It’s hot. The humidity is at its worst, especially here in the South, and the afternoons are filled with popup thunderstorms.

All of this can mean only one thing. Training camp has already begun or will begin for football teams at all levels across the country.

Here in Clemson, the Tigers will report for camp on Wednesday, when it will have its much-anticipated weigh-in-day. On Thursday afternoon, they will start practice as they get set for their season-opener on Aug. 30 vs. LSU.

For the players and coaches, football season is here, while the fans will soak up as much information as possible over the next four weeks to get their fix in before the games begin.

There is plenty to get accomplished at Clemson over the next month, though the Tigers are considered one of the more ready teams for the 2025 season.

Clemson must figure out who it will start at tight end. It needs a new running back, and, though they pretty much know who will start where on defense, the Tigers must address their depth issues at cornerback.

Oh, yes, they also have to figure out who is their top punter, and if they even have one.

So, as you can see, it is not all sunshine and roses for the Tigers heading into camp. All of these things need to be answered before they kick off against LSU, plus they have to stay healthy.

The number one concern coming into camp comes at running back. The good news is the Tigers have a bevy of running backs. The bad news is they all lack experience.

More than likely former wide receiver Adam Randall will get the first opportunity to show what he has. He had a very solid spring, as he made the transition from wideout to running back.

Though Randall lacks experience at the position, he brings a wealth of ability and knowledge within the offense that will make him valuable, especially on third down and in passing situations. His knowledge of coverages should allow offensive coordinator Garrett Riley to find mismatches so they can exploit his skillset.

And though Clemson lacks experience at running back, it does not lack talent. Freshman Gideon Davidson has the raw skillset and talent to be a special running back at Clemson, while redshirt freshman David Eziomume will also be in the mix after he moved up the depth chart by the end of the spring.

The Tigers also have Keith Adams, Jr., who likely will be their bruiser on third-and-short and goal line situations. Jarvis Green finally got healthy at the end of last season and showed off his versatility against Texas in the College Football Playoff.

Jay Haynes is the biggest question mark. The sophomore tore his ACL in last year’s ACC Championship Game and sat out the spring so he could rehab.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said on July 15, that Haynes will be in camp and he will be on a progression that fits where he is at in his plan back to full speed.

Like running back, talent is not a question at tight end, it’s experience. Juniors Olsen Patt-Henry and Josh Sapp have the most experience, though Sapp is more of a wide receiver than tight end compared to Patt-Henry.

Christian Bentancur was redshirted last year, and the word is he perhaps the best all-around tight end in the group, though the coaches really like freshman Logan Brooking, too.

“Christian is special. There’s no question about it. I’ve seen enough out of him,” Swinney said. “We played him his four games last year, but with [Jake Briningstool], we were able to hold him. Hopefully we can do that with Logan.”

Swinney believes Brooking, who signed with Clemson as a member of the 2025 recruiting class, is “special.”

“But hopefully, we can kind of play him some, but maybe hold him and steal a year,” he said. “That’d be great, but you just don’t ever know.”

The biggest question mark in the tight end room is former Clemson basketball star Ian Schieffelin, who joined the Tigers’ program this offseason. Schieffelin’s size and unique skillset brings something different to the tight end position, and if used right, can become a weapon, especially in the red zone.

“Obviously, [Schieffelin] coming over. I can’t wait,” Swinney said. “That’s something else I’m looking forward to is actually getting on the football field with him and seeing him in full pads. That’s going to be a lot of fun.”

On the defensive side, the No. 1 one concern is depth at the cornerback position. Avieon Terrell is an All-American candidate, while Ashton Hampton is a star in the making. Jeadyn Lukus will battle Hampton for the starting spot, while Shelton Lewis will backup Terrell and will be the Tigers’ starting slot corner.

After those four, Clemson is small in numbers and experience.

Corian Gipson is a former four-star product from Fort Worth, Texas, who redshirted in 2024. Myles Oliver is a developmental player that has not truly had the opportunity to develop due to injuries that have kept him off the field in his first two seasons.

Brandon Strozier is another developmental player, who has played in 10 games thus far in his first two seasons in Tigertown. Michael Mankaka has played in just nine games in three years at Clemson.

At punter, Jack Smith and Will McCune are battling to win the job, while kickoff specialist Robert Gunn, III is also in the mix for the starting punter position.

Swinney said he had no intentions of going to the transfer portal and getting a punter. And if someone has a problem with that then they can blame him.

“If we are terrible, y’all can all blame me. ‘Boy! We are bad.’ Y’all can all blame me,” Swinney said.

The Tigers are having to replace Aidan Swanson, who started the last three seasons. Swanson averaged 42.2 yards per punt over his six-year career, including 67 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.