Who starts in 2024? Way-too-early depth chart for Clemson football defense

In less than seven months, the Clemson football team will be suiting up for a marquee season opener against Georgia in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

But who trots out first?

With coach Dabo Swinney’s roster mostly set for 2024 — outside of seven summer enrollees, everyone is on campus and taking classes as of this month — here’s an early stab at Clemson’s two-deep defensive depth chart for Week 1.

The Tigers are currently at capacity with 85 scholarship players in the fold and aren’t expected to sign any more 2024 recruits during next week’s national signing day after signing 22 in the December early period.

Read the way-too-early offensive depth chart here.

Defensive line

DE: T.J. Parker (A.J. Hoffler)

DT: Peter Woods (Payton Page)

DT: DeMonte Capehart (Tré Williams)

DE: Cade Denhoff (Peter Woods)

Clemson struck gold with Parker and Woods, two reigning freshman All-Americans who quickly worked their way up the depth chart and dazzled in 2023. Parker set a Clemson true freshman record with 12.5 tackles and added 5.5 sacks, and Woods was credited with 10 quarterback pressures (the most of any Clemson defensive tackle in 2023). Capehart, a fifth-year, ended last year on a hot streak and is one of the team’s best recent developmental success stories.

Playing time is a bit murkier outside of those three. Denhoff gets a nod at defensive end because he’s a veteran, but Woods might take more reps there given depth concerns. Hoffler is another option at end after appearing in seven games as a true freshman. Page and Williams are capable backups at tackle but could get lapped by Vic Burley and/or Stephiylan Green.

Linebacker

Strongside LB: Wade Woodaz (Jamal Anderson)

Middle LB: Kobe McCloud (Sammy Brown)

Weakside LB: Barrett Carter (Wade Woodaz)

Clemson has a big void to fill here with star middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. leaving early for the NFL Draft. The Tigers would’ve been in even bigger trouble – and perhaps hit the transfer portal – had Carter, a draft-eligible junior, not stuck around for his senior year. But he got mostly Day 3 draft grades and felt like he had another step to take in 2024.

As such, expect Carter to be on the field a ton this fall. The Tigers’ linebacker depth chart can be an inexact science, as they’re often playing just two on the field (as opposed to three). Woodaz, a junior, is the clear No. 2 option. With Brown, a five-star recruit, it’s simply a matter of how quickly he can push McCloud or Woodaz to get snaps. He’ll certainly be in the mix.

Defensive back

CB: Avieon Terrell (Corian Gipson)

SS: R.J. Mickens (Sherrod Covil Jr.)

FS: Kylon Griffin (Tyler Venables)

CB: Jeadyn Lukus (Shelton Lewis)

Nickel: Khalil Barnes (Shelton Lewis)

There’s no Nate Wiggins in this group, though Terrell and Lewis both performed admirably down the stretch as true freshmen at a very tough position. Barnes was even better, and well deserving of his freshman All-American status – he basically won Clemson the South Carolina game on the opening drive. Lukus, a big in-state recruit, needs to get healthy and stay healthy.

At safety, Mickens will be a key veteran piece in his fifth year. Griffin was one of the nicer surprises on the team in 2023, working his way onto the field as a redshirt sophomore. Venables, who missed nearly all of 2023 with injury, will be in the rotation. Clemson sees the nickelback position as a crucial part of its defense and often rotates multiple guys there.

Special teams

PK: Robert Gunn III

P: Aidan Swanson

KR: Jay Haynes

PR: Tyler Brown

No questions at punter. Swanson is back for a sixth season and coming off a career year in which he tied the school record for punts downed inside the 20-yard line (28). Kick returns aren’t a huge part of football anymore, but Shipley was great in spots. Haynes, another solidly built speedster, could take his place. Brown had a team-best 44-yard punt return last season.

The biggest question here is at kicker. True freshman Nolan Hauser holds the national record for career field goals made (66) and was a three-time high school All-American. But he’s also a true freshman. Robert Gunn III lost the starting job to Jonathan Weitz early last year and never got it back. A reasonable outcome: Gunn starts again but gets pulled early (again) for Hauser.

Clemson football 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: vs. Georgia (at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)

• Sept. 7: vs. App State

• Sept. 14: OPEN

• Sept. 21: vs. NC State

• Sept. 28: vs. Stanford

• Oct. 5: at Florida State

• Oct. 12: at Wake Forest

• Oct. 19: vs. Virginia

• Oct. 26: OPEN

• Nov. 2: vs. Louisville

• Nov. 9: at Virginia Tech

• Nov. 16: at Pitt

• Nov. 23: vs. The Citadel

• Nov. 30: vs. South Carolina