Greg McElroy explains his preseason ranking for Clemson in 2024

The reports of Clemson’s complete demise may be one of the greater exaggerations right now in all of college football. Greg McElroy believes so too with where he has ranked the Tigers going into 2024.

McElroy rated Clemson at No. 14 overall, including third in the ACC behind Miami and Florida State, in his Preseason Top-25 last week. He realizes that the prediction could be in doubt right from kickoff, though, considering their opening matchup in Atlanta.

“We’re going to find out all we need to know about Clemson in Week One,” said McElroy. “They play Georgia, okay?”

Still, from there, it’s all about the development of QB Cade Klubnik for McElroy. He’s coming off his first full season starting where he threw for 2,844 yards, 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions on 63.9% completion. Now, entering his junior year with more starts as part of 23 total appearances, McElroy wants to see him take the next step in his progression that he sees within him.

“Sometimes, when we evaluate quarterbacks like Cade Klubnik, we anticipate way too much. The guy has only started 13, 14 games in his career. The expectation level for him is to just be the second coming of DeShaun Watson, for him to be the second coming of Trevor Lawrence. That is not fair nor is that reasonable,” McElroy justified. “I look at Cade Klubnik and I look at his skillset? I look at what he played like at times last year and you know who he reminded me of? Auburn’s version of Bo Nix. The skillset is comparable. He has got some twitch, he can run around, he can create, he has got some athleticism. But sometimes you’re kind of left scratching your head. Then Bo Nix went to Oregon and became the player he was always poised to become as the 12th overall pick. It just took time.”

“I think Cade Klubnik might have needed some time. Now he has that entering year number two with Garrett Riley, his offensive coordinator,” continued McElroy. “I feel pretty optimistic about what he is going to be able to achieve this year. I look at last year and it was very inconsistent. I’m hoping, this upcoming year, there’s going to be more consistency, more predictability at the quarterback spot.”

With a better, more experienced version of him, the Clemson offense, with McElroy highlighting their improved weapons and established run game, could then improve as well.

However, if not, McElroy will instead put his faith in a defensive unit that he could see finishing as one of the very best nationally.

“The strength of their team is on the defensive side. No denying that,” said McElroy. “Barrett Carter is back, RJ Mickens is back. You have a bunch of guys up front like Peter Woods at defensive tackle, TJ Parker at defensive end. Khalil Barnes in the back end as well as safety/nickel.”

“They’re going to be really good, I think, defensively. It could be one of the top-five defenses in the country. Would not surprise me whatsoever,” McElroy said. “I think the defense is going to have to kind of carry the load assuming the offense is maybe a little bit hit or miss like they were at times last year.”

It’s fair to say Clemson has seen their program trend down to a degree since their last playoff appearance, which was a sixth consecutive, in 2020. Even so, the Tigers are, in McElroy’s opinion, still have enough and more than capable of winning their conference and, in turn, returning to the playoff this fall.

“Clemson? Very much in the mix in the ACC,” said McElroy. “People that are saying that they’re dead, they’re done? I disagree. Clemson has a chance to definitely win the league this upcoming year.”