SUNSET, S.C. — Clemson defensive ends coach Marion Hobby has been here before.

A year after he was tasked with replacing Vic Beasley, Corey Crawford and Tavaris Barnes at defensive end, Hobby once again has to reload after the departures of Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd to the NFL.

Filling the void left by Lawson and Dodd — who combined for 24.5 sacks and 49 tackles for loss last season — may not be exciting for some coaches.

Hobby, however, is welcoming the challenge.

“It’s your assignment to get the guys ready to play when the whistle blows,” Hobby said Tuesday at Dabo Swinney’s annual media golf outing at The Reserve on Lake Keowee.

Clemson is very talented but inexperienced at end.

Clemson’s projected starters, sophomore Austin Bryant (219 snaps in 2015) and redshirt freshman Clelin Ferrell, are young, though both players are big, long, athletic and possess plenty of potential.

Hobby said Bryant and Ferrell have developed significantly over the summer.

“They’ve been in the weight room, and they look like different guys,” Hobby said. “Just the maturity of them, the way they talk now, the way they walk around. Both of them came in with great work ethic, and I’m seeing them grow.”

Redshirt sophomores Chris Register and Richard Yeargin are in line to be the primary reserves at end.

Hobby thinks Yeargin is primed to capitalize on an opportunity he’s had to wait for.

“He had a good spring,” Hobby said. “He played a lot of snaps last year at the end of the year, which was good for him. He’s kind of in a similar situation that Dodd was because he had some numbers in front of him. Now, it’s about whether he’ll push forward or level off, and I think he’s headed forward.”

Because of Clemson’s depth at defensive tackle, Christian Wilkins will also see playing time on the edge.

How exactly or often Wilkins will be utilized is uncertain, but Hobby is working with defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks and the rest of the coaching staff to allow both Wilkins and the team to be as successful as possible.

“It’s a joy for me to sit in the meeting room with coach Brooks,” Hobby said. “I think Christian was a pleasant for surprise for us with the reps he got in during the spring. We’re going to work together because our goal is for Clemson to be successful.”

True freshman Xavier Kelly is another gifted player who Hobby said will have the opportunity to compete and make an impact this year.

“We told him that if he came in here, he was going to be in the mix,” Hobby said. “He better get ready. I talked to him the other day and told him I hope you’re working hard and getting something extra on your arms because you need to be in a position where you can help us.”

Heading into the season, Hobby is doing his part to ensure there isn’t a drop-off on defense despite the changes in personnel.

“It’s always a big challenge,” Hobby said, “but I’m excited about it.”