NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
CLEMSON — Clemson football won the ACC championship and reached the CFP last year despite facing multiple issues.
The Tigers earned their 13th 10-win season under coach Dabo Swinney in 2024 despite needing Syracuse to upset Miami in the final week of the regular season to push them to the conference title game and making a walk-off field goal in the ACC championship to make the College Football Playoff.
Clemson has greater expectations for the 2025 season and must improve in a variety of areas to make it back to the CFP. Here are four issues Clemson must address this spring and the rest of the offseason:
Will hiring Tom Allen from Penn State help run defense?
Clemson was 50th in the nation in scoring defense (23.4 points) and 69th in total defense (374.1 yards) last season. Its biggest flaw was the run defense, allowing 160.6 yards per game (84th). Its inability to stop the run contributed to Swinney hiring Tom Allen from Penn State to replace former defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin.
Under Allen, the Nittany Lions were No. 8 in the nation in scoring defense (16.5 points) and No. 7 in total defense (294.8 yards) in FBS last year. Most significant, Penn State was ninth against the run, allowing 101.9 yards.
Clemson has a talented defense filled with future NFL draftees, like defensive lineman T.J. Parker and defensive tackle Peter Woods, and it hopes Allen is the man who can return the Tigers’ defense back to prominence starting this spring.
Finding who replaces Phil Mafah at running back
Clemson lost six starters from last season, meaning there are open spots available. They are likely fill-ins expected for some positions, including linebacker and defensive tackle, but other positions will battle in the spring.
One key battle is for No. 1 running back with Phil Mafah departing. Jay Haynes, Keith Adams Jr., Jarvis…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/dabo-swinneys-biggest-clemson-football-100136264.html
Author : Greenville News
Publish date : 2025-02-27 10:01:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
