Everyone remembers 2016. Deshaun Watson pointing to the sky, Hunter Renfrow sliding into the end zone corner, and the absolute chaos of toppling the Alabama dynasty. It was a peak. But if you look at the 2017 Clemson football roster through a professional lens, you’ll see something weird. On paper, and eventually in the NFL Draft, the 2017 squad was arguably deeper, meaner, and more physically gifted than the team that actually won the ring the year before.
It's a strange reality of college football. Sometimes the better "team" wins the title, but the better "roster" loses in the playoffs.
Following up a legend like Watson is a nightmare. Kelly Bryant had the impossible task of being "the guy after the guy." He did it well, honestly. He led them to a 12-2 record and another ACC title. But the magic of 2017 wasn’t really about the quarterback. It was about a defensive line that felt like a localized natural disaster.
The Power Rangers and the 2017 Clemson football roster identity
If you mention the "Power Rangers" to any Tigers fan, they know exactly who you mean. This defensive front was the soul of the 2017 Clemson football roster. You had Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, and Austin Bryant.
Think about that for a second.
All four of those guys were high-level NFL talents. Ferrell was a lanky, explosive end who could bend the edge like he didn't have bones. Wilkins was the charismatic leader in the middle who moved like a linebacker despite weighing 300 pounds. Lawrence was a literal mountain that required two or three blockers just to keep him stationary. When they were all healthy and clicking, offenses just... stopped. They totaled 46 sacks as a team that year. That’s absurd.
It wasn't just the starters, either. This is where the depth of the 2017 roster gets overlooked. You had guys like Justin Foster and Xavier Kelly rotating in. The coaching staff, led by Brent Venables, didn't have to worry about drop-offs. They just sent waves of future professionals at tired college offensive lines until something snapped.
👉 See also: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
That weird quarterback dynamic
Kelly Bryant was a phenomenal athlete. Let’s get that straight. He threw for over 2,800 yards and ran for nearly 700. He was a dual-threat weapon that kept defensive coordinators awake. But he wasn't Deshaun. He didn't have that "down by six with 90 seconds left" inevitability.
Behind him, a true freshman named Hunter Johnson was waiting. And even further back on the depth chart, a kid named Zerrick Cooper was trying to find his footing. This was a transition year. The roster was caught between the Watson era and the impending Trevor Lawrence era. It’s kinda fascinating to look back and see how Dabo Swinney managed that locker room. He stayed loyal to Bryant, who had earned the spot, even when the ceiling of the passing game felt a bit lower than in previous years.
Weapons everywhere you looked
If you go down the list of skill players on the 2017 Clemson football roster, it’s a "who's who" of guys who played on Sundays.
Hunter Renfrow was still there, being the ultimate safety blanket. Deon Cain was the deep threat. Ray-Ray McCloud had that "make you miss in a phone booth" twitchiness. And Tee Higgins? He was just a freshman, but you could already see the superstar potential. He finished with two touchdowns that year, but his 17.6 yards per catch average screamed that he was the next big thing.
Then there’s the backfield. Travis Etienne arrived as a freshman in 2017.
He didn't start right away.
✨ Don't miss: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
Tavien Feaster and Adam Choice were the veterans getting the bulk of the carries early on. But Etienne was different. He was lightning. Every time he touched the ball, there was a legitimate chance he was going the distance. He ended up leading the team in rushing yards (766) and touchdowns (13) despite not being the "lead" back for much of the season. Watching him evolve on that 2017 roster was like watching a supercar get its first few miles on the odometer.
The secondary that nobody talked about
Everyone focuses on the defensive line, but the back end of that defense was nasty. Ryan Carter and Trayvon Mullen were the corners. Mullen eventually became a second-round pick. They were physical. They dared you to throw long because they knew the pass rush would get home in three seconds anyway.
Van Smith and Tanner Muse held down the safety spots. Muse was one of those "lunch pail" guys who hit like a truck and played much faster than his 40-time suggested. This defense only allowed 13.6 points per game. That is elite. In today's high-scoring era, holding teams to under two touchdowns on average is almost unheard of.
Why they didn't win it all
So, if the 2017 Clemson football roster was so loaded, why did they lose to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl?
Honestly, it came down to offensive limitations and a very specific Bama revenge tour. The Crimson Tide defense in 2017 was a brick wall. Clemson’s offense struggled to move the chains. Bryant threw two interceptions, one of which was a pick-six by Da'Ron Payne (yes, the defensive lineman).
It was a game of margins. Clemson’s defense played well enough to win, but the offense just couldn't find the explosive plays they had grown accustomed to with Watson. It was a reminder that even with a roster full of NFL talent, you need that one transcendent playmaker at quarterback to win at the highest level of the CFP.
🔗 Read more: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
The NFL legacy of the 2017 squad
Looking back, the draft success of this specific group is staggering.
- Clelin Ferrell (4th overall)
- Christian Wilkins (13th overall)
- Dexter Lawrence (17th overall)
- Trayvon Mullen (2nd round)
- Tanner Muse (3rd round)
- Travis Etienne (1st round later on)
- Tee Higgins (2nd round later on)
That’s not even counting guys like Hunter Renfrow, who became a Pro Bowler, or Dorian O'Daniel, who was a key contributor for the Chiefs. The 2017 roster was essentially an NFL developmental squad masquerading as a college team.
Key takeaways from the 2017 season
If you’re studying this roster to understand how modern dynasties are built, look at the trenches first. Clemson didn't become a powerhouse because of fancy jersey reveals or "Clemson-ing" memes. They did it by recruiting defensive linemen that looked like they belonged in the NFC North.
The 2017 season taught the coaching staff that you can't just rely on a great defense. You need a vertical passing threat to keep the defense honest. This realization is likely what pushed Dabo to start Trevor Lawrence so early in 2018. They knew they had the talent; they just needed the trigger-man.
To really appreciate the 2017 Clemson football roster, you have to look at the "near misses." They lost to Syracuse in a Friday night shocker when Kelly Bryant got hurt. Had they stayed healthy and found a bit more rhythm on offense, we’d be talking about them as one of the greatest teams of the decade. Instead, they’re the "bridge" team—the squad that kept the momentum going between the two national titles.
Actionable steps for fans and researchers
- Watch the 2017 Auburn game film: It is the single best display of defensive line dominance you will ever see. Clemson had 11 sacks in one game.
- Track the freshman stats: Look at how little Tee Higgins and Travis Etienne played early on compared to the end of the year. It shows how Clemson values seniority until the talent becomes undeniable.
- Compare the 2016 vs. 2017 stats: You'll see the defensive numbers actually improved in 2017, proving that while the offense took a step back, the team overall stayed at a championship-caliber level.