Tag: ACCN

Analysts weigh in on Uiagalelei, Tigers’ win over Wake Forest

Following Clemson’s double-overtime win over Wake Forest in Saturday’s top-25 matchup in Winston-Salem, a few ACC analysts weighed in on DJ Uiagalelei’s stellar performance and gave their takeaways from the Tigers’ thrilling 51-45 victory. On “The …

Following Clemson’s double-overtime win over Wake Forest in Saturday’s top-25 matchup in Winston-Salem, a few ACC analysts weighed in on DJ Uiagalelei’s stellar performance and gave their takeaways from the Tigers’ thrilling 51-45 victory.

On “The ACC Huddle” on ACC Network, former Miami and Georgia head coach and current ACCN analyst Mark Richt was asked what he learned about Uiagalelei during his incredible afternoon against the Demon Deacons.

Clemson’s junior quarterback completed 26-of-41 passes for a season-high 371 passing yards and a career-high five touchdown passes while racking up 423 yards of total offense (371 passing, 52 rushing) to lead the Tigers to their 14th victory in a row over Wake Forest.

“He looked like the DJ U everybody got excited about when he lit up Notre Dame a couple years ago,” Richt said, referring to Uiagalelei’s epic game against the Irish as a true freshman in 2020, when he went 29-of-44 passing for 439 yards and threw two touchdown passes to go with a rushing score.

“That’s what he looked like, and it’s just so awesome to see him play the way he played. … It’s just great that Dabo and the rest of the staff stuck with him, and now it’s paying off.”

Against Wake Forest, Uiagalelei became the first Clemson player to throw for 300 or more yards, rush for 50 or more yards and throw at least three touchdowns in a game since Deshaun Watson accomplished the feat against Louisville on Oct. 1, 2016.

ACCN analyst EJ Manuel was impressed by the way Uiagalelei went toe-to-toe with Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman and helped the Tigers’ offense repeatedly punch back in response to the points put up by the Demon Deacons’ high-powered attack.

Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (5) and running back Will Shipley (1) during the third quarter at Truist Field in Winston-Salem Saturday, September 24, 2022. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

“DJ played like ‘Big Cinco’ (Saturday). No ‘Little Cinco’,” said Manuel, the former Florida State and NFL quarterback. “He’s playing like a big dog, man. But you’ve got to do it when you play against a Sam Hartman at quarterback. You know Sam can light up the scoreboard, whether he’s throwing the ball, running the ball, making plays. But DJ was answering every single time, and there were moments when they could’ve packed up and said hey, Wake got us – you know, we’re on the road, it’s a hostile environment. But he kept delivering.”

ACCN analyst Eddie Royal, the former Virginia Tech standout and longtime NFL wide receiver, pointed out that Uiagalelei got more help Saturday from his receivers.

Four different players (Joseph Ngata, 84; Jake Briningstool, 72; Beaux Collins, 60; Antonio Williams, 51) gained 50-plus receiving yards against Wake Forest, marking Clemson’s first game with four different 50-yard receivers since 2018 against South Carolina (Tee Higgins, 142; Hunter Renfrow, 80; Justyn Ross, 58; Derion Kendrick, 51).

“The receivers stepped up,” Royal said. “DJ had been playing similar to this all year long, it’s just the receivers weren’t making the plays. They stepped up big for him and made the plays, so it’s good to see.”

Richt gave a shoutout to Clemson sophomore running back Will Shipley, who rushed 20 times for 104 yards with a touchdown against the Demon Deacons.

Shipley has now rushed for 100 yards in consecutive games for the second time in his career and has now rushed for a touchdown in seven straight games, dating to last season. Shipley (1,091) surpassed 1,000 career rushing yards with a career-long 53-yard rush in the first quarter and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run on an impressive second effort in the fourth quarter.

“I’ve got to give props to Shipley, too,” Richt said. “Shipley took care of business. He did break out on a deep run. Little surprised he got caught. But then in the end zone area, he busted through some tacklers and made a touchdown run.”

Up next for fifth-ranked Clemson (4-0, 2-0 ACC) is a top-10 clash with No. 10 NC State this Saturday at Death Valley (7:30 p.m., ABC).

Royal was asked if he saw anything in the Wake Forest game that made him question whether the Tigers are a College Football Playoff-caliber team, or if Saturday’s game furthered his belief that they can make it into the four-team playoff field.

“It furthered my belief because everybody was worried about the quarterback position, and DJ stepped up (Saturday),” Royal said. “And like you said, Shipley stepped up as well, so they were balanced. DJ didn’t have to do it all. Shipley did enough as well. They’ve got three running backs that can get it done as well. … So, this is a complete offense, and we know that defense is gonna step up.”

“I felt like if DJ played like that, no one can be close to Clemson,” Richt added. “But Wake proved me wrong, too.”

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Analysts predict ACC title game matchup, one doesn’t pick Tigers to make it

During The ACC Huddle: Season Preview show on ACC Network recently, a few ACCN analysts gave their predictions for which teams will represent the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions in the ACC Championship Game this season. Former Clemson and All-ACC …

During The ACC Huddle: Season Preview show on ACC Network recently, a few ACCN analysts gave their predictions for which teams will represent the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions in the ACC Championship Game this season.

Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain picked Clemson and Pittsburgh as the ACC Championship Game matchup, with the Tigers winning the conference crown, while former Miami and Georgia head coach Mark Richt picked Clemson and Miami to play in the conference title game.

Former Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel did not pick Clemson to make it to the conference title game, however. Instead, he went with NC State to win the Atlantic and play Pittsburgh.

Here’s what Mac Lain, Manuel and Richt had to say regarding their ACC Championship Game matchup predictions and who will win the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions in 2022:

Mac Lain: “I think it’s return of the king. I think Clemson’s back. So, I think they’re going to be representing the Atlantic. I think they win it, but I think Pittsburgh’s going to make it tough. I think Pittsburgh is going to be representing back-to-back divisional champions, the last-ever Coastal. So, I’ve got Clemson and Pitt. I’ve got Clemson winning it.”

Manuel: “Yeah, I’m going Pitt from the Coastal. I think no matter which quarterback they decide to have (Kedon Slovis has since been named Pitt’s starting QB), that defense is going to be stout. They’re going to have enough playmakers around there, a three-headed monster at running back. The Atlantic side, I’m going NC State. I think (quarterback) Devin Leary’s going to do it. I think he’s going to have an excellent season. That defense is also primed and ready to go, too.”

Richt: “Two coaches I love – Narduzzi (Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi) and Doeren (NC State’s Dave Doeren). I’m doing this to help motivate their teams. I’m picking Clemson and Miami. I’m just giving them something to get mad about. They always want a chip on their shoulder, they want to be hunting instead of being the hunted. So here’s your fodder, coaches. Use it the way you want, baby.”

The 2022 ACC Championship Game will kick off at 8 p.m. on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Bakich intends to help Clemson compete for ACC, national titles ‘right away, next year’

Erik Bakich doesn’t think Clemson Baseball needs to undergo a rebuild. Instead, the Tigers’ new head coach feels the program, which has a rich tradition and long history of success, simply needs to reload. That’s what Bakich said recently on the …

Erik Bakich doesn’t think Clemson Baseball needs to undergo a rebuild. Instead, the Tigers’ new head coach feels the program, which has a rich tradition and long history of success, simply needs to reload.

That’s what Bakich said recently on the Packer and Durham show on ACC Network, when asked what the first step to rebuilding the Clemson baseball program is.

“I don’t know if I would use the word ‘rebuild,’” Bakich said. “There are great players on this roster. You look at Max Wagner, the ACC Player of the Year last year. And Clemson was just so close last year from getting into the tournament, and when you get into the tournament, anything can happen. I think Clemson is a place you just reload.”

Bakich is tasked with trying to get Clemson back to the point where it’s meeting the high standard and expectation level for a program that has won an ACC-high 10 ACC Tournament titles in history and made it to the College World Series a dozen times.

The Tigers, who are coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament misses, haven’t been to the College World Series since 2010 and most recently won the ACC Tournament in 2016, when it beat Florida State 18-13 in the title game.

But Bakich — who returns to Tiger Town after starting his coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach at Clemson under head coach Jack Leggett and alongside Tim Corbin and Kevin O’Sullivan at Clemson in 2002, when the Tigers had a 54-17 record and advanced to the College World Series — believes Clemson has the pieces in place to compete for ACC and national titles right off the bat in his first season as the Tigers’ head coach in 2023.

Bakich thinks the Tigers just have to put those pieces together in order to make that happen, and he intends to do just that.

“The tradition and the history and everything here is set, the infrastructure is set,” Bakich said. “So, right now, step one is a needs assessment of what can we do from a recruiting standpoint? Before that, it’s finalizing a coaching staff.

“But Clemson Baseball is not a rebuild – it’s a reload, and we are going to put some pieces together so that we’re competing for ACC and national championships right away, next year.”

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Former ACC, NFL WR says Booth’s tape tells you all you need to know

ACC Network analyst and former Virginia Tech and NFL wide receiver Eddie Royal broke down what he saw on tape from Clemson star cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. Here’s what he had to say: “Clemson DB Andrew Booth, a versatile defender. Someone who can …

ACC Network analyst and former Virginia Tech and NFL wide receiver Eddie Royal broke down what he saw on tape from Clemson star cornerback Andrew Booth Jr.

Here’s what he had to say:

“Clemson DB Andrew Booth, a versatile defender. Someone who can high point the ball, but also come up and make plays in the run game.

“Andrew Booth Jr. has everything you are looking for in a defensive back.”

Check out Royal’s breakdown of Booth below:

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ACC analyst gives his take on ‘the intriguing question’ in Death Valley

On Packer and Durham on ACC Network this week, Mark Packer and Wes Durham weighed in on the quarterback battles they’re most intrigued to see play out in the conference this year. For Packer, it’s Clemson’s quarterback competition between rising …

On Packer and Durham on ACC Network this week, Mark Packer and Wes Durham weighed in on the quarterback battles they’re most intrigued to see play out in the conference this year.

For Packer, it’s Clemson’s quarterback competition between rising junior D.J. Uiagalelei and freshman Cade Klubnik.

“It’s your highest-profile team with the highest-profile position, and it needs to be right,” Packer said. “Because their defense is national-championship good. The question is, can offensively they be more than adequate? So, to me, the intriguing question is in Death Valley.”

Durham asked Packer what he learned last Saturday during Clemson’s Orange & White Spring Game — a defensive display that saw the two sides total nine sacks in the first half alone.

“Nothing,” Packer said in response to Durham’s question. “I learned that the defense is going to be maybe as good as we’re ever going to see out of this group. I think their linebacker corps is already improved, even though that’s a position that they lost (personnel) from a year ago. They have got size and speed and ferocity at linebacker. I think this defense is going to be filthy good.”

As extraordinary as he expects Clemson’s defense to be in 2022, Packer says the Tigers have to get more production from the quarterback position and that their offense must be better than it was a year ago — when they ranked ninth in the ACC in points per game (26.3) and second-to-last in the conference in total yards per game (359.2) — if they hope to return to the College Football Playoff again after seeing their streak of six straight CFP appearances come to an end last season.

“But their question is, offensively. You can’t be inept,” Packer said. “And if their quarterback play gets answered in some shape or way or form — D.J. takes it up a notch, Cade pushes him, takes over the job — I don’t know how that’s going to play out. But that’s got to happen for Clemson to get back to their standard of hey, College Football Playoff, let’s go.”

In the spring game, Uiagalelei went 17-of-36 passing for 175 yards and threw an interception, while Klubnik completed 15-of-23 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Head coach Dabo Swinney said Uiagalelei is “definitely” the Tigers’ starter coming out of the spring, but there is still uncertainty surrounding Clemson’s QB situation heading into the summer, fall camp and the 2022 season.

“The beautiful thing about football is it’s not just a guy,” Packer said. “It’s a true team effort. But that quarterback answer has to be figured out by Dabo.”

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ACC analyst discusses biggest question marks for Clemson

An ACC analyst recently discussed what he sees as the biggest question marks for Clemson – not necessarily problems, but rather simply areas of uncertainty – heading into the 2022 season. Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain, …

An ACC analyst recently discussed what he sees as the biggest question marks for Clemson — not necessarily problems, but rather simply areas of uncertainty — heading into the 2022 season.

Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain, now an analyst for ACC Network, mentioned the quarterback position first — as you might expect — as the biggest question mark for the Tigers right now.

Of course, rising junior D.J. Uiagalelei was inconsistent in his first full season as Clemson’s starting signal-caller in 2021, completing just 55.6 percent of his passes and throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdown passes (9).

While first-year offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter made it clear last week that the job is still D.J. Uiagalelei’s to lose, five-star signee Cade Klubnik has certainly added competition at QB this spring.

“I think there’s no doubt, quarterback,” Mac Lain said on ACCN recently when asked about the Tigers’ biggest question marks going into the 2022 campaign.

“When you have the expectations that you do from a program like Clemson, there is a very, very high expectation at that position, and D.J. will be the first to tell you they did not meet that standard last year. Now, it wasn’t all on him. It was not all his fault. His wide receivers dropped a ton of passes, offensive line not giving him time that he needed. But to see that development, to see that next step is going to be extremely important.”

Mac Lain, who played at Clemson from 2011-15, when the Tigers captured two conference championships and made a national championship appearance, also cited the offensive line as another big question mark for the team.

“I will always, always say that because of the position that I played, having the relationship with the players, the coaches that I do,” Mac Lain said. “So, that’s something that certainly Clemson is going to have to focus in on and continue to get better, the offensive line position.”

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A ‘bittersweet’ day for Swinney

When Clemson held its Pro Day on Thursday in the Poe Indoor Facility, it marked the final time that Dabo Swinney was able to see some of his players work out there. It was a “bittersweet” day for Clemson’s head coach as he watched guys from his …

When Clemson held its Pro Day on Thursday in the Poe Indoor Facility, it marked the final time that Dabo Swinney was able to see some of his players work out there.

It was a “bittersweet” day for Clemson’s head coach as he watched guys from his senior class like James Skalski, Nolan Turner, Darien Rencher and Will Spiers, all of whom joined the program in 2016 and were a part of teams that won two national championships, appeared in five College Football Playoffs and earned five ACC Championship rings.

“It’s bittersweet a little bit, because you know this is the last time you’re going to see them really compete in here,” Swinney said in an interview with former Clemson offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain during ACC Network’s coverage of Clemson’s Pro Day. “But you also know they’re prepared. This is a great group of men that are going to be awesome in life without football, and they know that. They all know that, so this frees them up to just go play, go compete. This is a game with a very short shelf life.

“So, I’m just proud of them – who they are as men, how they’ve transformed their lives over their PAW Journey, as we like to say, and know that they’re all finishers, they’ll do their best today, and I think a lot of these guys are going to have a chance to make it. But we’ve had a hundred percent job placement the last four years. So, they’re either going to work in the NFL or somewhere else, and wherever they go, they’re going to be ready.”

You can watch Swinney talk about the Tigers’ senior class and more during his interview with Mac Lain on ACCN below:

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Analysts discuss Clemson’s QB situation, one says he’s ‘still a believer’ in Uiagalelei

During The Huddle: 2022 Football Schedule Reveal on ACC Network this week, when talking about Clemson, ACCN analysts Eric Mac Lain, E.J. Manuel and Mark Richt discussed the Tigers’ quarterback situation and the looming competition between rising …

During The Huddle: 2022 Football Schedule Reveal on ACC Network this week, when talking about Clemson, ACCN analysts Eric Mac Lain, E.J. Manuel and Mark Richt discussed the Tigers’ quarterback situation and the looming competition between rising junior D.J. Uiagalelei and five-star freshman Cade Klubnik that all eyes will be on this spring.

Manuel voiced confidence in Uiagalelei, despite the former five-star prospect’s struggles as Clemson’s starting signal-caller last season.

After throwing for a total of 781 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions while completing 69.4 percent of his passes across two starts against Boston College and Notre Dame as a true freshman in 2020, Uiagalelei had a 55.6 completion percentage, 2,246 passing yards and nine touchdown passes with 10 interceptions in 13 starts last season.

“I’m still a believer that D.J. can get himself out of that whole,” Manuel said. “He has all the tools. You can’t play that well, going back to the 2020 season against Notre Dame, against BC, and then not get back to that. So, I still believe that he can do it.”

Uiagalelei will be pushed this spring by Klubnik, a five-star prospect from Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, who enrolled at Clemson in January ranked as the top quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class by Sports Illustrated, PrepStar, Rivals and the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Klubnik, who earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors in Texas for 2021 and was named the All-American Bowl’s National High School Player of the Year, comes to Clemson with no shortage of accolades and hype.

But Richt expressed caution about Klubnik going into his freshman season, considering the struggles he witnessed from Matthew Stafford as a freshman at Georgia in 2006 when Richt was the head coach there.

That season, Stafford — who went on to be drafted 1st overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft — completed 52.7 percent of his passes for 1,749 yards and seven touchdowns with 13 picks.

“The thing about Cade – true freshman, right – it’s hard to be great as a true freshman,” Richt said. “I mean, Matthew Stafford, first pick of the draft, he struggled his freshman year. He did some great things, he did some not-so-great things. So, it’s hard to be a consistent winner when your quarterback is not consistent.”

Regardless of who takes the field as Clemson’s starting quarterback next season, Mac Lain acknowledged that the Tigers (10-3, 6-2 ACC in 2021) need more production at the position in order for Dabo Swinney’s program to return to the standard it is accustomed to after seeing its streak of six straight ACC titles and six consecutive College Football Playoff appearances come to an end last season.

“I think everyone can sit here and say that the quarterback position is going to have to be better. That’s not a knock, it’s not being rude, it just is what it is,” Mac Lain said. “And when you have the most important position on the field not meeting the level of expectation that has been set by others, you see a ‘down’ year. 10 wins, 11 straight seasons there.

“So, for Clemson to be able to get back to where they expect to be, where they want to be, where the fans want to be, something is going to have to happen at the quarterback position – whether it’s D.J. Uiagalalei increasing his play to the flashes that we saw in 2020, or is it a change? Is someone else going to make the most of their opportunity and be able to get Clemson back to where they need to be?”

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Packer on ‘million-dollar question’ at Clemson, stretch of games that will determine its 2022 season

On the Packer and Durham show this week on ACC Network, Mark Packer and Wes Durham weighed in on Clemson’s 2022 schedule, which was released Monday. Durham pointed to the conclusion of Clemson’s 2022 campaign – the three consecutive home games …

On the Packer and Durham show this week on ACC Network, Mark Packer and Wes Durham weighed in on Clemson’s 2022 schedule, which was released Monday.

Durham pointed to the conclusion of Clemson’s 2022 campaign — the three consecutive home games against Louisville, Miami and South Carolina to end the regular season — as what jumps out to him about the Tigers’ 2022 slate.

It will represent Clemson’s first time ending a regular season with three consecutive home games since 2012, when the Tigers hosted Maryland, NC State and South Carolina to end the regular season.

“The thing that pops off the page about Clemson’s schedule is the three home games in a row to finish at the end,” Durham said. “It’s been a while, Pack, since that’s happened.”

Packer, though, has a different perspective about Clemson’s schedule next season. He is circling the stretch of four straight games at Wake Forest (Sept. 24), vs. NC State (Oct. 1), at Boston College (Oct. 8) and at Florida State (Oct. 15).

Packer believes Clemson must figure out its quarterback situation with rising junior D.J. Uiagalelei and five-star freshman Cade Klubnik prior to that stretch of games, which he thinks will go a long way toward determining what type of season the Tigers have.

“It doesn’t pop at me, Wes. You’ve got a different view than I do,” he said. “I think this. To me — I could be a thousand-percent wrong — the million-dollar question at Clemson is what happens at quarterback, right. D.J. Uiagalelei, does he improve? Does the Klubnik kid come in from Texas and just steal the thunder? I don’t know how that’s going to play out.

“Clemson better figure out the quarterback answer, though, early, because I think the stretch of four consecutive at Wake, the showdown with NC State, at BC, at Florida State — that’s four consecutive weeks, three on the road, and it’s early — to me, determines what the Tigers are all about.”

Packer added that the Tigers will “be a problem” at Death Valley if they’re undefeated at home heading into the month of November with those three straight home games to end the season.

“They get through the middle of that schedule, and if they’re still rocking and rolling, I think they take their chances at Notre Dame and they welcome everybody to Death Valley,” he said. “I mean, listen — if we get to November and the Tigers still haven’t been beaten at home and they cruise away and find a way through the mines there, they’ll be a problem in November in Death Valley.”

Durham pointed out that next season will mark the first time since 2006, and just the second time since 1996, that the Tigers will have only one road game after Oct. 15 — the date at Notre Dame on Nov. 5.

Clemson enters the 2022 season with a 34-game win streak at home — a school record for both the longest home winning streak and longest home unbeaten streak in school history (as well as the nation’s longest active home winning streak).

“How many in a row have they won at home? 300 in a row?” Packer quipped. “Good luck with that.”

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‘There’s gonna be a Tiger being a Super Bowl champ once again’: Swinney talks Tigers in Super Bowl

No matter what happens in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday, Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., at least one former Clemson football player will walk away from the big game as a Super Bowl champion. If the Cincinnati Bengals emerge victorious, …

No matter what happens in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday, Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., at least one former Clemson football player will walk away from the big game as a Super Bowl champion.

If the Cincinnati Bengals emerge victorious, then rookie offensive lineman Jackson Carman, second-year NFL wide receiver Tee Higgins and sixth-year pro defensive tackle D.J. Reader will all get rings.

And if the Los Angeles Rams come away with the win, then offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum Jr. will end his second NFL season as a Super Bowl champ.

Clemson leads the ACC with four players on Super Bowl rosters, and head coach Dabo Swinney talked about those players Tuesday during a guest appearance on the Packer and Durham show on ACC Network.

“I’ll say this – Jackson Carman, I’m really proud of that young man,” Swinney said. “But Jackson Carman, his freshman year here in 2018, he won a national championship. And Tee Higgins’ second year here in 2018, he won a national championship. So, it’s the second year for Tee in the NFL and the first year, rookie year, for Jackson.

“But man, Jackson’s going to be a great player. Heck of an offensive lineman. He was a second-round pick, came out early. He’s started some for them, and it’s good to see him having some success and making an impact.

“And then you see what D.J. Reader’s done. D.J. Reader’s last year here was 2014. He was on our No. 1 defense in the country that year. What a career he’s had. He’s a great leader. I texted with his mom, Felicia, the other day. I’m really happy for him, just his career. And then same thing with my man Tee. I talked to his mom, Lady, the other day and she’s excited, going to the Super Bowl. But Tee Higgins, a couple huge plays down the stretch there (in the AFC Championship Game vs. Chiefs). And then you’ve got Tremayne Anchrum, he’s the lone guy with the Rams.

“So, no matter how the game goes, there’s gonna be a Tiger being a Super Bowl champ once again. That’s pretty cool for our program.”

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images 

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