Outside of who will replace Deshaun Watson at quarterback, perhaps the biggest question mark on the Clemson offense this spring will be at center. Who will replace two-time All-ACC center Jay Guillermo?

Guillermo has been the rock that anchored a Clemson offense that allowed just 14 and 21 sacks the last two years as the Tigers made a push to a national championship in year one, and won it the second year.

Justin Falcinelli (6-3, 305) and Zach Giella (6-5, 295) seem to be the likely candidates. Falcinelli has backed up Guillermo this season, while Giella was the third string center this past fall.

“Falcinelli is really growing into the position,” Caldwell said. “He never snapped the ball before. I have been very, very proud of the progress he has made because when he first started he could not snap it. He was throwing it everywhere. I told the staff at the time, we are going to have some growing pains so we are going to have to bear with it in spring ball and practice and stuff.

“The first time he went into a game, he snapped the ball over the quarterbacks head, but it is just one of those things, but he has been steady now. He understands the importance. He played tackle in high school so learning how to play inside has been a challenge for him.”

Caldwell says the biggest challenge Falcinelli has had to face is himself. Caldwell says he is so smart and playing football is so simple that sometimes he over thinks it.

“He is a great student. He can build a computer and can do all of those things, but people are not watching when you can do that,” Caldwell said. “It’s a little bit different with 85,000 people watching you.”

Though he still has a ways to go, Caldwell likes the progress former defensive tackle Gage Cervenka made in his first year on the offensive line.

“Gage has been a breath of fresh air. He gives you some athleticism being a former defensive lineman that could run,” the Clemson coach said. “He was a wrestler, too, so he gives you those types of things.

“It has been a great transition, but there is a lot he has to learn. Playing defense is not similar because you line up and learn the stunts and things, so that has been hard for him. Also, he has had to learn to listen for the snap count to know when to come off. He is used to watching the ball and going when the ball moves. But, he is going to be really good for us in the future.”

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