Heading into fall camp, the one position along Clemson’s offensive line that had questions surrounding it was left tackle. Now nearly a week into fall camp, there is some clarity.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, head coach Dabo Swinney discussed Clemson’s left tackle competition and had high praise for redshirt sophomore Tristan Leigh, who has been starting in fall camp.
“I’ve been pretty pleased,” Swinney said of the left tackle competition. “We’re trying to create some competition there. I think Tristan has really held up well. You’ve heard me brag on him a bunch; I love everything about Tristan Leigh. He’s not perfect, but here’s what I love about him: there’s nobody that cares more than that guy. And if he makes a mistake, he usually doesn’t make it again.”
Standing at 6-foot-6 and 317 pounds, Leigh played 50 snaps last season as a reserve after playing only 20 as a true freshman.
Swinney’s comments on Wednesday come after offensive line coach Thomas Austin said in July that Leigh “pulled away a little bit” since the end of last season.
Right behind Leigh is redshirt freshman Collin Sadler, who played 23 snaps last season.
Sadler, a former four-star recruit, has also shined in camp thus far, according to Swinney.
“Really pleased with Collin Sadler,” Swinney said. “I’m super excited. It kind of worked out where he would’ve ended up playing last year, but he ended up getting hurt and was out… I’ll tell you what, man, him and Blake Miller in that group, that was two really good ones.”
The Tigers are in need of a new starting left tackle after Jordan McFadden departed for the NFL following the 2022 season.
Ultimately, Clemson will run out with the best starting five on the offensive line when the Tigers kick off their regular season against Duke on Sept. 4.
“We’ve tried to create as much tackle depth as we can,” Swinney added. “We feel good about where we are inside and all of the versatility. But we want to create three to five guys that we feel good about that can go play tackle for us.”
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