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College Football Playoff: Top Legitimate Contenders

By Eric Robinson

Nov 21, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) waits for a play to begin during the first quarter of the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi won 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) waits for a play to begin during the first quarter of the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi won 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers running back Wayne Gallman (9) celebrates with Deshaun Watson (4) after scoring on a 1 yard run during the third quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers running back Wayne Gallman (9) celebrates with Deshaun Watson (4) after scoring on a 1 yard run during the third quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

                                                    Clemson Tigers

The presence of Deshaun Watson automatically makes the Tigers playoff contenders. Watson tossed for 4,109 yards and 35 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,105 yards and another 12 touchdowns last season. His magical carpet ride was accomplished without his top target, WR Mike Williams, who missed all but one-quarter of the entire season.

Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers /

Clemson Tigers

Williams is healthy and returns along with leading rusher, RB

Wayne Gallman

who ran for 1,514 yards and 13 scores last season as well. Williams and WR

Artavis Scott

(93 catches, 901 yards, six TDs) gives the Clemson offense an electric duo in the passing game to complement their versatile run game.

Clemson averaged 514.5 yards per game on offense last season, good for 11th in the country and the unit got better with the return of Williams.

The defensive side of the ball saw major losses thanks to the NFL Draft, and will look at new starters at defensive end, free safety, and linebacker. Cornerback Cordrea Tankersley (48 tackles, five INTs, nine pass breakups) mans one side of the field for the defense and is an All-ACC caliber cornerback.

Third leading tackler, LB Ben Boulware, gives the defense a little stability at linebacker. All eyes will be on defensive end Austin Bryant, as he takes over full-time after previous starters, Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, take their 25 combined sacks last season and head to the NFL.

The schedule is definitely manageable with only one tough road game which is at Florida State on October 29th. The season opener against Auburn is a neutral site game in Atlanta, but the Tigers fan base travel well with the site of the game a few hours away from Clemson.

The October 1st showdown against Louisville should be monitored as well be the Tigers have enough talent to possibly run the table again.

Next: Contender #2

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