When the term “most important” is given when describing a ranking of one player over another, it does not necessarily describe who the best players are on a team. Instead, it tells us the main or most important part of the team, without which it cannot really exist.

In other words, could Clemson have reached the College Football Playoff Championship Game last year without Deshaun Watson? And would they have had him there had those other “important” players had not been in place either.

Who are Clemson’s “Most Important Players” for 2016? We at The Clemson Insider have our own ideas, and today we reveal who is No. 10.

Jake Fruhmorgen

Even though this is Fruhmorgen’s second year in the program, his natural progression into a starting role seems a year overdue. Many—including this observer—figured Fruhmorgen would overtake Joe Gore and become the second freshman tackle to start for Clemson last fall. That didn’t happen, but it wasn’t because the Floridian wasn’t ready for primetime.

Indeed, Fruhmorgen was very good in the time he spent on the field in 2015. He played more than 250 snaps a season ago in a reserve role, but no coaches are concerned about him tripling that workload—and that may even be conservative—in terms of snap count in 2016. He has the makeup to handle it well.

Continuing to fill out his frame is at the top of the priority list for Fruhmorgen this summer. He could also work on a little bit of the nastiness that has made the interior of Clemson’s line so good, although he’s probably a bit advanced in that category compared to many tackles at his age. There are no concerns whatsoever at the top of the depth chart at right tackle.

—William Qualkinbush contributed to this story

TCI’s Clemson preseason magazine is now available.  Order your copy of Unfinished Business – An Insider Look at Clemson’s 2016 season today.