By Hale McGranahan.

Dan Brooks’ days with the trio of Grady Jarrett, DeShawn Williams and Josh Watson are coming to a close.

After the 2014 season comes to a close, Brooks will have to count on several fresh, new faces to fill out the rotation at defensive tackle, one of whom will be Sterling Johnson.

At bare minimum, Johnson will be a favorite of the Clemson press corps. For starters, the 6-foot-5, 279-pound defensive line commitment from Cleveland High School in Clayton, North Carolina wants to get into the industry after his football days are over. He’s also a pretty good quote.

So, earlier this week, TheClemsonInsider contacted Johnson for his take on Saturday’s season opener between Clemson and Georgia, the Tigers’ 2014 season and what’s going on with his recruitment.

“Being completely realistic, I feel like they’re pretty much evened up with Georgia,” Johnson said. “Georgia had their huge losses on offense, with their departure of Aaron Murray and their running backs being out last season.

“I know their backgrounds, but both their teams suffered their losses on offense, but I feel like the true difference is Clemson’s defense, Vic Beasley, Stephone Anthony leading along Grady Jarrett, Jayron Kearse back there with Korrin Wiggins. I feel like that’s the difference in this game, Clemson’s defense.

“I don’t expect it to be like last year’s game…there were some points put up. I’ll give Clemson a 21-17 win.”

Johnson thinks that year six under Dabo Swinney will be a good one for the Tigers. Just how good, Johnson said, depends on a couple of games.

“I see them finishing up — I can’t say right now, I know they’ll have a good record, of course,” Johnson said. “I guess what I’m trying to say: What is their resilience going to be like playing Florida State and South Carolina this year?

“Those are the two games where I’m really saying to myself: How are the boys going to show up? Are they going to be intimidated from last year’s loss or are they going to be coming out for blood and looking to put a whooping on somebody?”

At this time next year, Johnson could be among the young defensive tackles that will be counted on to replace Jarrett, Williams and Watson.

“It’s very exciting, but nothing is guaranteed. With that said, I still have to work hard. I still have some things to work on, including my flexibility,” Johnson said. “I feel like, at this point, because last year around this time I was 10-15 pounds lighter and shorter. I’ve gained that weight and gotten an inch taller. I definitely feel more athletic now.”

Or he could be one of the guys in the mix for a spot on the depth chart with the defensive end departures: Beasley, Corey Crawford and Tavaris Barnes.

“Coach (Dan) Brooks said, depending how I fill out and how my body is, it will truly depend on if I play defensive tackle or defensive end,” Johnson said. “(Brooks) said I might be playing both, just depending on how the scheme is set up. Just the overall luxury of having the chance to play early is very exciting to me.”

From time-to-time, Johnson receives mail from other programs, but there’s hardly any contact with any college coaches outside of Clemson.

“No coaches have (direct messaged) me or Facebook messaged me, followed me on Twitter, nothing of that sort,” he said.

In Cleveland’s 56-53 season opening win over Clayton, Johnson had 12 tackles, six tackles for loss and a pair of blocked kicks.