CLEMSON — Clemson football is gearing up for its return to the field with the start of preseason practices Thursday.

The Tigers look to improve upon last year's 9-4 record, their fewest wins since 2010 and the third straight season they missed the College Football Playoff. Coach Dabo Swinney's team is ready to redeem itself of the past three seasons, but the 16-year coach and his staff must resolve some starting and depth position battles.

A crucial one will take place on the offensive line as Clemson is searching for a starting center to replace Will Putnam, whose eligibility expired. Another is deciding the starting kicker.

Here are the five most important position battles that will take place during Clemson's preseason practices:

Will Ryan Linthicum remain the starting center?

The redshirt junior battled Harris Sewell and Trent Howard for the job in spring practices and exited it as the starter. Now Linthicum, who has played in only nine games through three seasons, will have to continue his progress through August.

Offensive line coach Matt Luke said the team will have a better idea of who the starting center is after the team's second scrimmage. Still, running back Phil Mafah gave Linthicum a strong endorsement to be the starter at ACC Kickoff last week.

"We got a lot of guys back," Mafah said. "Got a new center. It's his fourth year, so he knows what to do. I'm pretty confident in our offense."

Where does Walker Parks fit on the offensive line?

Walker Parks missed the spring but will return for preseason practices after recovering from a September lower-body injury that ended his 2023 season. He had been a starter since 2021, playing right tackle in his sophomore season and switching to guard the following year.

The Kentucky native will try to take the starting right guard position back from Collin Sadler, who started there during the spring. Sadler, who attended Greenville Senior High School in Inman, South Carolina, played in 13 games last season, including three starts at tackle and two at guard.

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Will Avieon Terrell, Shelton Lewis be Clemson's starting cornerbacks?

With both of last year's starters departing, the Tigers have options to replace them. Avieon Terrell, who has received praise from assistant coaches entering preseason practices, recorded the second-highest Pro Football Focus defensive grade among Clemson cornerbacks last season with 77.0 on a 0-100 scale. The sophomore sat only behind Nate Wiggins.

Shelton Lewis also received starts, logging two interceptions and nine pass deflections as a freshman. Then there's Jeadyn Lukus, who attended Mauldin High School in South Carolina and is the most experienced cornerback in the room. He missed spring practices after recovering from offseason hip surgery but will be active during preseason practices.

Cornerbacks coach Mike Reed is excited to see how the defensive backs will battle for these openings.

"I don't recruit a kid to come to Clemson to sit on the bench. I recruit kids because I want to see them play," Reed said. "It's going to be interesting to see who's that guy that's going to step up."

Robert Gunn III vs. Nolan Hauser for starting kicker

Robert Gunn III lost the starting kicker job last season after missing three field goals and an extra point in the first three games, which led to Swinney replacing him with former walk-on Jonathan Weitz. With Weitz's eligibility expired, the Tigers recruited Nolan Hauser, a three-star prospect who holds the national record in career field goals made, to compete for the job.

During the Tigers' spring game, Gunn made a 36-yard field goal but missed from 55 and 37 yards. Hauser was 2-for-2, converting from 29 and 48 yards. The battle will continue in preseason practices as Swinney hopes kicking won't be an issue in 2024.

Who will emerge as the No. 2 running back behind Phil Mafah?

Mafah will be the workhorse for Clemson early in the season, but the Tigers will need another running back to step up behind him as the season progresses.

Offensive coordinator Garrett Riley called Keith Adams Jr. a "bruiser" after an impressive spring. Swinney described Jarvis Green as a fluid runner and said freshman David Eziomume has room to grow. Then there's Jay Haynes, who missed spring practices with a hamstring injury but Garrett calls a "wild card."

Still, none has emerged as the No. 2 running back.

"It's been a while since we had that type of separation, not necessarily from talent but experience, knowledge — totality of understanding and ownership of what you're doing," Swinney said.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney: Clemson football preseason position battles to watch