Even though Clemson still has a chance to pursue a national title, there’s no better time to put a bow on the football season than Christmas. (That holiday pun was a gift—a Christmas gift, from me to you.) To help with that, I’ve compiled a list of 2015 superlatives on either side of the football. We begin today with the offense…

MVP: Deshaun Watson

Watson finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, so this was an easy one. It says something about the sophomore quarterback that he managed to account for 41 touchdowns (30 passing, 11 rushing) in a season in which bad weather basically grounded the offense in multiple games and the coaching staff nursed him along in the running game due to offseason knee surgery. His steady hand has become iconic around the country, as well.

Robin: Wayne Gallman

Remember the days when Clemson’s backfield needed a multitude of capable running backs? Those days are long gone now, as Gallman is in the midst of perhaps the greatest single-season rushing campaign in school history. In fact, all other tailbacks on campus are averaging 13.6 yards per game this season, whereas Gallman has averaged just more than 20 carries per game. The sophomore gets stronger as the game goes on and completes Clemson’s offense.

Newcomer: Mitch Hyatt

Dabo Swinney has become fond of saying Hyatt’s season should be defined by how little time is spent talking about him by fans and media members. Freshmen aren’t supposed to play left tackle at a high level, but Hyatt has performed at a first-team all-conference level protecting Watson’s blind side.

Season Saver: Greg Huegel

From the moment Huegel walked into August camp, the ball sounded different coming off of his foot. The Tigers faced the prospect of going into a hostile environment at Louisville with a freshman walk-on kicker due to Ammon Lakip’s suspension and a lack of overwhelming alternative candidates. Undaunted, Huegel stepped up to the challenge and never looked back, missing only three field goals all season long.

Secret Storyline: Jay Guillermo’s comeback

When Guillermo left school in January to deal with some personal issues, it exposed some weaknesses in Clemson’s offensive line depth. He had won the job the year before and was clearly the Tigers’ best option at center, and his emergence allowed Ryan Norton to settle into a utility role. Then Guillermo was gone, and it was back to square one. However, he returned for camp and worked his way back into the lineup, fully healed and ready to lead. His season was one of triumph, both on and off the field.

DNA: Eric Mac Lain

If anyone embodies who Clemson is as a program, it’s Mac Lain. His infectious personality has become a hit with fans and media, making him the de facto voice of the players in many ways. His veteran presence is an important piece on a mostly young offensive unit. He also plays with a bit of a mean streak on a better-than-expected front line. To cap it off, Mac Lain also introduced Vice President Joe Biden in a speech on campus this season. He’s the perfect picture of Swinney’s program.

Unsung Hero: Joe Gore

Gore wasn’t the talk at right tackle during the offseason. Instead, it was freshman Jake Fruhmorgen, the heir apparent for the gig. After freely ceding the starting job immediately in 2014, however, Gore solidified his stronghold on the right tackle position throughout the year. The stability he provided helped the Tigers’ younger players acclimate more comfortably up front.

Biggest Obstacle: Lack of deep threat

When Mike Williams went down with a neck injury on the first drive of the season, conventional wisdom said he would be missed but a successor would eventually emerge. That didn’t materialize as quickly as the staff wanted—partly because of the weather and partly because of inexperience. Deon Cain emerged later in the season as a bit of a deep threat, which was all Clemson needed to stretch the field vertically.

Best Performance: N.C. State

In arguably Clemson’s worst defensive performance of the season, the Clemson offense was unshaken. The Tigers put up 56 points on a Wolfpack defense that had been solid up to that point of the season. Led by Deshaun Watson’s 437 total yards and six touchdowns, Clemson racked up a season-best 623 yards on the road in picking up a double digit victory.

Tomorrow, we conclude with the defensive side of the ball.

God Bless!

WQ