Greg McElroy explains how Clemson could return to being top ten team

It has been a weird stretch for Clemson that last two years. After six straight College Football Playoff appearances — including two titles —  the Tigers have missed out on the final four in 2021 and 2022.

But they haven’t totally dropped off from that tier among playoff contenders. Clemson went 10-3 and then 11-3 with an ACC title mixed in as well.

Expectations for a return to the top 10 in the rankings — and even higher — are bearing down on the team from fans heading into the season. On the Always College Football with Greg McElroy podcast, Greg McElroy broke down his top 10 teams heading into the 2023 season and started the list with Clemson at No. 10.

McElroy had broadcasted the Tigers’ loss in the Orange Bowl to Tennessee, a game that he says provided him some perspective.

“We called the Orange Bowl,” McElroy said. “It was not their best performance. But I think in talking to Dabo Swinney beforehand, this was a team that had to make a quarterback switch. This was a team that had some challenges on the perimeter. This was a team that wasn’t quite as dynamic along the offensive line as they anticipated. And a team in the back end that was good, defensively good at all three levels, but for whatever reason, they just lost some close games.”

Clemson’s relatively lack of success the past two seasons compared to where it has been is funny to McElroy.

“It’s just so funny. Where Clemson’s act right now. And it’s an amazing testament to what Dabo Swinney has created. Is it not? Dabo has done an amazing job. When we looked at an 11-3 season with an ACC championship and a New Year Six bowl game invitation. Oh, what a failure,” McElroy said laughing. “That’s a good thing. So let’s just take that with a grain of salt. I think Clemson will be back in the mix again this year in the ACC. But I think with the pieces they return, I have them actually (finishing) second in the ACC as of right now.”

Greg McElroy highlights Garrett Riley as key to Clemson’s return to the top 10

Clemson will have two big changes on the offensive side of the football heading into the year that excites Greg McElroy. One is Garrett Riley taking over as the team’s offensive coordinator. The other is Cade Klubnik settling into the starting quarterback role after taking over late in the year.

“They’ve obviously made a switch with their offensive coordinator,” McElroy said. “Garrett Riley comes over from TCU, did an amazing job last year, won the Broyles Award as the nation’s best assistant. Now what will he do with Cade Klubnik. We know Cade Klubnik’s a dynamic athlete. We know Cade Klubnik was pretty good down the field last year, especially in the ACC championship game — by far his best performance of the season. But he was young and there were a few mistakes that were made. Situational Awareness is an area where he needs to continue to grow.”

The skill position players around Klubnik will have to step up as well. There are established stars — like running back Will Shipley — already rearing to go.

But the Tigers will need a few other players to step up.

“I like the receivers; I think the receivers are solid,” McElroy said. “I look at with the tight ends emergence last year, a position that had not always been a huge featured part of Clemson’s offense. They really kind of came into their own. Now you bring back Jake Briningstool. You bring back Antonio Williams, who is without question your most dynamic weapon there in the slot. But those are really the two guys that are front and center right now for where they’re going to be.”

“We all know what they can do with their running back situation with Will Shipley. I think he’s going to continue to be a very, very good football player. Probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves but the guy’s legit. He runs bigger than he is he runs with great power. He’s dynamic out of the backfield as a weapon in the passing game. But we need the receivers to emerge. We know Antonio Williams’ going to be there. We know Briningstool is going to be a weapon in the redzone. Who are the other guys going to be? And will they be anywhere near what Clemson had in the past when they had first round receiver after first round receiver after first round receiver throughout the 2010s. That’s a big question that I have going into the season.”

The offensive line is also full of question marks as the team gets ready for the 2023 season.

But the offense is built to be successful despite any issues that may happen on the line.

“Offensive line should be pretty dang good. But they do have to replace their left tackle in Jordan McFadden, who’s one of the better guys they’ve had in quite a while,” McElroy said. “The offense will take some of the pressure off the offensive line. This is a tempo offense. This is a spread offense where they want to dictate by formation. They force you to make a declaration defensively on every single snap. Very excited about this marriage that could exist between Garrett Riley, Cade Klubnik and the offensive identity as a whole.”