For a second straight year, Clemson will enter spring practice, which begins on March 1, having to replace its top cornerback. But unlike last year, the Tigers are not returning a veteran player who has proven he can be the next cover-corner in Brent Venables’ defense.
Venables’ scheme calls for a lot of press-man coverage, which leaves his corners out on an island by themselves, which also means the defense’s best cover guy is for the most part matched up against the offense’s best wide receiver the whole game.
In 2014 and ’15 Mackensie Alexander was the Tigers’ guy, while last season it was Cordrea Tankersley.