The Clemson football program has a new starting kicker.
Meeting with the media Tuesday, Swinney shared that freshman kicker Nolan Hauser won the job and will be the No. 14 Tigers’ starting kicker for their massive Week 1 matchup against Kirby Smart and the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs.
“Hauser won the job in camp,” Swinney said Tuesday. It was that simple. It is not subjective. It was cut and dry. He just had a better camp. It can change next week. It can change in two weeks.
“He clearly won the job. It’s not like it was tied. It was for a little while, but he clearly separated. So, he has done a great job, and he earned the opportunity to start in this game.”
Swinney noted that Robert Gunn will continue to take kickoffs for the Tigers.
There has been a lot of hype surrounding Hauser, who was one of the kickers in the history of high school football. He ended his high school career with a National record of 66 hit field goals.
“He is the all-time high school leader. So, it is no different. He just needs to do what he has been doing his whole life,” Swinney said.
Fans will hope Hauser brings some consistency to the Tigers’ special teams.