Clemson will open up fall camp on Aug. 4 with several questions that need to be addressed if the Tigers are going to win their first ACC Championship since 2011.

To me, there are five key things that will be vital to Clemson’s success in 2015. In this series I will provide a general rundown of each, identify its strength and weaknesses and pick the one player who is ready to have a breakout season.

Today, we will look at the offensive tackles, the No. 2 key to a successful season.

RUNDOWN

There are really just two positions on Clemson’s roster where it could not afford to lose people, defensive end and offensive tackle. Before the first summer session even began, the Tigers lost a player at defensive end when reserve Ebenezer Ogundeko was dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules that was detrimental to the team. Then before the second summer session began, starting offensive tackle Isaiah Battle left the team to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft, which begins today, after receiving a citation for possession of marijuana from a traffic stop on June 11. Though Ogundeko’s loss hurt Clemson’s depth situation at defensive end, Battles loss was an even bigger blow to the offensive line.

Clemson was already entering the summer with just four true offensive tackles on the team and Battle was the most experienced. A two-year starter, he was considered by some to be an All-ACC candidate and a possible first- or second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Battle’s departure now means the Tigers have just three tackles heading into fall camp and senior Joe Gore (6-5, 290) is the most experienced of the three and his experience has been limited. Though he has played in 20 games, he has only started three at right tackle. Gore played just 237 snaps last year, the most of his career, but he was nearly 600 snaps behind what Battle played a year ago – 824.

The other two tackles on the two-deep depth chart are both true freshmen. Mitch Hyatt and Jake Fruhmorgen both enrolled in school last January and participated in spring drills, and it was a good thing they did.

Hyatt (6-6, 270) is a five-star tackle from North Gwinnett, Ga., who was considered the No. 2 tackle in the country coming out of high school. He worked his way to No. 2 on the Tigers’ depth chart at left tackle so now he will be asked to step in as the starter, the first true freshman to start on Clemson’s offensive line since Barry Richardson in 2004. Hyatt has all the skills and potential to be a great offensive tackle, but the coaching staff was hoping to ease him into games this season as opposed to having to throw him to the wolves. Hyatt showed flashes in the spring, but he still has a ways to go as he adjusts to the speed of the college game. The coaches wanted him to use this summer to bulk up a little more, especially in his lower body.

Fruhmorgen is penciled in as the No. 2 right tackle behind Gore heading into fall camp, but that’s mostly due to the fact Clemson has few quality tackles on the roster. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound freshman, as expected, had his ups and downs in the spring. The biggest area he needs to improve is with his upper-body strength. Injuries to his shoulder in his final season of high school football weakened his upper body and it had him behind somewhat in spring drills because of it.

STRENGTHS: Hyatt and Fruhmorgen, both highly recruited offensive tackles, have a chance to be one of the best bookends on the offensive line the Tigers’ have ever had. They have raw skills, good footwork and hands, and overall talent. If coached correctly, that can help them become outstanding offensive linemen.

WEAKNESSES: There is no depth and no room for anymore personnel losses. Look for starting left guard Eric Mac Lain to cross train at tackle as well as guys like Taylor Hearn and Maverick Morris to help provide depth.

BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: Mitch Hyatt. I would have put Hyatt here before Battle’s departure, thinking he would eventually take the right tackle spot away from Gore. Now as the starting left tackle there is no doubt Hyatt will show the world what he can do as a starter, though he will experience a few growing pains along the way.

NEXT: Defensive End