Word on the street is Hopkins will be starting from the day 1 with the Texas and should make an immediate impact. Ellington, who battled injuries his entire career ended his days in a Clemson uniform with a bang ending the 2012 campaign with over 1,000 yards on the ground including a 5.1 per carry average and 8 touchdowns. Brandon Ford also played a huge role in the Tiger offense last season and filled the shoes of Dwayne Allen quite well, who jetted for the NFL instead of staying for his senior season in 2012. These three will definitely be missed, but with QB Tajh Boyd, WRs Sammy Watkins, Charone Peake, Martavis Bryant and RB Roderick McDowell all returning along with the services of freshmen standout WR Germone Hopper, the offense shouldn't experience much of a drop off from last year, if any at all. Most importantly, Clemson still has offensive genius Chad Morris on the sidelines calling plays and his fast tempo offense will continue to wear down defenses again this year with his 100 offensive snaps per-game goal.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers have to find a replacement for the likes of Mallicah Goodman, Xaiver Brewer, Johnathan Meeks and Rashard Hall but return key starters in LB Spencer Shuey, DT Deshawn Williams, DE Vic Beasley, and and DB Bashaud Breeland. The defense also brings in two players who will likely see significant action from day 1 including DE Shaq Lawson and Ebenenzer Ogundeko. The LSU game provided Clemson fans with hope for the future and with a full season under Venables now in the books, players should only began to buy into the system and begin playing at a higher level in 2013. The defense should only improve and once they begin to gel they will take pressure off the offense to drop 40 points per game again this year. Again, the LSU game was a perfect example of when the defense comes to play, the offense doesn't have to do as much work.
We will learn a great deal from our guys right off the back when Aaron Murray brings his Georgia Bulldogs to town Aug. 31st, a game which will be played in Death Valley on ABC at 8pm and will likely bring ESPN's College Gameday crew back to campus. The game will have instant BSC title implications and will draw a large TV audience. It will be another prime opportunity for Clemson to show the nation what they can do and can open the door for not only a great season but national exposure for recruiting as well. It is a golden opportunity for Clemson and just like they did against LSU in the Chic-Fil-A Bowl, they will have to find a way to seize the opportunity and prove all the "Nay-Sayers" wrong.
If everyone can stay healthy, Clemson's schedule is definitely one that has a manageable path to a BCS bowl berth. The Tigers have two Thursday night games this year, one on the road at North Carolina State and another at home against Georgia Tech. Atlantic division rival FSU has to travel to Death Valley this year which also helps. The Tigers also have conference road trips to Syracuse, Maryland, & Virginia all of which Clemson should be the favorite. As always, Clemson ends the season with arch rival South Carolina, which takes place in Columbia this year. Outside of Georgia, Florida State and South Carolina I don't anticipate Clemson being the underdog in any other game this season and they "should" be able to take care of their business. But that, of course, remains to be seen and is why we play the game. With South Carolina also primed for a great season and avoiding regular season meetings with LSU and Alabama this year, it isn't so far fetched to think we could have another showdown of 10 or 11 win squads squaring off late in November. If there ever was a time to be a football fan in South Carolina, this is year. Both schools are in position to make a BCS title run. The question is can they stay healthy and win the games in which they are "supposed" to win. Never thought I'd see they day where two years in a row we could be seeing a top 10 (or even top 5) showdown in November. But this year, that idea is definitely possible. Can't wait to see how it all plays out. One thing is for sure, it is going to be a fun and exciting season for Tiger and Gamecock fans across the nation.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers have to find a replacement for the likes of Mallicah Goodman, Xaiver Brewer, Johnathan Meeks and Rashard Hall but return key starters in LB Spencer Shuey, DT Deshawn Williams, DE Vic Beasley, and and DB Bashaud Breeland. The defense also brings in two players who will likely see significant action from day 1 including DE Shaq Lawson and Ebenenzer Ogundeko. The LSU game provided Clemson fans with hope for the future and with a full season under Venables now in the books, players should only began to buy into the system and begin playing at a higher level in 2013. The defense should only improve and once they begin to gel they will take pressure off the offense to drop 40 points per game again this year. Again, the LSU game was a perfect example of when the defense comes to play, the offense doesn't have to do as much work. 
We will learn a great deal from our guys right off the back when Aaron Murray brings his Georgia Bulldogs to town Aug. 31st, a game which will be played in Death Valley on ABC at 8pm and will likely bring ESPN's College Gameday crew back to campus. The game will have instant BSC title implications and will draw a large TV audience. It will be another prime opportunity for Clemson to show the nation what they can do and can open the door for not only a great season but national exposure for recruiting as well. It is a golden opportunity for Clemson and just like they did against LSU in the Chic-Fil-A Bowl, they will have to find a way to seize the opportunity and prove all the "Nay-Sayers" wrong. 
If everyone can stay healthy, Clemson's schedule is definitely one that has a manageable path to a BCS bowl berth. The Tigers have two Thursday night games this year, one on the road at North Carolina State and another at home against Georgia Tech. Atlantic division rival FSU has to travel to Death Valley this year which also helps. The Tigers also have conference road trips to Syracuse, Maryland, & Virginia all of which Clemson should be the favorite. As always, Clemson ends the season with arch rival South Carolina, which takes place in Columbia this year. Outside of Georgia, Florida State and South Carolina I don't anticipate Clemson being the underdog in any other game this season and they "should" be able to take care of their business. But that, of course, remains to be seen and is why we play the game. With South Carolina also primed for a great season and avoiding regular season meetings with LSU and Alabama this year, it isn't so far fetched to think we could have another showdown of 10 or 11 win squads squaring off late in November. If there ever was a time to be a football fan in South Carolina, this is year. Both schools are in position to make a BCS title run. The question is can they stay healthy and win the games in which they are "supposed" to win. Never thought I'd see they day where two years in a row we could be seeing a top 10 (or even top 5) showdown in November. But this year, that idea is definitely possible. Can't wait to see how it all plays out. One thing is for sure, it is going to be a fun and exciting season for Tiger and Gamecock fans across the nation.
Only 119 days until kickoff........
SPOT THE BALL!!!!!!!!
SPOT THE BALL!!!!!!!!
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