CLEMSON — Clemson football has an experienced roster returning this season, but that doesn’t mean everything is decided on the depth chart ahead of fall practice starting on July 31.
The Tigers have players who are trying to show Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and his staff that they deserve playing time. They hope to leave their impression before Clemson hosts LSU on Aug. 30 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) at Memorial Stadium.
Here are five players with something to prove when Clemson heading into the 2025 season.
Ricardo Jones, DB
Jones was one of seven freshmen last season who did not qualify for a redshirt. The former four-star recruit, who played primarily on special teams, recorded 20 tackles, including one sack, one interception and one pass deflection in 12 games. With R.J. Mickens gone, Clemson has a safety vacancy that the sophomore could take.
Clemson safeties coach Mickey Conn said Jones has worked on getting bigger and stronger to help with tackling. Conn added he is a ballhawk who will have to compete for a starting position in a crowded safeties room.
“I’m ready for him to compete for a starting job. It’s time for him to step into that role,” Conn said. “… He’s going to take off. He’s going to be a really, really good player.”
Adam Randall, RB
Randall was on this list last season as a third-year wide receiver. He started one game before Bryant Wesco Jr. moved ahead of him. Randall moved from wideout to running back during Clemson’s CFP game against Texas and showed flashes.
He fully switched positions this spring, even earning reps with the first-team offense. Swinney hasn’t announced a running back starter but believes Randall will be “one of the best college football stories this season.” Running backs coach C.J. Spiller sees the potential too.
“He brings a confidence to him,” Spiller said. “He doesn’t get overwhelmed. He doesn’t panic when stuff happens, so he brings that to our room, especially when you got some young guys.”
Vic Burley, DT
Clemson has always been loaded on the defensive line in Swinney’s tenure. The Tigers’ latest projected defensive tackle stars are Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart. For depth players, they have to wait their turn or receive a small portion of reps.
Vic Burley was Clemson’s highest-rated signee in its 2023 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. But he missed the entire 2023 season with knee injuries and played in eight games last season as the team relied on its veterans and healthy talented players. Still, defensive tackles coach Nick Eason is optimistic about Burley’s 2025 season.
“I’m really proud of the way he’s just really stepped up his game this offseason,” Eason said. “Faced a lot of adversity early on in his career and with the amount of guys that were out this spring, it gave him an opportunity to get better.”
Jeadyn Lukus, CB
Jeadyn Lukus has the most experience in Clemson’s cornerbacks room, but he lost his starting job last season to Ashton Hampton, who earned freshman All-America honors. Lukus, who played at Mauldin, did not enter the transfer portal despite losing his position and entering his senior season.
“In a day and age where kids are just jumping in the portal and running from competition, he’s a young man that has good self-awareness, and he understands what he needs to do to get better,” cornerbacks coach Mike Reed said. “It’s been proven you don’t always have to be the starter to play in the NFL.”
Reed believes Clemson has three capable cornerback starters with him, Hampton and Avieon Terrell and is eager to see how Lukus competes for his role back.
Olsen Patt-Henry, TE
Clemson’s offense is expected to be potent, but the Tigers have to replace tight end Jake Briningstool’s production. He was second on the team in receptions (49) and receiving touchdowns (seven) and fourth in receiving yards (530) last year.
Olsen Patt-Henry is expected to fill that void. He emerged through his run blocking and red-zone scoring last season, logging nine catches for 121 yards and three touchdowns. He missed Clemson’s spring game with a shoulder injury, but tight ends coach Kyle Richardson said he will be ready for fall practice.
“He’ll be 100%. With a shoulder, you don’t want to rush back from that,” Richardson said. “He’s had a great summer, and obviously, he’s one of those (guys) you got to hold him back. He’s really eager to get on the field and play football again.”
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
