2022 Clemson Analysis

The 2021 Season was a large let down for the Clemson Tigers, after finishing 10-3 and missing out on the ACC Championship for the first time in 6 years. In 2022, the Tigers look to build and move forward to yet again claim the top spot in the ACC and make a run for the playoff. This is how they can do it: Clemson has to have better quarterback play with DJ Uiagalelei... after replacing Trevor Lawrence and coming into 2021 with lots of hype, the young QB never seemed to measure up to what his predecessor left behind. Injuries to Uiagalelei and the team as a whole deeply hurt their gameplay; however, Uiagalelei threw for only 2,246, 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Also, he threw for the second lowest completion percentage in the ACC with a percentage of 55.6. If Clemson wants to return to prominence, they have to start getting better at QB-play right off the bat.

Almost in direct relation to the play of QB DJ Uiagalelei, the offense has to be more productive and more explosive overall. Clemson in 2021 was scoring 17 fewer points and averaging 143 fewer yards a game. Not to mention, the Clemson offense was dead last in the ACC in yards per play, only averaging 5.1 yards. The Tigers were also last in plays over 40 and 50 yards, with only 13 plays going over; while in 2020, the tigers had 25 of those types of plays. Combine those bad numbers while also putting up the fourth most turnovers in the ACC (19), the Tigers were doomed from the start. If Clemson can begin to put together an offense that is more efficient to recent years, then they will be a tough opponent in 2022. I personally have Clemson finishing the regular season 10-2 and returning back to the ACC championship, competing for their crown once again.

As long as Dabo Swinney is in Clemson, South Carolina then the Tigers will be a tough opponent and Dabo will make sure of that. Clemson will not make the playoff this year, but as long as QB DJ Uiagalelei gets better and continues to grow through his time in college, as well as the Coordinator Wes Goodwin’s defense, then Clemson will be ready to once again compete for a national title.