Clemson football: Mike Jones entering transfer portal shakes up Tigers depth chart
By John Buhler
Clemson football star Mike Jones has entered the dreaded transfer portal.
Despite playing for the best program in the ACC, linebacker Mike Jones has entered the transfer portal after his sophomore season with the Clemson football team.
Jones is a former four-star recruit who had 30 tackles and two interceptions for the Tigers last season when he started seven games. He was also a trusted leader off the field.
With Jones reportedly leaving the Clemson program, this paves the way for Trenton Simpson to take over his starting spot at the SAM linebacker spot. Simpson is coming off a true freshman campaign with four sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss of yardage in 2020.
With Mike Jones Jr., now in the portal, expect Trenton Simpson to be Clemson's starting SAM linebacker. As a true freshman in 2020, he had 6 1/2 TFLs and four sacks with increased playing time coming in the second half of the season.
— Grace Raynor (@gmraynor) January 25, 2021
Clemson’s depth chart took a hit, but the Tigers have the depth to replace him
There are very few teams in the Power 5 better equipped to unexpectedly lose a starter from a College Football Playoff team than Clemson. Under head coach Dabo Swinney, Venables has established a strong defensive culture that has allowed the Tigers to continually play championship-caliber football. If Simpson replaces Jones as the starter, then so be it.
As for the Tigers, we have to wonder what 2021 will bring for the program. Are they favored to win the ACC for the seventh year in a row? Yes, but there are no guarantees that Clemson will win the College Football Playoff, much less a single playoff game. What is most important is how new starting quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei goes about replacing Trevor Lawrence. He has big shoes to fill.
With Jones entering the transfer portal, it opens a pathway for Simpson to take full advantage of.
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