LSU-Clemson showdown features elite playmaking talent

The national championship matchup Monday in the Mercedes Benz Superdome features a pair of squads loaded with future NFL talent. We’ll take a closer look at the talented personnel LSU and Clemson bring to the table.

LSU had four first rounders in the 2007 NFL Drat – JaMarcus Russell, LaRon Landry, Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis. The 2020 NFL draft could see as many as five Bengal Tigers go in the opening round. Joe Burrow, Kristian Fulton, Grant Delpit appear to be locks while juniors K’Lavon Chaisson and Justin Jefferson could be top picks if they declare.

Defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence could could go on day two of the draft while linebacker Jacob Phillips, another junior, and Damien Lewis should land on day three. Center Lloyd Cushenberry and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire will likely declare and end up as mid-round picks as well.

Defending champion Clemson has their fair share of NFL talent on their roster as well.

Isaiah Simmons, the Butkus Award winner, leads team with 97 tackles and 6 sacks. The talented linebacker is a top 10-12 overall pick.

Tee Higgins (6-3, 215) the team’s top receiver, is a first round projection with 56 catches for 1,115 yards (20 yard average) and 13 touchdowns. His 27 career touchdown grabs tie him with Clemson legendary receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins.

A.J. Terrell (6-2, 190), a likely day two choice as a cornerback, has six career interceptions.

Running back Travis Etienne (5-11, 200), the dynamic junior out of Jennings who is likely a day two pick, had 1,586 yards (8.0 yards per carry) and 18 carries this season. His 3,960 career rushing yards place him just seven yards behind all-time school leading rusher Raymond Priester (3,966 yards). With his 55 rushing touchdowns, Etienne tops the Clemson charts already.

Strong safety K’von Wallace (5-11, 210, Sr.) and left guard John Simpson (6-4, 330, Sr.) are day three projections.

Trevor Lawrence is 25-0 as starting quarterback, accounting for 75 total scores, He threw for over 3,400 yards this season with 36 TD’s and 8 interceptions while completing 67.6% of this throws. He added 514 yards (5.5 yards per carry) 8 touchdowns as a runner.

The Clemson receiving corps is lethal and explosive. Along with Higgins, the 6-4 sophomore Justyn Ross is a mismatch. He snared 61 passes for 789 yards and eight scores this season. Amari Rodgers (5-10, 215, Jr.) added 28 catches for 418 yards and four TD’s.

This game features two of the best offensive lines in college football. LSU’s unit was named the Joe Moore Award winner as the nation’s best but Clemson’s is right behind.

Both of Clemson’s offensive tackles are solid if not spectacular. Left tackle Jackson Carman has made strides this season, and right tackle Tremayne Anchrum is built more like a guard at 6-2, 310, but displays powerful skills and has extensive experience (35 starts).

Sean Pollard, a senior center, has played guard and tackle as well. He will be in an NFL camp in 2020. Grad transfer Gage Cervanka is the strongest player on the team with 44 reps on the 225-pound bench press test.

The ACC Tigers’ o-line has only allowed 21 sacks in the last 22 games.

The Clemson linebackers are active. James Kalski (6-0, 235, Jr.) mans the middle with 99 tackles along with senior Chad Smith (6-3, 240) who has 80 stops this year.

Free safety Tanner Muse is an interesting story. The 6-1, 225-pounder was a 2019 Jim Thorpe semi-finalist. He had 69 stops and five interceptions. He gets overlooked in Clemson secondary, but the 23-year old is a fierce blitzer who has knack for big plays Muse is a late round NFL draft projection who brings the work ethic on and off the field to be successful.

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables will dial up numerous blitz packages. That’s his calling card. He will try to exploit matchups with star linebacker Isaiah Simmons, moving him around to create havoc.

LSU’s starting secondary is probably tops in college football but Clemson has plenty of talent as well.

Clemson has some skill defensively up front. Defensive end Justin Foster (6-2, 265, Jr.) leads team with 9.5 tackles for loss. Defensive tackle Tyler Davis, a freshman, made a splash with eight for loss among his 48 tackles plus 4.5 sacks. Defensive end Xavier Thomas (6-2, 265, Soph.) is a force on the edge with eight tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

LSU QB Joe Burrow had an off the charts season with 5,208 passing yards, 55 touchdowns and just six interceptions, completing 77.6% of his throws. His seven scoring tosses in the first half of the national semifinals vs. Oklahoma demonstrated what he’s capable of when the lights are brightest.

Ja’Marr Chase, the Biletnikoff winner, had 75 grabs, 1,559 yards and 18 TD’s while Justin Jefferson tallied 102 catches for 1,434 yards and 18 scores. They formed the most dangerous receiving duo in all of college football. Add in Terrace Marshall, and the defense has to pick their poison. Tight end Thad Moss set an LSU single season record at his position with 42 catches for 534 yards.

The point is, the SEC champion Tigers will find matchups to their liking against Clemson in the passing game, it’s just a matter of who and when. LSU’s offense is ranked tops in the FBS with nearly 8,000 total yards. Clemson is right behind with 7,537 total yards.

If the offensive rule the night, we will see over 1,000 total yards gained. LSU averages 564 per game while Clemson manages 538.

LSU is pass heavy with 397 yards through the air but became even more potent with balance, ending up with 167 per contest on the ground. Clemson is more balanced by nature with 292 passing yards and 246 on the ground each game.

Having Edwards- Helaire back at full speed is huge for the Bayou Bengals. He totaled 1,917 yards as runner and receiver with 17 touchdowns. With Etienne and Edwards-Helaire facing off, the defenses will need to be prepared for anything. Either runner can break a game wide open with his elite speed while Edwards-Helaire is excels at making the first defender miss.

Although Clemson has faced a less daunting schedule than LSU, the ACC champs on defense have allowed only 244.7 yards per game to rank tops in the country.

Key playmakers on the LSU defense include K’Lavon Chaisson and Jacob Phillips, each with 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. Phillips paces the Tigers with 105 tackles

True freshman cornerback Derek Stingley with six picks and 15 passes broken up is already among the best in the country while the aforementioned Fulton has 13 breakups this season. Jacoby Stevens contributes in so many ways with 85 tackles and five sacks from his safety spot. Patrick Queen chips in with 77 stops at linebacker.

Nose tackle Tyler Shelvin will play a major role defensively for the Tigers. He has 39 tackles and three for loss but he is a classic space eater. If he can occupy two blockers, it will free others up to pursue ball.

Grant Delpit, the Thorpe Award-winning safety who battle through injuries this season, had 59 tackles.

LSU and Clemson have squared off three times, with the Purple and Gold holding 2-1 edge in the series. None of the past matters now though. Today’s current array of stars on both teams make this title game a must-see affair.