I am doing the non-ACC Pitt opponents in alphabetical order. That means Clemson

Dabo Swinney enters his 14’th season leading the Clemson Tigers, Since Pitt joined the ACC Conference in 2013, Dabo’s record against ACC foes (excluding Notre Dame) is 71 – 7. Those seven losses were to Georgia Tech (2014), Syracuse (2017) , NC State (2021) Florida State (2013,2014) and Pitt (2016. 2021). Pitt’s overall record against Clemson is 2 – 2.

2021 schedule and results and upcoming 2022 schedule.

Here are the Rivals 5.7 and above 2022 signees. Also included is the lone Transfer Portal (TP) addition.

2022 recruit QB Cade Klubnik was not only a 5-star but was ranked by Rivals as the overall number three recruit in the 2022 class.

Hunter Johnson was the first TP addition Clemson has ever signed. Originally, Johnson was a 5-star Clemson recruit in the 2017 class. He transferred to Northwestern for the 2019 season. He has not lived up to his 5-star ranking. After graduating, he wanted to move south for a postgraduate degree. To pay for it, he wanted a graduate assistant job. He talked to Clemson. He was asked if he still had college football eligibility. He did and Dabo gave him a scholarship for QB depth.

For color coding, a light blue color indicates a player who is leaving the team due to eligibility or the NFL. A reddish pink color indicates the player left via the TP. A bright green color are for those with medical, grades or disciplinary reasons. There are very, very few of the “bright green” and only one on Clemson.

Clemson currently has 11 players who entered  the TP – four defensive players and seven offensive players. All eleven had either an offensive or defensive stat.

On to the stars identified as NCAA team leaders in selected stats or    members of the All ACC teams.

I was planning to add some 2021 team season ending statistics to these articles. After further thought I decided they would not add any illuminations.

The  offense revolves around QB play.

D.J. Ulagalelei had a horrid 2021 season. His 108.7 rating was 108’th of 111 NCAA ranked QB’s. If he starts the 2022 season with the same type of QB play, it will not surprise me to see the Cade Clubnik era start at Clemson. BTW, Ulagalelei was also a Rivals 5-star and the third ranked player in the 2020 recruiting class.

Clemson running backs and receivers 2021 activity. Also returning production for the first three teams reviewed.

That is a lot of names and a lot of returning production. Thirteen different players had a rushing attempt. A whopping 26 had a reception. Dabo likes to get players (including walk-ons) into all games. (He played 90+ in the 2018 championship game against Pitt.)

Clemson’s offensive line may be a slight matter of concern.

A bright green sighting. Rayburn has a neck injury and will help the team as a student assistance this year. In articles I have read, Dabo may be on the look out for a TP OLinemen with starting experience. This ESPN article makes that claim. Slovis and Narduzzi are also mentioned and quoted.

How college football’s transfer portal is changing spring practice (espn.com)

Only one chart for the defense. There were a total of 48 players who made a least one defensive stat. Of those 48, three were offensive players and an additional two where a long snapper and kicker. Forty three defensive players had a stat. All four of the defensive players who entered the TP made a defensive play.

Instead of a chart with 48 names, I will be cutting the list down to those players who had at least double-digit tackles. Instead of 48, only 24 will be shown. At the end, there is the summary data by position. The summary in the chart below only includes defensive players. I have stripped out the stats for offensive and special team players.

That ends the review of 2021 Production Lost for Clemson. The media likes Clemson to win the Atlantic division and the ACC. Pitt can meet them again in Charlotte.