Mitch Hyatt is Clemson’s starting left tackle. Isaiah Battle made that possible a little earlier than we all thought, including the Clemson coaching staff.

Battle, who declared for the NFL Supplemental Draft last Thursday, found himself in Dabo Swinney’s doghouse again after being caught with simple possession of marijuana following a traffic stop for speeding on June 11. Clemson and Battle agreed to part ways and now it leaves Hyatt, a true freshman, as the Tigers’ starting left tackle – the most important position on the offensive line when the quarterback, in this case Deshaun Watson, is right-handed.

What it means is a true freshman, a kid who was in high school last fall, will be protecting Watson’s blindside.

Why is this a big deal?

No true freshman has started on the offensive line for Clemson since Barry Richardson was forced into action after four games in 2004. To refresh your memory, that was Charlie Whitehurst’s worst season in his four years at Clemson, and a big reason for that was the fact he spent a lot of that year on his back. If he wasn’t, he was rushing his throws which led to his 17 interceptions.

I remember Brad Scott, who was the offensive line coach at the time, telling me it is never an ideal situation to start a true freshman on the offensive line, especially at tackle because there is so much they have to learn and have to adjust to when coming from high school to college.

There is no doubt Mitch Hyatt is going to be one of the all-time greats at Clemson when it is all said and done. He is the highest rated offensive lineman to come to Clemson since a guy named Danny Ford roamed the sidelines. The five-star tackle was rated as the No. 2 offensive tackle in the country by every recruiting service there is.

It helps he enrolled at Clemson in January and went an entire spring learning and working on the offensive line. It helps that he was able to get an early start in Clemson’s strength and conditioning program. It helps he got an early start when it comes to adjusting to college life, college football and going to school. All of those will benefit the Tigers this coming fall. The question is how much?

Remember, Hyatt came out of the spring listed No. 2 on Clemson’s depth chart, not No. 1. Though being No. 2 on the depth chart as true freshman is quite an accomplishment, he was still the No. 2 guy to a two-year starter on the offensive line, who was a senior, and, by some, considered a preseason All-ACC tackle. You can’t replace that kind of experience no matter who the other guy is.

Remember what Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said in the spring when asked what Hyatt and fellow true freshman Jake Fruhmorgen had to work on this summer. Fruhmorgen is currently listed as the second-team right tackle.

“For Jake it is physically. Jake is weak upper-body wise. He had the shoulder injury in the fall so he came in here a little behind with his upper body so it is going to be a big summer for him in developing the physical strength up top that he needs in order to be ready. He has to be ready for us,” Swinney said. “For Mitch it is the same thing. He has to continue to add that mass. He is 280-something right now and he looks good, but the lower body needs development. Those two are going to be just fine. They love it. They are just like pigs in mud. They can’t get enough of it. They bring it.”

Since he took over as head coach in 2009, Swinney has not been afraid to play true freshmen if they are ready to help the team. In 2010, DeAndre Hopkins became a starter at wide receiver and set the freshmen record for yards and catches that year. The very next year, Sammy Watkins started at wide receiver and shattered Hopkins’ marks.

Other true freshmen like Adam Humphries, Charone Peake and Martavis Bryant also played significantly as did linebacker Stephone Anthony on defense in 2011.

In 2013, safety Jayron Kearse made a big splash on the defensive side of the ball, while last year Deshaun Watson took over at quarterback and wide receiver Artavis Scott emerged as Clemson’s big play threat on offense.

“Coach Swinney has proven, not matter what position, that if a freshman can help us, he is going to play and help us,” co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said back in the spring. “I think all of those guys will have an opportunity. Being here in the spring and having all summer and all fall camp, those guys will put themselves in a position that if they are ready, they will be able to help us.”

Is Mitch Hyatt ready? We are going to find put soon enough.