Clemson football: 5 breakout players to watch in 2020

Clemson football would love to have these five players break out. 

Having made the College Football Playoff and the National Championship Game in four of the past five years, it’s safe to say that Clemson football is a juggernaut right now. They are unrivaled — for now, at least — in the ACC and have proven that they’re a threat on the national level time and again. And wouldn’t you know it, that’s not likely to change for Dabo Swinney’s club in 2020.

With quarterback Trevor Lawrence returning for his true junior season and senior running back Travis Etienne joining him back with the Tigers, shockingly so it should be said, the Tigers are the clear-cut favorites to win the ACC and, by many accounts, to win the title this year. Even still, that won’t happen if some players don’t step up.

Looking at the holes that need to be filled and the talented youngsters on the Clemson football roster, these five players have breakout candidate written all over them.

Clemson football breakout candidate No. 5: Frank Ladson Jr., WR

Following the 2019 season, Clemson always knew that they were going to be experiencing some losses in the passing game as their leading receiver from last year, Tee Higgins, made his way to the NFL as a second-round pick. However, what they weren’t expecting was having to play the 2020 season without Justyn Ross, who was primed to be a superstar this year.

Ross, sadly, is out for the entire 2020 campaign after undergoing neck surgery this offseason after a previously undiscovered ailment was found during another procedure. That leaves a ton of targets from Trevor Lawrence up for grabs this year and anyone with talent could step up to join Amari Rodgers as a top-tier threat in that capacity.

Frank Ladson Jr. is a player who fits that bill. A rising sophomore at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Ladson isn’t the broadest guy on the team but he does have tremendous length and ball skills that could make him dangerous. With some juice to his credit as well, he has the ability to line up on the outside and routinely find his way open on multiple levels.

Appearing in eight games last season, Ladson registered nine receptions for 128 yards (14.2 yards per catch with three scores. Though he won’t be the only player in the wide receiver room — more on that in a bit — to see a big uptick in work, Ladson should dwarf those numbers in a major way this season.