In 2019, Clemson’s defense exceeded expectations.
After losing the best defensive front college football had ever seen the year before in Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant, defensive coordinator Brent Venables went to Iowa State last spring to learn a new scheme.
He had a game changing outside linebacker in Isaiah Simmons he could use in so many facets, so he learned a new scheme to help put Simmons in the best position to succeed with each play call. The schemed also masked the Tigers deficiencies up front as it tried to break in some new players at defensive tackle and defensive end.