Dabo Swinney has elevated the Clemson Football program to a point in which his program has national title aspirations each and every season.
The Tigers have made six consecutive trips to the College Football Playoff, winning national championships in 2016 and 2018.
Wide receiver Amari Rodgers was a part of that 2018 team that won it all, as well as the teams that came up just short the past two seasons. Rodgers is now preparing for the NFL Draft but the former Clemson wideout knows what it takes to win at the highest levels and thinks the 2021 Tigers are every bit good enough to win Swinney his third national title.
“A lot of guys that I’m excited to see,” Rodgers recently said on local radio station WCCP. “I definitely feel like it’s going to be a natty type of year this year. I’m excited to see it.”
D.J. Uiagalelei is set to take over for the departed Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne is also now off to the NFL. However, this Clemson team has plenty of talent in the running back room waiting on their opportunity, despite the recent departure of Chez Mellusi.
While Lyn-J Dixon is widely assumed to open the season as the starting running back, Rodgers cautioned listeners to not overlook sophomore Kobe Pace, who shined in the Clemson spring game.
“I would say be on the lookout for Kobe Pace, the running back,” Rodgers said. “He’s going to have a great year, I see him as a Nick Chubb type of running back, he’s very physical, and he’s smart, too. So that’s what I love about him.”
As deep as the Tigers are at running back, Rodgers was quick to point out that Clemson might even be deeper at receiver, a position the former Tigers’ standout knows a little something about.
“You know, Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson Jr., and all those guys, Justyn Ross, of course, you can’t forget about Justyn coming back,” Rodgers said. “The receiver room has seven or eight receivers that can be All-Americans anywhere. E.J. Williams, too, he came on late in the season last year as a freshman, so be looking out for him. I’m excited to see the receiver room this year and what they bring to the table.”
One receiver in particular that Rodgers is looking forward to watching is rising sophomore Ajou Ajou. Rodgers thinks Ajou has taken a big step in his development and is expecting it to show on the field in 2021.
“I’d definitely say Ajou Ajou,” Rodgers said. “You saw in the spring game what he’s capable of, and he’s just getting better. That kid, when he first got to Clemson, he was just starting to play receiver, and you can see how hard he’s been working and how he’s turned into an amazing receiver, so definitely be on the lookout for him.”
