If Clemson just focuses on its running game and playing defense with one of the best units in the country, the Tigers should easily win 9 games.

But improvements at the quarterback position and in the passing game would make the Tigers a favorite for the ACC championship and a possible Playoff contender.

It feels like we’re at a crossroads with Clemson. The quarterback play is no longer elite and the great coaching staff of the 2010s has splintered and moved on. What’s left is a program that’s still good, but may no longer be great.

Here is how Clemson’s depth chart looks a little more than a week away from the Tigers’ opener against Georgia Tech on Labor Day.

Quarterbacks

DJ Uiagalelei came into the 2021 season with a lot of expectations and he just didn’t live up to them. He threw for 2,246 with 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Uiagalelei struggled with accuracy, completing 55.6 percent of his passes. He had 5 games where he completed less than 50 percent of his throws and 6 games without a touchdown pass. For the first time since 2017, Clemson did not have elite quarterback play.

Uiagalelei says he’s refocused and in better shape for 2022. He’s going to get every opportunity to prove it, but there’s a lot of negativity surrounding Uiagalelei right now. On the opposite end, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding true freshman Cade Klubnik, a 5-star prospect out of Westlake High School. Klubnik will play this year and if he plays well, Uiagalelei will feel the pressure even more. Hunter Johnson is the well-traveled third-team QB.

Grade: B-

Running backs

Will Shipley is the firmly established starter. He finished with 739 yards and 11 touchdowns as a true freshman. Shipley rushed for over 100 yards in 3 of the Tigers’ final 5 games and was a big reason for Clemson’s late-season surge. If he improves as a receiver, I believe Shipley can be the best back in the conference.

Kobie Pace gives Clemson’s running game a solid 1-2 punch. He had 641 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Phil Mafah is a backup with experience.

Grade: A-

Wide receivers/tight ends

If Uiagalelei is going to get to a higher level, he’ll need some great receivers. Clemson has had some guys transfer out, but I’m high on Beaux Collins, who had 31 catches for 407 yards as a freshman. The rising sophomore can give Uiagalelei a regular outside target. Joseph Ngata and Brannon Spector are projected to be returning starters, but keep an eye on true freshman Antonio Williams. There’s a very high ceiling with Williams if the quarterback play is up to par.

Allen Davis (28 catches, 208 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Jake Briningstool are the returning tight ends. They weren’t a big part of the offense last year.

Grade: C+

Offensive line

This should be an improved group in 2022. There’s a lot of experience there with Jordan McFadden on the left side and Will Putnam at center. Marcus Tate is just a sophomore and I think he’s got the most NFL upside of any of the four returning starters. Walker Parks returns at right tackle and He’ll bring along Mitchell Mayes, the only new starter of the bunch.

The experience on the offensive line doesn’t extend to the two deep, but most of the backups had a year to redshirt and gain strength.

Grade: B

Defensive line

This is where the party is at. It’s hard to find a better starting front four than Myles Murphy, Tyler Davis, Bryan Bresee and Xavier Thomas when they are healthy. I don’t want to say it’s as good as the front four that Clemson rolled out in 2018, but it’s pretty darn close.

Davis and Bresee have first-team All-American potential and should be first-rounders in the 2023 NFL Draft, if they are healthy. Thomas needs to stay healthy to be the player Clemson expects. The depth is ok, but there is a significant drop-off from the first team.

Bresee looks good returning from a torn ACL. The only thing that can stop this group is health.

Grade: A

Linebackers

Trenton Simpson is a special talent. The junior was third on the team with 65 tackles and second with 6 sacks in 2021. Keith Maguire and Barrett Carter are a solid supporting cast among the starters and LaVonta Bentley had quality snaps in 2021 and is a great first option off the bench.

Sophomore Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is also in a position to get some snaps and he’s someone that Clemson fans are excited to see more on.

Grade: B+

Secondary

Sophomore safety Andre Mukuba is one of the top players at his position in the country and the lone returning starter on the back end. There is a ton of talent back here. I think seniors Jalyn Phillips and Sheridan Jones are in for strong years at free safety and field cornerback respectively.

Nate Wiggins will start on the other side at corner and, like much of the secondary, he’s young with a lot of upside. Malcolm Greene and Tyler Venables will be in the game for sub packages. Both have experience and will be moving into bigger roles.

Grade: B

Specialists

BT Potter is on the Groza Award watch list and he could be handling both place-kicking and punting duties this year. The senior was a second-team All-ACC performer in 2021 after hitting nearly 81 percent of his field goals. He was 10-of-11 from 40-49 yards and had a long of 51.

Potter is going to try to add punting to his resume in hopes it’ll make him more appealing for the NFL. If he can do both capably, it’ll give Clemson one less thing to worry about.

Grade: A-