It’s a given guys like Dexter Lawrence at defensive tackle and Tre Lamar at linebacker will be on the football field when second-ranked Clemson takes on Auburn in two weeks at Jordan-Hare Stadium. It’s also pretty clear that defensive backs Trayvon Mullen and K’Von Wallace will be playing, too.

In fact, the Tigers could have at least nine true freshmen on the field when they kick off the season on Sept. 3 on the Plains of Alabama. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said after Friday’s practice they have made a few more decisions on who will play, who will not and some who are on the bubble.

“We are going to keep getting them ready and just wait and see,” Swinney said. “If we can hold them, great! If not, we have to play them. But there is a lot that dictates that.”

On Friday, he Tigers’ coach said running back Tavien Feaster, offensive lineman John Simpson, Wallace, Mullen and wide receiver Cornell Powell will all play. On Thursday, defensive coordinator Brent Venables and co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott confirmed some of the same names as Swinney did on Friday.

Elliott also said offensive linemen Tremayne Anchrum and Sean Pollard will also see playing time.

“As you know, there is a lot that can happen the first two or three games of the season, so we have two or three guys like Clelin (Ferrell) was last year that we will continue to get ready,” Swinney said. “If we need them, we will play them. If not, at some point, we will say let’s hold them.”

Swinney said one of those guys on the bubble is safety Isaiah Simmons.

“He is one of those guys that, whoa man! You just love how he runs and he is a contact player,” the Clemson’s head coach said. “We have some guys in front of him at safety. You don’t want to waste a year unless you know he is really going to play.”

Right now Simmons is behind Jadar Johnson, Van Smith, Tanner Muse, Denzel Johnson and Ryan Carter on the depth chart, according to Swinney.

“He is not quite where he needs to be about going out an executing everything at safety, but he can probably play dime for us and he definitely could play special teams,” Swinney said. “But he has a lot of good talent, and I don’t know if we want to burn it.”

Swinney said a perfect example of why you wait to make a call is former Clemson linebacker B.J. Goodson. When Goodson was a freshman he had guys like Jonathan Willard, Spencer Shuey, Tony Steward and Stephone Anthony all playing in front of him.

“If B.J. Goodson had not redshirted he probably would not have been drafted,” Swinney said. “Because he had that fifth year he got drafted in the fourth round. Had he not had that fifth year, I don’t know if he would have been drafted. He probably would have gotten a legitimate shot, but I don’t know if he gets drafted.”

Swinney says they always try to be very mindful of every player’s situation and then do what’s best for the team and make sure they have the best guys playing.

Linebacker James Skalski situation is a lot like Goodson’s was in 2011. He has the ability and knowledge to play as a true freshman, but there are so many good players in front of him, will he really get the opportunity to play?

“I can see the bigger picture. I know what it looks like to see that guy that has that extra year to develop,” Swinney said.