Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has been all smiles throughout yesterday’s Clemson Media Outing and Wednesday’s #ACCKickoff. He has everyone reason to be confident about repeating a the conference champions and pursuing his third national championship.

Swinney did spend some time, however, discussing the trouble that divisional foe Syracuse has given his team the last couple of seasons. Swinney also addressed the upcoming schedule, which will see the Tigers play 10 of 12 games in the Carolinas and the advantage of having 19 former players on staff.

The Tigers are coming off not only a national championship season, but the sport’s 15-0 season. If that creates additional pressure on the Tigers, he’s not showing any signs of it over the last two days in front of the media. Swinney credits much of the program’s success to the selflessness of not only the players, but his coaching staff.

Another reason to be optimistic is the number of key players returning to an offense that averaged more than 44 points per game in 2018. Heisman trophy candidates Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne return along with receivers Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross. Amari Rodgers is rehabbing an ACL injury, but is expected to return no later than the middle of the season.

Clemson at a glance (compiled by Menachem Muller)

Clemson Tigers                         15-0                       8-0             Won National Championship against Alabama

Dabo Swinney 11^th season     116-30                  69-16

Offense	2018	ACC Rank	NCAA Rank
Points Per game	44.3	1	4
Rushing Yards per game	249.3	2	10
Passing yards per game	278.7	2	24
Total yards per game	528.0	1	3
Defense
Points allowed per game	13.1	1	1
Rushing yards allowed per game	101.9	1	5
Passing yards allowed per game	189.6	3	24
Total yards allowed per game	291.5	2	6

The Tigers return 12 starters, 7 on offense, 4 on defense, and the Punter.

Statistical Leaders Returning

QB	Yards	TDS	INT	PCT
Trevor Lawrence	3280	30	4	65.2
RB	Games	Yards	TD	AVG
Travis Etienne	15	1736	26	8.0
Trevor Lawrence	15	165	1	2.7
WR	Games	Yards	TD	REC
Tee Higgins	15	936	12	59
Amari Rodgers	15	580	4	55
Justyn Ross	14	1000	9	46
Defense	Tackles	TFL	INT	Sacks
Isaiah Simmons	88	9.0	1	2.0
A.J. Terrell	53	2.0	3	0
Tanner Muse	61	2.5	2	2.0
K’Von Wallace	52	1.5	1	0

Returning Starters Offense                                          

QB Trevor Lawrence                                      

RB Travis Etienne

WR Tee Higgins

WR Amari Rodgers

LG John Simpson

RG Gage Cervenka

RT Tremayne Anchrum

Returning Starters Defense

LB Isaiah Simmons

CB A.J. Terrell

S Tanner Muse

S K’Von Wallace

Special Teams

P Will Spiers

Key Losses

RB Tavien Feaster

WR Hunter Renfrow

TE Hunter Renfrow

LT Mitch Hyatt

C Justin Falcinelli

DE Clelin Ferrell

DE Austin Bryant

DT Christian Wilkins

DT Dexter Lawrence

LB Tre Lamar

LB Kendall Joseph

CB Trayvon Mullen

K Greg Huegel