When the 2015 football season began, Clemson figured it was going to have to replace defensive end Shaq Lawson at the end of the year. Though he was just a junior and it was his first year as a starter, the 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive end already had 21 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in two years playing behind Vic Beasley.

It was a no brainer. Lawson was going to turn professional at the end of the season. What the Clemson coaches did not expect at the time was they would have to replace Kevin Dodd, too. Like Lawson, Dodd was a first-year starter and was a junior on the football field. But the difference in the two was experience.

Heading into the 2015 season, Dodd recorded just 219 snaps in his career, including just 92 the year before. Though there was an upside to his talents, it was more of a wait-and-see kind of approach. The coaches felt Dodd would have a good year, but they figured with only one year under his belt he would be back for his senior season.

And though it was a good problem to have, they did not foresee his 23.5 tackles for loss or 12 sacks. Dodd capped off the season with a game for the ages in the National Championship Game where he recorded seven tackles, including five tackles for loss and three sacks in front of the whole nation.

Dodd’s performance against Alabama all but secured his decision to enter the 2016 NFL Draft with Lawson, which means for a second straight year the Tigers will have to replace both of its bookends on the defensive line.

Who are the candidates to replace Lawson and Dodd? Sophomores Austin Bryant and Richard Yeargin will go into the spring with the first shots to impress the coaches. Both guys recorded some valuable playing experience late in the season, including in the Orange Bowl after Lawson went down with an injury on the second defensive series of the game.  Clelin Ferrell, a redshirt freshman, and Chris Register are the next in line to push for the starting jobs.

Who has the best chance to succeed? Right now, because of what we saw in the Orange Bowl, I would have to say it is Bryant. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive end impressed the coaches enough with his ability and knowledge to avoid a redshirt last year. Then when he got his opportunities, he always made plays. When Lawson went out in the Orange Bowl, he recorded four tackles, including tackle for loss. He also blew up the Sooners’ fourth-and-one play late in the third quarter that turned the game and led to a Clemson touchdown.

How good is Clelin Ferrell? The coaches think he has a chance to be pretty special. The only reason he did not play last year was due to an injury that occurred in preseason camp. Like Bryant, he too was impressive and the coaching staff felt like he could have played had he not been injured. He is 100-percent now and he comes into spring practice with a lot of expectations. At 6-foot-5, 270-pounds he has the speed and the power to be as good as Lawson where he can attack the quarterback, while also staying home and being strong enough to set the edge and shut down the run.

Will Richard Yeargin make an impact? At 6-foot-4, 250-pounds, the verdict is still out on Yeargin. He is still developing. The good news is he did get some playing time in 2015 and, like Bryant, he played well in the Orange Bowl when his number was called. The coaches believe he still has some ground to make up, but this spring will be the key to his development. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has said many times Yeargin reminds him of Vic Beasley with his skill set and talent.

If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.