Draft-eligible Clemson Tigers have tough decisions to make

CLEMSON — Earlier this year, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said he believes many of his current players will return next season. And while Swinney might believe that to be true, whether they return or not is not up to Swinney.

There are obviously several Tigers who will be making transfer portal decisions in the coming weeks, while others will be deciding whether or not to turn pro. Which players should you keep an eye on in the coming weeks when it comes to turning pro?

On the offensive side, let’s start with the offensive line.

– Left tackle Tristan Leigh is a redshirt junior. He will have the opportunity to become a professional, but I doubt he will make it. Although he has improved greatly as a tackle, Leigh has missed a few games this year, which could hurt his chances in the draft. I expect he will come back next year to help improve his stock, but in situations like this you never know what a young man is thinking. Sometimes it depends on whether they like going to class or not.

–Center Ryan Linthicum is also a redshirt junior, but this is his first year as a starter, so I don’t think he will test the waters and should be back for his senior season.

-Right back Walker Parks was given an extra year due to last year’s injury, so he will return, and he has already told the coaches and media that he is coming back for another season.

– Right Tackle Blake Miller is without a doubt one to keep an eye on. He has been a regular player for three years and has played a lot of football at a high level. Can he improve? Yes. He will definitely have to make a decision once the season is over.

– Quarterback Cade Klubnik is a junior and could go pro if he wants. However, he probably won’t. We believe he will definitely be back for his senior season and that is good news for Clemson.

–Wide receiver Antonio Williams is listed as a redshirt sophomore, so he will be eligible to turn pro this year. We wouldn’t be surprised if Williams turns pro. This was a bigger year for him and he wanted to show pro scouts what he could do. The question is, has he done enough? He’s probably making the biggest decision of any draft player this season.

There are a few players on defense who have to make a decision.

– Defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart has another year of eligibility despite being listed as a senior. At the start of the year, when he was healthy and playing every day, Capehart was a prospect who wanted to go pro. After missing several games, that could have changed. I think he’ll probably move on and he’s definitely something to watch out for, but you never know.

–Defensive tackle Tre Williams is in the same situation as Capehart. He is listed as a senior, but he is eligible to come back and play next season. He’s likely to return considering injuries have hampered him in recent years.

–Linebacker Wade Woodaz is a true junior and has the opportunity to go pro, although I don’t think that will happen. This was the first year Woodaz was a regular starter. Even though he had a good season, returning is a better option to show what he can do as a second-year starter.

–Cornerback Jeadyn Lukus is a true junior and draft-eligible after the season. At 6-foot-3 and weighing 200 pounds, Lukus has the tools to play in the NFL. He is also one of Clemson’s better tacklers on the team. But has he done enough? Lukus missed some time this year due to injury and played injured. He also missed a lot of last year. Durability will be an issue and could be a reason for him to return if he actually decides to return. Also keep in mind that his playing time was cut in half by the emergence of freshman Ashton Hampton. That could also play a role in his decision.