.
30 Jalen Williams 5-10 210 Gr.
6 Mike Jones Jr. 6-1 220 Fr.
Middle Linebacker
34 KENDALL JOSEPH 6-0 225 *Gr.
57 Tre Lamar 6-4 250 Jr.
43 Chad Smith 6-4 235 *Jr.
36 Judah Davis 6-2 235 Gr.
Weak-side Linebacker
33 J.D. DAVIS 6-2 225 Gr.
47 James Skalski 6-0 240 Jr.
5 Shaq Smith 6-2 245 *So.
Cornerback
8 A.J. TERRELL 6-1 190 So.
or 2 MARK FIELDS 5-11 180 Sr.
20 LeAnthony Williams 6-0 175 *Fr.
9 Brian Dawkins Jr. 5-7 165 *So.
Strong Safety
12 K'VON WALLACE 6-0 195 Jr.
24 Nolan Turner 6-1 200 *So.
Free Safety
19 TANNER MUSE 6-2 225 *Jr.
14 Denzel Johnson 6-1 200 *Jr.
32 Kyle Cote 5-10 185 *Jr.
Cornerback
1 TRAYVON MULLEN 6-2 190 Jr.
20 LeAnthony Williams 6-0 175 *Fr.
9 Brian Dawkins Jr. 5-7 165 *So.
