For Clemson football, it is the most wonderful time of the year. And no, it is not Christmas yet.
Fall practice begins today, and the expectations are as high for the Tigers as they have been in years. With prognosticators and national pundits predicting a potential national championship run for Clemson football, hopes are high in Tiger Town. As fall camp gets underway, however, there are still lots of things to keep an eye on and position battles being fought. Here is a look at five of them.
Who will Back up Cade Klubnik?
The quarterback position is as solid as it gets for the Tigers. The Clemson football team is in good hands with Klubnik under center for his third year as a starter. Cade passed for more than 3,600 yards and 36 touchdowns in 2024. The question is, though, who will be QB2? That role will likely fall to Christopher Vizzina.
Trent Pearman and Cade Trotter are the other two signal callers on the roster, but Vizzina has also been on the team for three years and would be ready to step in if needed. It would be safe to assume that this will be Vizzina’s last season as an understudy with Klubnik projected as a top five pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Who will Step up at Linebacker to Fill Depth Roles?
Sammy Brown and Wade Woodaz are pretty much a lock to start at linebacker for Clemson this season, but the Tigers are looking for depth behind their two main guys. As much as any other position, the battle for a high place on the depth chart here will be quite interesting with multiple intriguing names to keep an eye on.
Behind Brown and Woodaz there is Jeremiah Alexander, a former five-star recruit who transferred to Alabama, who should see significant snaps. Kobe McCloud, Jamal Anderson, Dee Crayton, and C.J. Kubah-Taylor are also in the mix and give defensive coordinator Tom Allen a versatile and athletic group to choose from.
Who will Emerge as RB1?
Running back is the one position that has been most ballyhooed by fans and pundits alike during the offseason, with Clemson football facing a bit of uncertainty in the backfield. There is plenty of reason for optimism, though. The Tigers return the likes of Adam Randall, who converted from wide receiver, and David Eziomume is primed to take another step in his development along with Jay Haynes who is coming off a season-ended knee injury in 2024.
But the excitement is focused largely on true freshman Gideon Davidson, a top three recruit at his position, who has drawn early comparisons to legendary Clemson running back Travis Etienne. Seeing what Davidson can do early will be a real treat for everyone to see.
Tom Allen’s Impact
Anybody who watched a Clemson football game in 2024 saw the elephant in the room, and we are not talking about a spy from Tuscaloosa. The Tigers had all kinds of trouble stopping the run with Clemson’s run defense ranked among the worst in the country. It prompted Dabo Swinney to part ways with Wes Goodwin and bring in Tom Allen from Penn State to take over the defense.
Allen has since drawn rave reviews from the players who love his passion, intensity, and attention to detail. Can Allen get the Tigers’ defense back to its old, dominant self? This is going to be fun to watch, too.
Will Nolan Hauser Make a 60-yard Field Goal?
Here is a fun one that we will have to wait until the season to find out. But can Nolan Hauser make a 60-yard field goal? The Tigers’ kicker might have the biggest leg in college football, and he already doomed SMU with a 56-yard blast in last season’s ACC Championship game. He has leg for much more than that and did connect from 60-plus in high school. If a game comes down to his leg, distance is not a factor. Clemson football fans will have a chance to marvel at his ability for a long time, too.
It is shaping up to be an incredible season for the Clemson Tigers. With zero hour here, it is time for Dabo Swinney and company to get to work. With one month until LSU comes to town to settle the real Death Valley debate once and for all, fans and analysts alike should be ready to enjoy the show. Clemson football is back!
