ESPN’s Adelson Breaks Down Clemson’s Strength, Weakness
By: Gavin Oliver March 26, 2025

This week, a panel of ESPN college football reporters broke down the strength and weakness for each team in the outlet’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the 2025 season.

Clemson (10-4, 7-1 ACC in 2024) checks in at No. 7 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 after winning the 2024 ACC Championship and earning a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff last season.

ESPN’s Andrea Adelson weighed in on the strength and weakness for the Tigers entering the upcoming season, and she pegged the quarterback position as the strong point, with rising senior Cade Klubnik back for one more season coming off his breakout year in 2024.

“Cade Klubnik enters his third full season as the starter, so this has to be a strength for the Tigers,” Adelson said. “We have watched Klubnik mature over the past two seasons from an often-unsure first-time starter to a player in far more command of the offseason last year, and he had an under-the-radar great performance in 2024 (3,639 yards, 36 TDs, 6 INTs). Clemson returns its top three receivers, and it gets Tyler Brown back from injury, so the potential is there for this to be the Tigers’ best offense since Trevor Lawrence’s last season in 2020.”

As for Clemson’s weakness, Adelson circled the running back spot, with 2024 1,000-yard rusher Phil Mafah headed to the NFL and top backup Jay Haynes having suffered a torn ACL in last year’s ACC title game.

“We have pointed out previously that this is the biggest question mark on the team following the departure of starter Phil Mafah (NFL draft), injury to Jay Haynes (knee rehab) and general lack of experienced depth,” Adelson wrote. “That is why, at least for now, this position is considered a ‘weakness.’ There is plenty of talent, starting with freshman Gideon Davidson, but we simply don’t know how the rotation will shape up and who is going to get the bulk of the reps.”

Clemson will conclude spring drills on April 5 with its annual Orange & White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers open the 2025 season at home on Aug. 30 with a marquee showdown against the LSU Tigers — who are ranked No. 8, right behind Clemson, in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25.