Here’s a look at Clemson’s Week 2 opponent, The Citadel Bulldogs:

HEAD COACH: Brent Thompson enters his 5th season as the head coach at The Citadel. Thompson owns an overall record of 26-20, including a program-record 10 wins during his 1st season in 2016. Under Thompson’s guidance, the Bulldogs have ranked in the top 10 in rushing offense each of the last 4 seasons. The Citadel ranked 6th nationally in 2019 at 268.2 yards per game, 9th in 2018 at 283.6 yards per game, 2nd in 2017 at 294.6 yards per game and led the nation in 2016 at 348.2 rushing yards per game.

The 2019 season saw the Bulldogs overcome some early adversity to pull off the biggest win by a Football Championship Subdivision team. The Citadel went on the road in late September and knocked off Georgia Tech 27-24 in overtime. It was the Bulldogs’ 1st win over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent and the only victory by a FCS team over a Power 5 team that year. The Bulldog offense was not 1 dimensional as it also threw for 1,195 yards and 14 touchdowns, the most in both categories since the 2009 season.

BULLDOGS ON OFFENSE:

Lou Conte enters his 5th season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks/b-backs coach under Brent Thompson at The Citadel.

The 2020 season will mark the 8th year that Conte and Thompson have worked together. The 2 were together at The Citadel in 2014, and spent 3 years together on the offensive staff at Lenoir-Rhyne. The Citadel has possessed 1 of the top ball control and rushing attacks in the FCS over the past 4 seasons. Over that span, the Bulldogs have ranked in the Top 10 nationally in both categories. The 2019 season featured one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in recent history in Brandon Rainey.

He rushed for 900 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also throwing for 1,114 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Rainey is just the 2nd quarterback to rush and throw for at least 10 touchdowns in a season.

Rainey was not the only part of the rushing attach as b-back Clay Harris ran for 699 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Citadel has 5 Chronicle Country players on offense with freshman running back Braden Walker (River Bluff), wide receivers Tyson Trottier (River Bluff) and Cole Owens (Irmo), quarterback Graeson Underwood and tight end Liam Reid (both of Dutch Fork).

BULLDOGS ON DEFENSE:

Tony Grantham enters his 2nd season as the defensive coordinator, safeties coach at The Citadel.

In his 1st season with the Bulldogs, Grantham transitioned the defense into a 3-4 scheme.

The defense continued to improve throughout the season and held 2 of the top rushing offenses in the country under their season averages.

River Bluff’s Robert Demarre and Irmo native Mac Johnson play on the defensive line.

The Bulldogs were led by All-American linebacker Willie Eubanks III. He recorded 112 tackles, including 11.5 tackles-for-loss.

The back end of the defense was led by Chris Beverly. The sophomore ranked 2nd on the team with 71 tackles, while tieing for the team lead with 7 pass break-ups.

Saturday’s game is the home opener for Clemson (1-0) and will air at 4 pm on the ACC Network.