The most glaring problem Clemson had from the 2024 season was inconsistency in stopping the run. This issue nearly kept the Tigers out of the college football playoffs entirely. It surely is what caused Clemson’s early exit. The Tigers lost in the first round. The defense gave up 292 yards on the road to Texas in that 38-24 loss.
How Can the Clemson Defensive Tackle Position Improve?
Defending the run better starts up front with the defensive tackles. Interior defensive linemen are the most important piece in stopping the run. Penetration by the defensive tackles is what shuts down run plays. So as Spring practices continue to roll on we take a look at who new defensive coordinator Tom Allen will depend on to improve the Clemson run defense.
Likely Starting Defensive Tackles
One of the best things to come out of Clemson’s acquisition of Will Heldt from the transfer portal is that it moves Peter Woods back to the interior. Woods is better used as a game wrecker inside than a solid body on the edge at this level. The 2023 Freshman All-American dealt with lower body injuries in the beginning half of 2024. Still he racked up 28 total tackles, eight-and-a-half tackles for loss, and three sacks last season. Woods is expected to be the anchor for this defense. Getting back to disrupting things inside will help him be that.
Next to Woods will likely be graduate senior DeMonte Capehart. The six-year veteran has been a solid player on the interior of Clemson’s defensive line. Capehart has 51 total tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss in his career. The last two seasons he has shown he is ready to take a huge step forward in his contributions for the Tigers. This looks to be the year he will get his opportunity by becoming one of the starting defensive tackles.
Key Backups
When talking about the defensive line, the guys in the second line are just as important as the starters. Having the ability to rotate players upfront on defense, especially the interior, and not have much drop off in performance helps make a great defense. A player who may be listed as a second string player but will be vital in the success of the Tigers’ defense is Stephiylan Green. The redshirt sophomore really shined anytime he got an opportunity last season. Green had 16 total tackles, and two-and-a-half tackles for loss in 2024. He was also named a Second-Team Freshman All-American.
Many fans and people around the Clemson program are excited about Green’s continued development. Who will be next to Green on the second line is a mystery though. Several young players will get a chance to work their way into the second spot on the depth chart. If seniority is the leading determining factor right now though, Vic Burley is the name to look for.
Burley is also a redshirt sophomore. In 2024, he played in eight games, totaling 92 snaps. He had seven tackles to finish the season. Burley is another name many in the program are excited about. Head Coach Dabo Swinney has talked a lot about him since last offseason. Additionally, some younger players on the roster are very talented and looking to get onto the field as early as possible.
Young Depth
The thing about this interior defensive line group that both possesses questions and creates excitement is that most of the group is composed of young talent. All of these younger players have the potential to earn significant playing time sooner rather than later. A player that fits this description perfectly is true freshman Amare Adams. The top 100 recruit from the 2025 class has been praised for his outstanding athleticism for his size. With all the excitement around Adams, it’s hard to see him not getting a chance to show what he’s got early on.
Adams is not the only highly talented young player in this group fans are excited to see more of, though. Two redshirt freshmen, Hevin Brown-Shuler and Champ Thompson, are also waiting to capitalize on their opportunities. Brown-Shuler used up all his four games allowed to still be eligible to redshirt in 2024. He had four tackles after playing 49 snaps on the year. Thompson played in just three games in 2024, getting three total tackles.
All the players mentioned came into Clemson with high expectations. This group needs to live up to its potential in order for the Tigers’ defense to improve. Becoming a better run defense starts with them.
Main Photo: Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images
