Finishing 11-3, Clemson experienced plenty of ups and downs in the 2022 season. The Tigers ended on a low note with a 31-14 defeat to Tennessee in the Orange Bowl.
Here are the biggest takeaways from Clemson’s 2022 season.
Paws down: Clemson still misses Lawrence
The Tigers are continuing their search for the heir apparent of Trevor Lawrence.
After struggling all of last season, DJ Uiagalelei showed vast improvement in the first half of this season, highlighted by a five-touchdown performance in a double-overtime win over Wake Forest.
The junior signal-caller ended up completing 62.1% of his passes for 2,521 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions, adding seven scores on the ground, as well. Still, when it mattered most in critical games of the season against Notre Dame and South Carolina, Uiagalelei reverted to his ways from the 2021 season.
In relief of Uiagalelei, Cade Klubnik played a near-flawless game in the ACC Championship game but showed signs of inexperience in his first career start in the loss to Tennessee in the Orange Bowl.
As he is now with Oregon State, it is clear that Uiagalelei wasn’t the answer. While Klubnik has the potential to be a two or three-year starter, quarterback play remains at the forefront of the Tigers’ offensive struggles.
Paws up: Tigers reclaim ACC title
Although Clemson ended its season on a low note with the Orange Bowl loss, the Tigers still won the ACC after missing the conference championship game altogether last season. In the 39-10 win over North Carolina, Klubnik burst onto the scene and led the team in an impressive offensive showing to finish a perfect 8-0 in conference games. Meanwhile, the defense resembled previous championship-caliber defensive units the Tigers have had in the past.
The ACC was arguably the weakest Power Five conference this year, but winning a conference seven times in the last eight seasons is no easy feat.
Paws down: Gamecocks shatter CFP hopes
It was a game of lows for the Tigers on Nov. 26, 2022.
Not only did South Carolina defeat Clemson for the first time since 2013, ending a seven-game win streak, but the Gamecocks also shattered any hope for a potential return to the College Football Playoff.
In the 31-30 loss, turnovers and a lackluster passing offense continually put the Tigers in harm’s way, allowing the Gamecocks to take advantage, end Clemson’s 40 home-game win streak and take home the Palmetto Bowl trophy.
Paws down: “WRU” reputation falters
If there was one position group that struggled the most in 2022, it was the wide receivers. After years of proclaiming themselves as “Wide Receiver U,” the Tigers severely lacked production in the pass-catching department this season.
Freshman wide receiver Antonio Williams led the team in receptions and yards with 56 and 604, respectively, but other than him, no player cemented themselves as a true threat. In fact, Clemson failed to have a single receiver reach 100 yards in a single game until the ACC Championship game when freshman Cole Turner barely surpassed the mark with 101 yards on three receptions.
Some of the unit’s struggles and underdevelopment can be chalked up to quarterback play and schematics, but ultimately it falls on the wide receivers themselves to be playmakers.
Paws up: Linebacker room is in good hands
Replacing James Skalski and Baylon Spector was no easy task, but the Tigers found two stars in Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter this season.
The pair combined for 162 total tackles, 12 sacks, four interceptions, 13 passes defended and three forced fumbles. Whenever the defense needed a stop or a game-changing play, it was often one of the athletic linebackers that came up big.
With only one full season of starting for both of them, Carter and Trotter still have room for growth as they enter their junior seasons in 2023.
Paws down: Streeter’s rocky first season as play-caller
Clemson had first-year coordinators on both sides of the ball, but it was offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter who faced the most criticism.
The former passing game coordinator took over for Tony Elliott as offensive coordinator this season, and although there was an improvement from 2021, much remained the same. The passing game lacked any explosive or downfield plays and rarely attacked the middle of the field. Streeter’s use of Uiagalelei in the run game most of the season better utilized his quarterback’s skill set, but the Tigers often bailed on the run game entirely when they were behind.
Although one season is a very small sample size, Streeter never seemed to fully unlock the offense’s potential in year one.
Paws up: Promising first season for freshmen class
No freshmen class is ever perfect, but the Tigers’ 2022 recruiting class showed signs of promise throughout its first season. Klubnik, Williams, Turner and wide receiver Adam Randall all showed promise as playmakers, while offensive tackle Blake Miller started in every game at right tackle and held his own.
There wasn’t as much contribution from freshmen on the defensive side of the ball. However, linebacker Wade Woodaz and cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. all received significant playing time down the stretch.
With multiple starters leaving for the NFL, look for cornerback Jeadyn Lukus, offensive tackle Collin Sadler and others to get into the fold more next season.
Paws up: Consistency, consistency, consistency
Maybe Clemson has fallen from the cream of the crop in college football, and maybe there needs to be some change in the coming months, but head coach Dabo Swinney still led the program to double-digit wins for the 12th straight season in 2022. That level of sustained success is beyond rare.
Time will tell if Clemson can reach the top of the mountain once again. One way or another, though, the Tigers remain one of the most consistent programs in the country.
