This is going to be a very interesting team. You have a couple of really strong positional groups, and you have some pretty big gaps as well.
LB is going to be by committee. This group would be in MUCH better shape if Jack Lamb took a leap forward. It sounds like hes extremely strong in pass coverage from everything that I've listened to and read, but just ok in the run game. Bilal is obviously going to play, being the most senior of the group, but there are some instinctual issues there that worry me. After that you have a hosh-posh of pretty good guys who all do one specific thing pretty well. I think a win here is that you find 3-4 guys that at least can play assignment correct football, then thru just repetition improve positionally ( tackling, shedding blocks, tacking the correct angles, those sorts of things).
D Line, I believe, is in better shape that everyone thinks. Best case scenario there is Jake Lacey is as good as advertised. Clearly in time he is going to be a very good player, but the faster he figures it out the better for this position group. As stated in recent UHND article, you are probably going to need either Franklin or Hunter Spears get healthy and contribute. This group is clearly not as strong as last year, but a interior DL rotational group does not scare me as much as the LB group does.
DE is set it and forget it. Expect both to have double digit sack seasons.
Corner is "ok". Pride is going to have to "the guy" and Houston Griffith seems to be trending. Sounds like there is more movement in the group though (who is playing field VS who is playing boundary). Good news is safety is set. Those guys are veterans should provide a safety net to any holes you have in coverage. Shaun Crawford healthy (and back to his old self) would REALLY help here. If not, I think you give Kyle Hamilton a real look. Between the two, one should figure it out and be able to play the nickel effectively.
In terms of offense, you are in a pretty good spot:
O line, another year together, should overall just be better. Patterson taking the leap is a really good sign here. Not worried about the O line at all, they should be a very effective group and I expect them to set the tone every week.
The RB group is average, but behind that O line i believe statistically it should hide some of the inefficiencies the RB group has. Kyren Williams could really shake that group up, also understand it's alot to ask of a true frosh. in in a limited role I think he could really add some value here.
QB is pretty simple. Ian Book, at his worst, is going to be a very effective passer, high completion percentage, and that should be good enough to win 8 games. If they want to be in the conversation come playoff time, hes going to have to improve the deep pass (as we all know).
Where he needs help is in the WR group. There is PLENTLY of talent there, whoever wants it needs to grab it. This is also pretty simple, if you want to play run the right routes, catch the ball, and be a PLAYMAKER. Chip Long wants more Clemson in this offense, that means more game changing big plays from the WR group. If you show a propensity to break tackles, make people miss, and YAC then you are going to play early and often. If you cant, get out of the way, because there is someone behind you that will.
Also- Cole Kmet can be as good as he wants to be. If he has a big year catching the ball, its going to make the WR job so much easier. I expect Kmet to have an awesome year and the ND's breakout player, so therefore I expect some pretty big numbers from the WR group.
Braden Lenzy and Kevin Austin need to play. Obviously there seems to be a bit of a hiccup with Austin, but its so important that he becomes more Mike Floyd than he does Kevin Stepherson.
Prediction:
ND wins 10 games. 70% chance of happening.
With a few bounces they win 11. 20% chance of happening
With all the luck of the Irish in the world they win 12. 10% chance of happening.