Classes may have just begun at Clemson University on Wednesday, but the football team has a big exam on Thursday evening in Death Valley.

The second-ranked Tigers will hold their final scrimmage before beginning preparations for the season opener on Sept. 3 at Auburn.

“It is really hard to believe it has been two weeks,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “Two weeks ago you just have your head down and it is just like the next step, and then you pick your head up and here we are. Two weeks of camp behind us and here we are.”

As the Tigers head into their last scrimmage, there are still some questions that need to be answered on the defensive side of the ball.

Until Monday evening the Tigers seemed okay at defensive end, but now with Austin Bryant out for the first three games with a foot injury, things have drastically changed. Though he has had just one day of practice in camp at defensive end, Christian Wilkins will get a good long look as the coaches hope he is the answer to replace Bryant.

Richard Yeargin, who has had a very good camp, will also get a strong look now as a starter, while Chris Register will move up the depth chart as well and get an opportunity to prove what he can do. The coaches are not sure if Xavier Kelly is ready to play just yet, but he and fellow true freshman LaSamuel Davis are the next two in line.

Defensive end isn’t the only concern for the coaching staff. Following last week’s scrimmage, Swinney was adamant that someone needed to take control of the cornerback spot opposite Cordrea Tankersley.

Like the defensive end position, the Tigers could not afford an injury to that position, but on Day 1 of camp, projected starter Marcus Edmond injured his hamstring and has not practiced since. That opened the door for sophomore Mark Fields and true freshman Trayvon Mullen to win the job.

Though Mullen has shown a lot of promise for a freshman, neither he nor fields has taken ownership. In last Saturday’s scrimmage, both were burned for big passing plays which Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables described as plays that were not very competitive.

Though the Tigers don’t have any issues at linebacker, there is still one thing the coaches will like to see. Can freshman Tre Lamar take over the No. 1 spot at middle linebacker? Last week, Venables said he was playing like he was a first-team linebacker and Swinney said earlier this week Lamar was nipping at the heels of Kendall Joseph for the starting job.

If the freshman continues to play the way he has to this point, then there is a good chance he could move into the starting role or at least earn half the snaps at Auburn.