While some schools have opted out of doing a traditional Spring game, that is not the case for Clemson. Since the first day of Spring practices Dabo Swinney has made it clear the Tigers will play a spring game. Except this year, the game will not be televised like it was in the past. The game will be open for the public to attend and admission is free. But, there will not be a television or streaming network carrying the game.
This comes as a consequence of this iteration of the transfer portal era. Coaches fear their players will be tampered with as the spring portal opens. Regardless, this is an important milestone in the Tigers’ preparation for a 2025 season with national championship expectations. While there are fewer question marks surrounding this year’s Clemson team than any other since 2020, there are still a few burning questions. Those questions begin to get answered the afternoon of April 5th in Death Valley.
How do the New Transfer Players Look?
A move that awakened the college football world was Swinney dipping his hand into the transfer portal. Clemson has brought in transfers before, but typically to be depth pieces more than immediate impact players. Swinney has always said that it’s about finding players that fit the program. This offseason, the Tigers brought in three transfer players, two on defense and one on offense.
The lone offensive player is wide receiver Tristian Smith. The senior receiver last played at the FCS Program Southeast Missouri State. The Second-Team All-Conference receiver caught 76 passes for 934 yards and six touchdowns. Smith has great size for the position, standing at 6’5 and 205 pounds. Fellow Clemson receivers Tyler Brown, TJ Moore, and Bryant Wesco, Jr each spoke highly of Smith, saying they’re excited to see what he can do moving forward.
The other two transfers are both on the defensive side of the ball, more specifically in the front seven. Edge player Will Heldt from Purdue was the most talked about pick-up for the Tigers early in the offseason. Heldt was highly sought after by many schools once he hit the transfer portal. He was ranked as a four-star transfer and top 10 edge player in the portal. His teammates on both sides of the ball have praised his abilities and his intensity in every drill.
There is a lot of excitement surrounding Heldt as well as fellow transfer junior Jeremiah Alexander from Alabama. Getting an SEC-caliber player is exciting, but to get one with as much potential as Alexander should make Clemson fans ecstatic. The former five-star recruit also already had ties to the program through his high school recruitment. Alexander was also a high school teammate with defensive lineman Peter Woods.
Players praise Alexander’s work ethic. Many other Tigers have said he motivates them to do more. That hard work has to transfer to the field to get the Clemson defense back up to standard.
What Does Tom Allen’s Defense Look Like in Death Valley?
Improving the Clemson defense is why along with bringing in Heldt and Alexander, Swinney also hired new defensive coordinator Tom Allen. Coach Allen was previously at Penn State, leading the defense to an appearance in the college football semifinal. With the Nittany Lions, Allen had a top 10 defense while unlocking the potential of defensive end Abdul Carter. Carter will be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
After seeing what Allen did last season with Carter and the Penn State defense, many are excited to see what he can do with guys like Heldt and TJ Parker. Allen has brought a renewed energy to not just the defense but the whole team this spring. He even received emcee duties with Swinney’s infamous microphone to talk through practices a few sessions. Allen has made it clear his goals for the Tiger defense are to stop the run and be the best tackling team in the country. The first glimpse into how good this defense is will be in the spring game.
Who Sticks Out in the Running Back Room?
The biggest question mark around the Tigers this season is how the running back position will shape up. There is not much experience in the group now that Phil Mafah has moved on to the pro level. Also, redshirt sophomore Jay Haynes is still recovering from his catastrophic knee injury during the ACC Championship Game.
Adam Randall moved from tight end to running back before the first-round playoff matchup against Texas. Randall did well playing the position for the first time at the collegiate level. He rushed the ball four times for 44 yards against the Longhorns’ defense. Going into 2025, it looks like Randall will be staying at running back this season. Randall has been practicing with the running backs all spring. His teammates and Swinney say he is making significant strides getting comfortable at the position.
A young player many around the program are excited about is true freshman Gideon Davidson. His vision and quick cut ability caught the attention of his teammates. Davidson’s athleticism seems to exceed his experience level. That athleticism has made him someone believed to be able to make an impact early in his career. His performance in this spring game will be key to shaping the depth chart going into the summer and fall.
Keith Adams Jr is also back in the running back room this spring. The power runner has been a player the coaching staff has wanted to get more opportunities. Now he will have the chance to capitalize on the one in front of him. The position thinned out since Adams arrived, giving him his best shot at being featured more often.
Is Cade Klubnik Prepared to Meet Expectations?
Cade Klubnik shined in 2024. After a rough sophomore season, Klubnik showed improvement in all the places he needed to as a junior. This led to him passing for over 3600 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just six interceptions last season. Now expectations for Klubnik’s senior season are as high as they can be.
Klubnik is a Heisman favorite to begin the 2025 season. He is also the main reason Clemson is a national championship contender. Klubnik may not do a ton in the spring game, but it is a chance for him to show the fans that he is prepared to meet the expectations placed on him. If Klubnik does meet or exceed what is expected of him, the Tigers will reach their championship goals. Getting there starts with a great performance in the spring game.
Main Image: Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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