Clemson Football

Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy will leave college early and jump to the pros.

The junior told ESPN's Pete Thamel he will skip the Orange Bowl, forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the NFL draft. B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranks Murphy as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2023 class.

In 2022, Murphy racked up 40 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for a Tigers team that went 11-2. The native of Marietta, Georgia, ends his career at Clemson with 116 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and five pass deflections.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department named him as the most versatile edge-rusher in this year's class. Thamel noted, "Murphy is an end who is best suited for a 4-3 scheme, and he's expected to bring elite speed to that position." Murphy expressed confidence that his unique combination of skills will translate to the next level.

"There's that speed combined with very good strength in my long arm move," he said. "Just those two things, being able to be a very fast defensive end and a speed rusher that's very powerful at the same time. Having offensive linemen thinking about those two things that are polar opposites."

In his latest mock draft, ESPN draft expert Todd McShay predicted Murphy would be selected 14th overall by the Green Bay Packers. Murphy told Thamel that whichever team lands him will get "really just a very elite player, honestly. The sky is the limit. The harder I work, the better player I know I can be."

Murphy will be the latest in a long line of Clemson defensive linemen to be drafted in the first round, joining the likes of Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence.

The DJ Uiagalelei era may be over at Clemson.

Chris Hummer of 247Sports reported the Tigers quarterback is expected to enter the transfer portal.

Entering the portal doesn't preclude Uiagalelei from returning to the program, but his days were effectively numbered after he got benched for Cade Klubnik in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday.

Klubnik finished 20-of-24 for 279 yards and one touchdown as Clemson beat North Carolina 39-10. After the game, head coach Dabo Swinney confirmed the true freshman will start the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

"Moving forward, Cade will be the starter going in and DJ will be the backup and we’ll keep moving forward," he told reporters.

For many Tigers fans, the change was long overdue.

Expectations for Uiagalelei couldn't have been much higher when he took over as the full-time starter in 2021. He was replacing Trevor Lawrence, perhaps the greatest QB in program history, and his brief cameo when filling in for Lawrence in 2020 only added to the hype. Not to mention, the comparisons to Cam Newton had been made before he ever took a college snap.

Instead, Uiagalelei might become a bit of a cautionary tale.

As a sophomore, he threw for 2,246 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing just 55.6 percent of his passes. His work on the ground (308 yards, four touchdowns) wasn't enough to compensate for his struggles as a passer.

The 6'4", 235-pound signal-caller improved in 2022 but still didn't reach an elite level. Assuming he doesn't suit up in the Orange Bowl, he'll finish with 2,521 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions along with 545 rushing yards and seven scores.

A change of scenery should benefit Uiagalelei. Although he's a bit of a project, he should be on the radar for Power Five schools looking to address an immediate need at quarterback.

Uiagalelei's size and skill set will be enough to convince a head coach he can thrive in the right offensive scheme.

For Clemson, his departure will mean avoiding any sort of quarterback controversy. It's full steam ahead with Klubnik in 2023.

The Tigers have a commitment from Christopher Vizzina, too, to provide additional depth at the position. Vizzina is the sixth-best quarterback and No. 27 overall player in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2023 class.

DJ Uiagalelei's time in Clemson may be coming to an end.

The No. 9 Clemson Tigers took down the No. 23 North Carolina Tar Heels 39-10 in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday, and it was backup true-freshman Cade Klubnik who got the job done after Dabo Swinney opted to bench Uiagalelei.

Klubnik completed 20-of-24 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown in the win. He also rushed for 30 yards and one score on seven carries. He was replaced by Hunter Johnson with under eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and Clemson up 39-10.

Uiagelelei was benched after two empty offensive possessions to open the game. He completed 2-of-5 passes for 10 yards before taking a seat on the bench.

Following Klubnik's outstanding performance, college football Twitter was quick to anoint him Clemson's future at quarterback:

Klubnik was a five-star prospect out of Austin, Texas, and the top quarterback in the 2022 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He was also the sixth-best prospect in the nation.

In addition to receiving an offer from Clemson, Klubnik also received offers from the likes of Texas, Penn State, Michigan, LSU, Georgia and Florida. In June 2021, Klubnik told reporters that Clemson recruited him "harder than anybody when it comes to just staying in good contact and just staying in touch with me and just building a relationship."

He added: "I would say they did the best job of anybody, and they definitely went out of their way to do it. Then once, once they kind of offered me. I just kind of felt in my heart that this is kind of the place I need to be. This is the place I'm feeling called to go."

At this point, it certainly seems like Klubnik is the future at quarterback for Clemson. If so, the Tigers are in good hands for the next few years.

Defensive lineman and 5-star recruit Vic Burley announced his intention to attend Clemson in June and should instantly find himself competing for playing time next season.

The Warner Robins star announced his commitment in June and is the No. 52 overall player in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

Burley is already listed at 6'5" and 265 pounds, making him a ready-made star at the next level from a physical standpoint.

"Of course he has the size and the length and all that," Warner Robins head coach Marquis Westbrook said of Burley. "But I think his preparation at his age makes him stand out even more because his approach to the game is unlike any other. Last year as a sophomore, he was really focused, really dedicated to his craft. I think that makes the difference in his game.

"We try to tell our players, 'You can't turn it on at any time.' He's one of those guys who can do that, but he keeps it there. He's different from that standpoint. I think his preparation and his mentality, the way he approaches Monday through Thursday for practice is different, which makes it easy on Friday for him."

Burley is joined in Clemson's 2023 class by 5-star defensive lineman Peter Woods, one of the crowned jewels of Dabo Swinney's haul, and fellow 4-star linemen Tomarrion Parker and Stephiylan Green. The Tigers' defensive line class should help replenish the depth chart that will see several departures this offseason.

Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee are potential first-round picks, while Tyler Davis and K.J. Henry will also be playing on Sundays next season.

The holes across the front seven should give Burley, Woods, Parker and Green a chance to battle it out in camp for significant playing time early in their careers.

For the first time since Nov. 12, 2016, the Clemson Tigers have lost at home.

The unranked South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the No. 8 Tigers 31-30 on Saturday at Clemson Memorial Stadium to put an end to the team's 40-game home win streak, which is an ACC record.

Aside from the rushing performance by running back Will Shipley, who posted 15 carries for 132 yards and one touchdown, the Clemson offense was wildly disappointing against South Carolina.

Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei completed just eight of 29 passes for 99 yards and one touchdown against one interception in the loss. His performance was unacceptable, and now the Tigers have been knocked out of College Football Playoff contention.

College football fans ripped Clemson for the loss, which dropped it to 10-2, on Twitter, and understandably so:

Saturday's win marked South Carolina's second upset victory over a Top 10 opponent after the Gamecocks took down Tennessee last weekend.

With Clemson out of CFP contention, Dabo Swinney will have a lot to figure out moving forward, including whether or not he wants to stick with Uiagalelei as his starting quarterback in 2023.

This year's College Football Playoff is shaping up to be very exciting with a fresh mix of teams.

Late-season upsets have trimmed the list of College Football Playoff contenders to seven candidates.

Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and TCU hold undefeated records and remain the Top Four teams heading into the final week of the regular season. They are the obvious front-runners.

Although LSU has dropped two games, the SEC West champions would have a compelling case if they beat Georgia for the conference title. USC is a one-loss squad with a potentially impressive list of Top 25 triumphs.

And then, there's the little ol' Clemson Tigers.

How should the CFP selection committee view Dabo Swinney's team? Clemson is not the single-most fascinating wild card in the group—that probably would be the combination of a tight Michigan/Ohio State game and LSU edging Georgia—but the eighth-ranked 10-1 Tigers are both unconvincing and undeniably a part of the CFP race.

Yes, right now, Clemson is behind No. 7 Alabama. But the Tigers will undoubtedly leap Alabama if they end the season with a conference championship. So let's move past that.

Clemson is just two victories over South Carolina and North Carolina away from demanding a place in the discussion on Selection Day. However, neither the season-long eye test nor popular metrics give the Tigers a promising outlook.

Entering the weekend, Clemson has two Top 25 wins (Florida State and Louisville) with a potential for a third against North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game.

Among the seven contenders, USC (58) is one of two programs with a lower strength of schedule than Clemson's (56). That USC number may rise swiftly with Notre Dame and the Pac-12 title up next. Beyond that, it's simply implausible that Clemson—given the loss to Notre Dame—would suddenly jump USC in the rankings if the Trojans keep winning.

The same situation applies to LSU, which the committee has placed ahead of Clemson since Nov. 8. LSU upsetting Georgia in the SEC Championship Game would overshadow anything Clemson can accomplish now.

Michigan holds the other sub-56 SOS ranking, but the Wolverines—like UGA, Ohio State and TCU—are unbeaten. No team owning a perfect record will be excluded from the CFP this year.

If a solid majority of results meet expectation, Clemson is out. Based on what we've seen to date, there's really no argument.

But you, my esteemed college football friend, have recognized the 2022 season is bonkers. LSU and Notre Dame have risen from September graves, Arizona stunned UCLA, South Carolina walloped Tennessee, TCU is apparently a zombie you can't kill and on and on.

So, we ask: What if?

What if Michigan or Ohio State wins in blowout fashion and USC beats Notre Dame but loses in the Pac-12 Championship Game? Would a one-loss, ACC-champ Clemson jump the loser of Michigan-Ohio State?

Would the Tigers inch above a two-loss, Pac-12 runner-up USC despite the Trojans owning a victory over a common opponent?

What if TCU runs out of second-half magic and falls in the Big 12 Championship Game? Does, again, a one-loss, ACC-champ Clemson leapfrog the Hypnotoad?

You clicked here expecting thoughtful, well-reasoned analysis, so here's the answer: I don't know!

Clemson is a flawed team, leaning on a formidable-though-not-elite defense to atone for an offense that generally capitalizes on red-zone trips but is otherwise average in both efficiency and explosiveness.

On the other hand, the timing of that setback at Notre Dame may be the Tigers' saving grace. If they win an ACC championship and at least two of TCU, LSU and USC lack a conference crown—plus the loser of Michigan-Ohio State missing the Big Ten title game—the argument for the Tigers is there.

Clemson still has to beat a South Carolina team that smoked Tennessee and a North Carolina team with breakout quarterback Drake Maye. There's no guarantee the Tigers avoid a loss, either.

But if Clemson isn't part of the chaos, the perennial ACC power is subtly positioned for an improbable rise.

Given the trajectory of the bonkers season so far, however, it'd hardly be surprising to watch yet another nonsensical twist.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney took the blame for his team's 35-14 upset to Notre Dame on Saturday.

"This was a really bad day and all the criticism was warranted and just should be directed at me, period," he told reporters after the game. "This is one of the most disappointing days that I've had as a head coach."

Swinney added the Tigers "got out-coached in every facet of the game."

Clemson trailed 28-0 in the fourth quarter. The offense gained just 281 total yards as DJ Uiagalelei went 27-of-39 for 191 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

A head coach taking accountability for a disappointing loss is nothing new, but some fans might be wondering whether Saturday did serve as a warning sign to Swinney.

Clemson needed two overtimes to put away Wake Forest in September and needed a 17-point fourth quarter to avoid losing to Syracuse in October. The Tigers finally suffering a defeat isn't surprising.

There were also big-picture questions surrounding the program coming into the 2022 season.

The Athletic's Bruce Feldman and Grace Raynor reported in September 2021 how Swinney's offensive scheme was looking a bit outmoded. With offensive coordinator Tony Elliott leaving to coach Virginia, this offseason presented Swinney with an opportunity to bring in somebody from outside the team with fresh ideas.

Instead, Brandon Streeter got a promotion from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator.

On the other side of the ball, Clemson adopted the same approach to replace outgoing defensive coordinator Brent Venables, with Wes Goodwin taking over the unit.

Swinney clearly values maintaining the status quo and relying on the philosophies that got him here.

Sometimes evolution is necessary, though. Alabama's continued success might not be happening right now if Nick Saban hadn't brought in Lane Kiffin to lead the offense in 2014.

Swinney just signed a contract extension in September that keeps him at Clemson through 2031. He's obviously not going anywhere for now.

How this season finishes out will, however, go toward addressing the overarching concerns hanging over the program.

A relentless rushing attack, a dominant defense and sensational special teams propelled unranked Notre Dame to a 35-14 win over No. 4 Clemson on Saturday evening.

The Fighting Irish rushed for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Logan Diggs (114 yards) and Audric Estimé (104) led the way for Notre Dame, who possessed the ball for 33 minutes thanks to their efforts.

The defense shut Clemson out for nearly 50 minutes before the Tigers scored the first of their two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Benjamin Morrison also registered two interceptions, including a 96-yard pick-six that gave Notre Dame a 27-0 lead.

And the Fighting Irish got the ball rolling thanks to a Jordan Botelho blocked punt, which Prince Kollie returned for a 17-yard touchdown.

Clemson didn't play particularly well in either of its last two games, a 34-28 win over Florida State and a 27-21 victory against Syracuse. This time around, the Fighting Irish put their foot on the gas early and never looked back as the Tigers struggled from start to finish.

The loss all but assures that Clemson will not be participating in the College Football Playoff this year, and Twitter gave credit to Notre Dame for its big win over a team that many believed should not have been top four.

Both teams will play Saturday. Clemson will host Louisville, while Notre Dame will welcome Navy to South Bend.