Clemson’s spring follow window culminates this Saturday with this system’s annual spring soccer sport, offering an intriguing peek at a workforce with excessive hopes in 2024. The Tigers try to make it again to the highest of the ACC mountain after ending tied for sixth within the convention final yr.
It was a disappointing consequence for coach Dabo Swinney, who misplaced 4 video games for the primary time since 2011 and completed along with his worst win whole as a head coach since 2010. On high of its ACC aspirations, Clemson can also be aiming to reintroduce itself on the nationwide stage amid a School Soccer Playoff dry streak.
As soon as a mainstay within the nationwide championship image with six straight playoff appearances from 2015-20, Clemson is happening 4 years with a CFP berth. However now that the sector has expanded to 12 groups, the barrier to entry has lowered tremendously. If Clemson can win the ACC for a second time in three years, it’s going to earn an automated bid.
Earlier than Clemson may even take into consideration the ACC championship, School Soccer Playoff berth and even stepping foot on the sector for its common season opener, it has to get by way of spring follow. This is the way to watch Clemson’s spring sport and a few storylines to watch because the 2024 Tigers give followers a have a look at what to anticipate this coming season.
The right way to watch 2024 Clemson spring sport stay
Date: Saturday, April 6 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Memorial Stadium — Clemson, South Carolina
Stay Stream: ACC Community Additional
2024 Clemson spring sport storylines
1. Can the offense take a step ahead? The pairing of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley — who coached up a Heisman Trophy finalist and contributed to a School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship run at TCU in 2022 — and former five-star quarterback Cade Klubnik created appreciable hype for Clemson’s offense in 2023. It rapidly petered out after the Tigers scored simply seven factors in a season-opening loss to Duke and evaporated utterly because the Tigers limped by way of a season that noticed them rating 20 or fewer factors on 5 separate events. With a yr of expertise working collectively, there’s some hope that Riley can lastly unlock Klubnik’s potential to energise the offense. From total operation to potential new wrinkles, there’s lots to watch on this entrance within the spring sport.
2. Who steps up at broad receiver? It isn’t honest to pin Clemson’s offensive struggles on one participant, or one place for that matter, however it does not assist that the Tigers lack in standout broad receivers. Gone are the times when Clemson might flip to such current stalwarts as Tee Higgins and Hunter Renfrow. Clemson did not have a single receiver eclipse 600 yards final season and Beaux Collins, considered one of two receivers to hit not less than 500 yards, transferred to Notre Dame. Given Swinney’s staunch refusal to completely make the most of the switch portal, Clemson has to depend on its in-house choices to step their sport up. Tyler Adams seems like a breakout candidate, and Clemson will profit from having Antonio Williams wholesome for a whole season. Swinney and Co. additionally signed a stable group of highschool broad receivers, headlined by five-star prospect TJ Moore and fellow top-100 standout Bryant Wesco. They’re going to have loads of alternative to see the sector early.
3. How does the offensive line look? Clemson’s spring sport will present an enormous check for the offensive line, because it has to go towards a defensive entrance that — regardless of some notable losses — is totally stacked with expertise. The Tigers are poised to dominate the road of scrimmage when the protection is on the sector, however there’s work to be finished on the alternative aspect of the ball. Even Swinney admitted within the offseason that Clemson combed the switch portal for offensive line assist , although the Tigers have been unable to land any targets. That being stated, Clemson does return seven offensive linemen with beginning expertise for brand new coach Matt Luke to deliver alongside, however the important thing in spring is determining how these items match and which 5 emerge as constant starters.