It’s easy to assume Clemson will struggle at offensive tackle this season.

Joe Gore is the most experienced tackle on the roster, and he has just three career starts. Mitch Hyatt, a true freshman, is expected to start at left tackle with fellow true freshman Jake Fruhmorgen backing up Gore at right tackle.

Guards Erica Mac Lain, one career start, and redshirt freshman Taylor Hearn have been crossed trained to help out with depth. But Clemson offensive co-coordinator Tony Elliott isn’t concerned, though. Why?

“When we are done with camp, they will not have seen two better defensive ends in the country,” the Clemson coach said.

Elliott of course is speaking of preseason All-ACC defensive end Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd. Hyatt has the pleasure of going against Lawson every single day in practice.

“He is going to be battled tested. He will not see a better guy coming off the left edge in our league than Shaq Lawson,” Elliott said.

Elliott says Dodd is just as talented, and is giving Gore a lot to look at it, too.

“He is as talented as Tavaris Barnes and Corey Crawford,” Elliott said. “They are getting work, and Robbie (Caldwell) is doing a great job rotating those guys in so it is not just Mitch getting all the work against Shaq. You are seeing some the other younger guys getting some work against Shaq, too. They are getting battled tested and they are holding up.

“They are taking their licks at times, but that is going to pay off in the end.”

Lawson spoke with Hyatt before camp began last week and told him he was going to do his best to get him ready to play.

“I’m trying to get him better each day,” the junior said. “We are all going to work each other.”

Lawson is doing his part. He has been all over Hyatt in the seven practices thus far, and twice the two have gotten into a little pushing and shoving.

“It is good and bad (to see them fighting),” Elliott said. “It is good from the standpoint that you see they are passionate. You know they come to practice ready to compete. Then they also have to understand they have to play within the rules.

“You like to see it, but we are quick to break it up to let them understand during the course of a game you can’t fight. It is a penalty. It can cost the team. As coach, from a football standpoint, you like to see that fire and that passion because it is a competitive game. At the end of the day, it comes down to one-on-one matchups and you are pretty much in a fight the entire game within a whistle.”

Elliott says Hyatt is quiet by nature, but don’t be fooled by his demeanor, “He has that nastiness to him.”

“He has the right demeanor and he isn’t going to back down from anybody,” Elliott said. “He is getting tested every day so he is getting pushed. He is going to be passionate. He gets upset when he gets beat. He has that competitive fire to him.”

And that’s why Elliott is not too concerned with his offensive tackles.