Ajou Ajou – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Swinney on WRU: ‘This is going to be a special group’

Dabo Swinney voiced a lot of excitement Tuesday surrounding WRU this fall in his first weekly press conference of the 2021 season. The 14-year Clemson head coach echoed offensive coordinator Tony Elliot’s sentiments for this year’s wide receiver …

Dabo Swinney voiced a lot of excitement Tuesday surrounding WRU this fall in his first weekly press conference of the 2021 season.

The 14-year Clemson head coach echoed offensive coordinator Tony Elliot’s sentiments for this year’s wide receiver group, one he says could go down as one of the most talented groups Clemson has ever seen.

“As I’ve said many times, this is as talented a group as we’ve probably had,” Swinney said. “I told (receivers coach Tyler) Grisham that on picture day, I said, ‘You need to take a picture of this group and pull it out in about six years.’ This is going to be a special group when it’s all said and done. You’ll look back six or seven years from now and think, ‘Wow, all these guys were in the same room.’”

With the likes of Justyn Ross, E.J. Williams, Ajou Ajou, Frank Ladson Jr. and Joseph Ngata along with a few new faces in Beaux Collins, Dacari Collins and Troy Stellato, the Tigers have a lot of talent at their disposal this fall. Despite their depth of talent, though, Swinney recognizes that Ross is simply in a league of his own.

“Justyn is kind of in a league of his own just simply because of where he is developmentally. This guy has played a lot of football,” Swinney said. “He came in here elite and mentally where he is, he’s just in a great place technically, fundamentally, knowledge, system. I mean, you name it, he just gets it.”

The experience behind Ross in this year’s wide receiver room continues to be elite. For Swinney, having guys with game experience like Ladson and Ngata is huge, but the real test will be if they can remain healthy for the season in its entirety.

“Frank and Ngata are elite guys, they just got to be available. It’s really that simple,” Swinney said. “They had just had good freshman years and then last year they just weren’t available, and that’s just the way it is. High level guys, I’ve seen it. I mean, Ngata, this kid is as talented as some of the big guys that have come through here, but consistently doing it on game day just hasn’t happened yet.”

“I’m really excited about what I’ve seen. I thought he had a great spring and he’s had a really good last 10 days or so, but we’ve got to see it on game day. It’s the same thing with Frank. We’ve seen splashes and good moments but (not) consistently being there.”

It is clear that consistency will be key for the Tigers’ wideouts this season, and Swinney is hopeful that his guys will take advantage of each and every opportunity thrown at them and rise to the occasion.

“It’s a really good room, and you’ll see a bunch of guys have opportunities,” Swinney said. “But hopefully those veteran guys will be able to be who we know they are week in and week out for us.”

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Elliott provides returns on freshmen wideouts, which guys are standing out beyond Ross

It’s game week and Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliot spent his Monday afternoon fielding questions for reporters as his offense prepares for Saturday’s marquee matchup against Georgia. Elliott was asked about Clemson’s freshman wide …

It’s game week and Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliot spent his Monday afternoon fielding questions for reporters as his offense prepares for Saturday’s marquee matchup against Georgia.

Elliott was asked about Clemson’s freshman wide receivers, now that he’s been able to watch them throughout the duration of fall camp and into this week of practice.

He provided returns on Troy Stellato, Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins.

Elliot was asked first about Stellato, who is a bit behind the eight ball. He arrived this summer and is clearly still picking up the playbook.

“Starting with Troy, (he) came in during the summer and was behind the Collins’ boys,” Elliott said. “Very talented. The biggest thing for him is picking up the offense. The first time through, he’s still swimming. Things are moving around. [I’m] very pleased with his ability, we just got to get him to the point where he can function on his own as opposed to

As opposed to Beaux and Dacari, who have been on Clemson’s campus since the spring.

“They’re big guys that are athletic, can run, can play multiple spots for us,” Elliott said. “Great after the catch kind of guys, also can go up and get the high points. I think they fall right in line with the many of the wideouts that we’ve had here.”

Additionally, at the other end of the spectrum, Elliott was asked about Justyn Ross and what the returns have been for Clemson’s No. 1 receiver since he’s returned to the fold after finally being medically cleared.

“You can tell that Ross is working his tail off,” he added. “He looks explosive and also you can tell that he’s putting in work from a knowledge standpoint too. You’re able to jump right in and just go function and he hasn’t practiced in a formal setting in about a year now.”

Outside of Ross, has anyone started to separate themselves in the wide receiver room?

“Frank (Ladson, Jr.) has had a good camp. (Joseph) Ngata is starting to come on, you’re starting to see what we thought we had in Joe,” Elliot said. “And then Ajou, Ajou is a guy we talk about a lot. He’s made tremendous, tremendous strides. Sometimes you put on the tape and you’re like, ‘Wow that was Ajou.” Just the nuances and the details are starting to emerge now that he has a better understanding of the scheme and he can play technically a little more sound.”

Elliot almost forgot E.J. Williams.

“You just kind of take E.J. for granted, but E.J. is very similar to Ross,” Elliott added. “He’s been a guy that’s been a putty guy for us. We’ve moved him around, put him in different spots and he’s handled that well. He’s electric…can make the acrobatic catches and he’s a physical guy too. That’s what I like about E.J., is that he might not be the biggest guy, but he’ll put his nose in there on the perimeter. I think he’s going to be a guy that’s going to be like a given…He’s had a great camp.”

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Clemson’s receiving corps striving for more versatility

It’s not often that wide receivers are compared to offensive linemen, but Clemson coach Dabo Swinney did just that this week. Of course, it had nothing to do with physical stature even if some of the Tigers’ wideouts are just as tall as their …

It’s not often that wide receivers are compared to offensive linemen, but Clemson coach Dabo Swinney did just that this week.

Of course, it had nothing to do with physical stature even if some of the Tigers’ wideouts are just as tall as their teammates up front. It had everything to do with the versatility of the group.

“Kind of like the o-line, we’ve cross-trained a lot of guys,” Swinney said.

A deep receiver corps has gotten even deeper heading into the season with the return of Clemson’s No. 1 wideout, Justyn Ross, who’s healthy again after missing all of last season after undergoing corrective spinal fusion surgery. Having Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson Jr. back at full tilt helps, too.

Throw in sophomores E.J. Williams and Ajou Ajou as well as true freshmen Dacari Collins, Beaux Collins and Troy Stellato, and Clemson has no shortage of options for its three receiver spots. For most of them, that has meant reps at multiple positions in order for the Tigers to get their best three receivers on the field at any given time.

Ngata was the projected starter at the 9, or boundary (short side), position last season, but an abdominal injury limited his snaps and forced Clemson to move Cornell Powell from the 2, or field (wide side), position. Ladson was the primary option at the 2 until injuries also slowed him down last season, which prompted Amari Rogers to move from the 5, or slot, to the outside.

Rodgers and Powell were the Tigers’ leading receivers last season and are now trying to earn roster spots as NFL rookies. Yet that’s hardly been a talking point for Clemson with everything it’s brought back at the position.

Ross, Clemson’s leader in receiving yards (2018) and receptions (2019) his first two seasons with the program, has played primarily on the outside when he’s been healthy, but Swinney said in the spring the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder would play all three positions this fall. Swinney went as far to say that Ross would start in the slot if Clemson had to play a game then, so don’t be surprised to see Ross line up on the inside often as the Tigers try to find more ways to create mismatches for their big-bodied wideout.

The same goes for Ladson, Williams and Ngata, whom Swinney said is back practicing after battling a hamstring injury that caused him to miss both of Clemson’s fall scrimmages. Ajou, who’s in line for a bigger role after being largely buried on the depth chart as a true freshman last season (two catches), has been getting reps with the first- and second-teamers primarily at the 9, Swinney said, but the Tigers aren’t planning to keep many of their receivers in the same place too often.

“I feel good about (Ajou), but we’ve moved a lot of guys around,” Swinney said. “A lot of 2s. A lot of 5s. So I feel good about our versatility at the receiver position and the ability to, if we need to, move guys around.”

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

A closer look: Clemson’s receivers vs. Georgia’s secondary

With Clemson’s mammoth opener against Georgia less than two weeks away, The Clemson Insider is going to spend some time taking a closer look at some of the position matchups that could go a long way in determining the outcome of that Sept. 4 clash …

Next up is Clemson’s receivers against Georgia’s secondary. TCI previously analyzed matchups between the Tigers’ offensive line and the Bulldogs’ defensive front and vice versa.

Note: If only one number is listed in parentheses beside a player’s name, that means that player hasn’t started a game. The number listed is how many career games he has played. If no numbers are listed for a player, he has yet to play a game.

Clemson’s projected receiver rotation: Justyn Ross, Jr (29 games played, 14 starts); Joseph Ngata, Jr (22, 3); Frank Ladson Jr., Jr (25, 4); E.J. Williams, Soph (12, 4); Ajou Ajou, Soph (10); Brannon Spector, Soph (14, 1); Dacari Collins, Fr; Beaux Collins, Fr

A deep receiving corps added more depth and an injection of top-line talent with the return of Ross, who received full medical clearance earlier this summer following his corrective spinal fusion surgery that cost him all of the 2020 season.

A 6-foot-4, 205-pound wideout with the speed and ball skills to boot, Ross is a first-round talent with big-play capabilities when he’s at full tilt as shown by his 1,865 receiving yards and 17 scoring grabs in his first two seasons at Clemson. Ross missed the first week of fall camp going through COVID-19 protocols, so will less than three weeks of full contact be enough to have him up to speed for his first game action in more than a year?

According to Ross, it will, and the early returns on his practice reps have been positive. But it’s not like Ross is the only wideout Georgia will have to game plan for.

Like Ross, Ngata is a former five-star recruit while Ladson drew rave reviews from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney for his camp performance. Both are expected to take on larger roles within the offense this fall after combining for just 51 career catches so far as long as they can stay healthy, which has already been a recurring issue for Ngata. He battled a hamstring injury during camp and missed both of the Tigers’ scrimmages, though Swinney said late last week Ngata was close to being back at full speed.

Williams is another potential breakout candidate for the Tigers after stepping in to make four starts as a true freshman and finishing last season with 24 catches. The same could be said for Ajou, who coaches and teammates are high on. Dacari Collins and Beaux Collins were both four-star signees who were also mentioned as playmakers during camp, so offensive coordinator Tony Elliott has no shortage of options and lineups to play with out wide.

Georgia’s projected starting defensive backs

CB Derion Kendrick, Sr. (24, 23 at Clemson the last two seasons)

SS Christopher Smith, Sr (29, 5)

FS Lewis Cine, Jr (24, 12)

CB Ameer Speed, Sr (35) or Kelee Ringo, RFr

NICKEL Latavious Brini, Sr (17, 1)

Clemson’s receivers are already somewhat familiar with what the Bulldogs have to offer in the secondary — and vice versa — with Kendrick now suiting up for the Bulldogs. An all-ACC first-team selection last season, Kendrick spent the previous three seasons at Clemson before being dismissed from the team and landing at Georgia, where he’ll line up against the receivers he used to practice against on a daily basis.

Kendrick is joining a secondary that isn’t exactly green. Every projected starter on the Bulldogs’ back end is an upperclassmen with three of them being seniors, including Speed, who will likely step into a starting role for the first time at the other corner spot after spending most of his first four seasons in Athens as a special-teams contributor.

Georgia added even more experience to the group in West Virginia transfer Tykee Smith. An AP All-American last season, Smith has been heavily in the mix for the starting job at nickel, but he recently sustained a foot injury that required surgery and likely won’t be available for the opener.

That would put Brini at the top of the depth chart there by default, though he’s not a newbie either. Cine, a preseason all-SEC pick at safety, started every game last season while Smith started the last five.

The matchup

This one is interesting for a few reasons.

First, the units have similar experience in that both at least have at least one player (Ross for Clemson and Kendrick and Cine for Georgia) with a season’s worth of starting experience and a bunch of others that have been biding their time. And then there’s the size. A lot of it.

The majority of Clemson’s receivers are at least 6-3 with Dacari Collins being the tallest at 6-5. Ross has gotten most of his game reps at the boundary and field positions, but Clemson plans to use him in the slot this season as well to try to find more mismatches for him.

Yet if there’s a secondary that has the height to match up well with that, it’s Georgia’s. Kendrick isn’t exactly a short corner at 6-0, but he’s on the lower end compared to Speed (6-3), Ringo (6-2) and Brini (6-2).

And with Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei in line to make just his third career start, what’s the Bulldogs’ plan of attack against him? Do they sell out to stop the run and try to make the young signal caller beat them? Or will they be more hesitant to do that given the way Uiagalelei lit it up in the two starts he made last season, including more than 400 yards passing and no turnovers at Notre Dame?

The answer is likely somewhere in the middle, though some success from Clemson’s running game would go a long way in possibly forcing Georgia to commit another defender or two to the box and create more one-on-one matchups on the outside. In all likelihood, though, Clemson’s wideouts will see a mix of man and zone coverages.

The Tigers have the athletes on the outside to win against just about anything they get. Georgia could argue the same. Finding the most advantageous matchups — Clemson’s speed isolated on a safety, perhaps? — could determine which wins more often.

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

5 players who improved their stock during fall camp

With Clemson’s fall camp in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take inventory of what’s happened over the last two and a half weeks in terms of personnel. Dabo Swinney and his coaching staff will be doing the same as they work to fill out the depth …

With Clemson’s fall camp in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take inventory of what’s happened over the last two and a half weeks in terms of personnel.

Dabo Swinney and his coaching staff will be doing the same as they work to fill out the depth chart ahead of the Tigers’ Sept. 4 opener against Georgia, so here are five players who’ve improved their stock during camp based on practice observations and interviews with coaches and players. Only players who have been with the program for at least one year were considered.

TCI also compiled a list of true freshmen who’ve put themselves in position to be immediate contributors, which you can check out here.

Andrew Booth Jr.

Talent has never been the issue with Booth, who arrived on Clemson’s campus three years ago as a five-star signee. As Swinney mentioned throughout camp, being available is the only thing that’s held back the Tigers’ junior cornerback.

Booth has played in 24 games for the Tigers but has only started four mainly because of nagging injuries. But he’s practicing with a clean bill of health this month and had one of his best fall camps since he’s been at Clemson.

Booth’s athleticism has always been apparent — go check out YouTube videos of any of his one-handed interceptions if you haven’t seen them — and the 6-foot, 200-pounder brings a blend of length and physicality to the position. He’s routinely drawn assignments against some of Clemson’s top wideouts during practice and has held his own, which isn’t all that surprising for a player expecting to be the Tigers’ shutdown corner as long as he can stay on the field.

“He’s been consistently here and feels good, so I’m really proud of him,” Swinney said. “He’s got a good look in his eye.”

Ajou Ajou

There was a time recently when Swinney thought he might have to move Ajou to tight end, something Swinney attributed to the Canadian receiver eating a bunch of good food after arriving in the United States.

But Ajou, who had gotten up to 240 pounds on his 6-3 frame, has worked to get down closer to the 220-pound range and is undoubtedly one of the Tigers’ most improved offensive players, Swinney said. Offensive coordinator Tony Elliott referred to Ajou as “a freak of nature” and has likened some of his movements to former Clemson great Deandre Hopkins.

“He’s balling,” quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei said. “Making great plays. Going up and grabbing the ball. Moving. Looking light on his feet. He looks really good.”

So after taking a year to get up to speed in Clemson’s offense and working himself into better shape, the sophomore wideout is primed for a bigger role this fall, one that could be even bigger than anticipated should Joseph Ngata have to miss much more time. Ngata missed a chunk of camp with a hamstring injury, including both of the Tigers’ scrimmages, though Swinney said he’s “getting closer” to a return.

Regardless, Ajou’s workload figures to go up significantly after catching just two passes a year ago.

“It’s incredible where he is,” Swinney said. “He’s going to help us in a big way.”

Xavier Thomas

Yes, Thomas has been around a while as a senior, but it’s how far he’s come in the last eight months that has Swinney and his coaching staff excited about Thomas’ last season in a Tiger uniform.

Dealing with complications from COVID-19 and strep throat, Thomas only intended to play four games but ended up appearing in seven once the NCAA gave all players a free year of eligibility. The veteran defensive end wasn’t himself, though, and ballooned to 294 pounds at the start of the offseason, Swinney said.

But Thomas dropped 30 pounds — cutting sweets out of his diet was a big help, he said — and has shown the kind of explosiveness and physicality that helped him earn freshman All-America honors in 2018.

“He’s been incredibly focused since January,” Swinney said. “We sat down, we talked, we met and we kind of laid out where he is and what he needs to do, and he’s exceeded all of those things. He’s got a great look in his eye.”

Thomas has played in 34 games with nine starts at Clemson, one of the five defensive ends for the Tigers that have started at least one game. A new-and-improved Thomas has been just as impressive as any of them during camp.

“He’s in a group of guys where we’ve got multiple starters there, but he’s made the most of his snaps for sure,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said.

Ruke Orhorhoro

On the interior of the defensive line, Clemson is going to need a handful of players to spell Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis from time to time. Orhorhoro may be at the top of that list.

A third-year sophomore, Orhorhoro was listed as a backup at defensive tacke going into last season, but a knee injury limited him to just four games. He also missed some time in the spring, but the 6-4, 300-pounder went through camp with a clean bill of health and was back with the second-team defense looking like “a million bucks,” Venables said.

Tre Williams, Darnell Jefferies, Etinosa Reuben, DeMonte Capehart and true freshman Payton Page could also help on the inside, though Capehart missed all of camp after having his knee scoped and will need some time to get caught up. But Orhorhoro, whom Venables said has reached another level in his physical and mental maturation, has made a strong case to be the Tigers’ third defensive tackle.

“He’s still got an incredible ceiling, and I expect him, the more he plays, to continue to get better and really help us at that position when we need some help,” Venables said.

Kobe Pace

There still hasn’t been much separation in the competition to replace the ACC’s all-time leading rusher, Travis Etienne. Considering the edge senior Lyn-J Dixon has on the rest of the running backs in terms of experience — he’s been Etienne’s primary backup for the last couple of seasons — that may be good news for Pace, a sophomore the coaching staff is high on.

Pace got his feet wet last season behind Etienne and Dixon, playing 50 snaps over nine games, but the 5-10, 210-pounder has put himself squarely in the mix for the top spot on the depth chart. Clemson spent camp divvying up first-team reps among Pace, Dixon and freshman Will Shipley.

“I think we saw a ton of flashes there (last season),” Elliott said. “He still needed to learn the entire package to be able to function in all the situations, particularly from a protection standpoint. But we knew it was there, and we anticipated that he was going to be a guy that was really going to push for that spot or whoever was in that lead spot.”

Pace said he feels like his pass protection has improved, and learning from Etienne last season, he said, has helped him become a more patient runner. Whether Clemson settles on a No. 1 back in the next two weeks or takes more of a committee approach this season, Pace is in line to be a bigger part of the backfield equation.

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One-on-ones get competitive juices flowing between Clemson’s WRs, CBs

Andrew Booth’s answer was confident if not predictable. Asked who’s won the most matchups when defensive backs and receivers go one-on-one against each other during Clemson’s fall camp, the Tigers’ junior cornerback thought for a second. Then he …

Andrew Booth’s answer was confident if not predictable.

Asked who’s won the most matchups when defensive backs and receivers go one-on-one against each other during Clemson’s fall camp, the Tigers’ junior cornerback thought for a second. Then he smiled.

“I have won most,” Booth said.

Clemson devotes practice periods during camp specifically to one-on-one matchups on the outside. And with a group of tall, big-bodied wideouts going against a rangy collection of cornerbacks with a blend of experience and young talent, coaches and players say they’re some of the most competitive on the practice field.

That usually brings with it a fair amount of trash talk. Booth said the receivers don’t chirp too much, but if someone is talking, it’s usually sophomore E.J. Williams.

“He’ll let you hear it,” Booth said.

Junior lineman Ruke Orhorhoro has a reputation as perhaps the best trash talker on the Tigers’ defense, though the corners will also engage with the receivers from time to time. Booth said it’s all part of the competitive juices that get to flowing in a setting where the best man wins.

“You’re going to have some of that,” Booth said. “We all hug each other’s necks when we get back in there (after practice).”

The matchups often feature good on good. For Booth, who’s being counted on as a lockdown type this fall, that’s meant plenty of assignments against Williams, Joseph Ngata, Frank Ladson Jr. and Ajou Ajou among others. Mario Goodrich, Sheridan Jones, Fred Davis, Malcolm Greene and Nate Wiggins have also gotten plenty of one-on-one work against a group of receivers that doesn’t lack for physicality.

Even without star wideout Justyn Ross (COVID-19 protocols) unavailable for most of the one-on-one sessions in camp, the corners have still seen plenty of size from the wideouts. Ngata, Ladson, Williams and Ajou are all at least 6-foot-3 while Ngata and Ajou are each north of 220 pounds. Some of the new additions to the wide receiver room have only increased the group’s height with freshmen Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins checking in at 6-3 and 6-5, respectively.

“We get challenged as well as anybody can be challenged on the practice field,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “The receivers, backs, tight ends and quarterbacks, that’s how you get better is through strain, through pain and through failure. It forces you to be on your A game because you get exposed quickly if you’re not ready to go.”

At times, the corners even wear boxing gloves to prevent them from grabbing receivers or tugging their jerseys, which can lead to penalties. Wearing the gloves emphasizes footwork and leverage for the corners, something Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he’s been pleaded with from the group.

“Our technique has improved. Our positioning is a lot better,” Swinney said. “We’re making a lot of plays on the ball. We’ve got a lot of competitive plays, and that’s what you want to see.”

So, yes, the receivers have won their share of one-on-ones, but the victories have gone both ways. Booth, Goodrich, and Jones, all upperclassmen, have combined to play 1,395 snaps during their time at Clemson while Davis and Greene were part of the rotation as true freshmen last season. Wiggins is the only one of the Tigers’ top six corners that hasn’t yet played a down in college, but the true freshman may be the rangiest of the bunch at 6-2.

The group has given the wideouts some good looks, too.

“It’s nice because I’ve got Booth, Fred Davis, Malcolm Greene and all these great corners to go against. They make me better every day,” Ajou said. “So if I can go against them type of guys, I can do it against anybody.”

It’s every man for himself, though. And whether it’s a corner breaking up a pass or a receiver making a catch in front or over the top, the winning side isn’t usually shy about letting the other know about it.

“You better show up every day,” Swinney said. “It’s very competitive out here.”

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Clemson’s receiving corps could ‘most definitely’ be one of nation’s best

Talking to a hoard of reporters before Clemson’s first practice, Dabo Swinney advised the assembled gathering to take a picture of the Tigers’ wide receivers at some point during fall camp. “Because, man, this is a really talented group,” Clemson’s …

Talking to a hoard of reporters before Clemson’s first practice, Dabo Swinney advised the assembled gathering to take a picture of the Tigers’ wide receivers at some point during fall camp.

“Because, man, this is a really talented group,” Clemson’s head coach said. “There are all at different stages as far as where they’re going in their careers, but if you look back at that picture in six years, I think you’re going to be pretty impressed with what these guys end up doing if the Lord keeps them healthy.”

Not every team in college football can lose its two leading receivers and not skip much of a beat, but that’s exactly what the Tigers are expecting to do at the position this fall.

“I feel like we can be one of the top receiver groups in the country,” junior wideout Justyn Ross said. “Most definitely.”

The confidence in what the group still has on the roster stems from a blend of veteran playmakers and young potential. Despite losing Amari Rogers and Cornell Powell, who combined for 130 catches last season before taking their talents to the NFL, Clemson is still oozing with depth and talent at the position.

Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson Jr. are former blue-chip recruits who will be looking to take the next step in their development. E.J. Williams showed promise in snagging 24 receptions for 306 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman last season. Fellow sophomore Ajou Ajou has received praise for his performance in camp so far and could see his role increase.

Throw in true freshmen Beaux Collins, Dacari Collins and Troy Stellato, and the Tigers have no shortage of sizable options out wide. Stellato is the shortest of the group at 6-foot-1.

“We need all the depth we can get,” offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “It’s a long season. We’re at our best when we can play fast and we can roll those guys.”

Of course, the headliner is Ross, who proved to be one of college football’s best receivers his first two seasons in the program. He caught more than 1,800 yards worth of passes with 17 touchdown grabs before missing all of last season after having corrective spine fusion surgery.

Ross was recently given full medical clearance and practiced for the first time Friday after finishing COVID-19 protocols. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei said the value of the 6-4, 205-pounder’s return to Clemson’s offense doesn’t have to be explained.

“I think the whole world knows what Justyn Ross brings,” Uiagalelei said. “I think he’s the best receiver in the country. Justyn Ross is Justyn Ross. I think that speaks for itself.”

Staying healthy will be key for Ross if the group is going to reach its full potential, and he’s not the only one. Injuries limited Ngata and Ladson at times last season as the duo combined for just 25 receptions, but Swinney doesn’t have much doubt about their physical abilities.

“If they’re available, the rest will take care of itself,” Swinney said. “I promise you.”

With all of the receivers available in fall camp, the Tigers are cross-training many of them at different positions. Being able to line up different combinations in the slot, the boundary and the field helps maximize the group’s versatility as it works to meet its own lofty expectations.

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Swinney says it’s not even close who 2 most improved offensive players are

Through the first six days of preseason camp, there is no argument on who the most improved players are on Clemson’s offense. Since the spring, the Tigers’ offensive coaches have been bragging on wide receiver Ajou Ajou, and that has continued in …

Through the first six days of preseason camp, there is no argument on who the most improved players are on Clemson’s offense.

Since the spring, the Tigers’ offensive coaches have been bragging on wide receiver Ajou Ajou, and that has continued in camp. Another name that keeps popping up is tight end Jaelyn Lay.

“Just fundamentally, and all of that stuff, easily, you ask who the two most improved guys I have seen on this offense, all these guys have looked good, but J-Lay has really improved,” head coach Dabo Swinney said. “And Ajou? It is incredible where he is. He is going to help us in a big way.”

After offensive coordinator Tony Elliott compared Ajou to former Clemson great DeAndre Hopkins earlier in the week, Swinney took it a step further when he said the sophomore had the choice to be either Terrell Owens or Shannon Sharpe, who are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

For context, Swinney used the two Hall of Famers as examples of what Ajou’s body-type could be. The Canadian had to make a decision back in January which direction he wanted to go in after reaching 240 pounds, which Swinney says was a good 240 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame.

“He was going to have to be one of the two and I think he could be either one. I really do,” Swinney said. “What he did not tell you is that he was 240 and was about ten percent body fat. I mean, just a freak. Unbelievable. Signs us all up for that right?

Ajou chose the route of Owens and has dropped to 222 pounds.

“Part of that was him, he comes from Canada, he is over in Clearwater and then all of sudden he gets in this program and the food is good and the next thing you know, ‘Wow! What happened?!’ He has never really trained like he has trained here with the lower body,” Swinney said. “So, he is putting on a bunch of muscle, so the next thing you know, he is 238. He is just in great shape, and he is probably five percent body fat now, and lean and confident.”

As for Lay, Swinney wants to see him put a hat on somebody now that they are finally in full pads.

Clemson will resume practice on Friday as it continues to get ready for its Sept. 4 opener against No. 5 Georgia in the Duke’s Mayo Kickoff Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

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When he failed at hockey, Ajou decided football was his best bet

When he was growing up, Clemson’s Ajou Ajou did not think of himself as a football player. In fact, the Alberta, Canada native did not know what sport he wanted to play, so he tried his hand at pretty much all of them. “I remember in grade two I …

When he was growing up, Clemson’s Ajou Ajou did not think of himself as a football player.

In fact, the Alberta, Canada native did not know what sport he wanted to play, so he tried his hand at pretty much all of them.

“I remember in grade two I told my teacher I wanted to be a professional sports player because I played so many sports, I could not pick one,” Ajou said following Tuesday’s practice inside the Poe Indoor Practice Facility in Clemson.

Ajou played Lacrosse, soccer, football, basketball, handball, and was a high jumper on the tack team. Ajou loves sports so much, he even tried out hockey for a little bit.

“I am good skater, I just have to get the two-foot stop down,” Ajou said. “I have to get that down, but it is good though.”

Since he could not get the two-foot stop down, Ajou figured it was not good for his health to keep slamming into the walls.

“I tried one day. He was like, ‘You have to lean this way and your momentum will stop you,’” Ajou recalled on how one of his coaches tried to teach him the two-foot stop. “So, I start skating and I am going and going, and I go (to stop), and I am flying. I mean flying. I said, ‘Yeah, this is not for me. I am just going to stick to staying upright.’”

Despite his lack of skating skills and his second-grade teacher trying to discourage him by pulling up a statistic that only 0.3 people make it as a professional athlete, Ajou was not hearing none of it.

“I was like, watch me. I love to prove people wrong,” he said.

Clemson’s 6-foot-3, 222-pound receiver eventually settled on playing basketball and football. Basketball was his first love and is still his favorite sport, but he eventually realized playing football was his best chance to make it as a professional athlete.

Though he is raw as a college wide receiver, Ajou showed off his potential at Georgia Tech last season when he hauled in a slant pass from Hunter Helms and then ran through almost every Yellow Jacket defender on his way to a 35-yard touchdown.

In the spring, Ajou continued to make strides as he caught the eye of his coaches with one big play after another, including a 16-yard touchdown catch over All-ACC corner Andrew Booth in the Spring Game.

“Ajou, he has put in the work. You can just tell that his confidence is there,” offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “He is not perfect, and we do not expect him to be. But what you are seeing, he has a desire now to give a perfect effort. He is learning how to do that and that is where that challenging from Coach [Dabo] Swinney has really taken hold. And he is pushing Jo.”

Swinney’s challenge began with Ajou’s diet. The sophomore said he weighed 240 pounds at the end of the last season.

“I was not really watching what I was eating,” he said. “It just blew up on me. I was like, ‘Whoa!’”

Ajou got with Clemson’s nutritionist, Paul Harrington, and started to get lean. He stopped his bad eating habits and only drinks water. The receiver says he is down to eight-percent body fat.

As for on the field and in meeting rooms, Ajou admits he has taken his preparation to another level.

“I had a lot of mental errors as a freshman, and I am not going to lie to y’all,” he said. “But now I am really buying into that playbook. I am studying every day and every night. If I can get fifteen minutes, I am in there. It has really helped me. It has made me a lot better.”

The game has also slowed down for Ajou. He says when he lines up, he can see the coverage, and everything seems to be clicking.

“What you are starting to see is us potentially being what we have been in the past, with that one-two punch at the nine-man,” Elliott said. “He is a lot more consistent. He is a lot more fluid because he is not thinking, and he is a lot more confident.

“So, it has been fun to watch his evolution.”

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Clemson’s young ‘freak of nature’ drawing physical comparisons to former Tiger great

Tony Elliott isn’t quite ready to call Ajou Ajou the second coming of DeAndre Hopkins at Clemson. But there is one facet to the young wideout’s game that reminds Elliott of the former Tiger All-American. “If I had to say a person he reminds me of, …

Tony Elliott isn’t quite ready to call Ajou Ajou the second coming of DeAndre Hopkins at Clemson.

But there is one facet to the young wideout’s game that reminds Elliott of the former Tiger All-American.

“If I had to say a person he reminds me of, his movements remind me of Nuke,” Clemson’s offensive coordinator said. “But he’s bigger. Might be a little bit faster. He’s not there yet from a mental aspect. Nuke, if you threw it in his zip code, it was being caught, which I think Ajou has that potential.”

Word of that comparison got back to Ajou, who was flattered.

“Wow. Nuke? C’mon. He was like the greatest,” Ajou said with a smile. “But if he compares me to that, that only pushes me to be better.”

Ajou certainly looks like a prototypical receiver from a physical standpoint. Part of a wideout room that includes Justyn Ross (6-foot-4), Joseph Ngata (6-3) and Frank Ladson Jr. (6-3) among others, Ajou stands 6-3 and is listed on the team’s roster at 215 pounds, though Elliott said Ajou currently tips the scales at north of 220 pounds.

Of course, there’s a long way for Ajou to go before reaching the level of production Hopkins had in college. Hopkins had 206 catches and 27 touchdown receptions in just three seasons at Clemson. Eighteen of those scores came in his final season with the Tigers in 2012 before leaving for the NFL, where he’s now a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

Elliott said he wants to see how Ajou handles being able to stay locked in mentally as camp wears on, adding that’s how the sophomore will earn the full trust of the coaching staff.

But Ajou is expected to take on a larger role in the Tigers’ offense this fall. The Canadian played in 10 games last season and caught two passes for 41 yards. One of those was a 35-yard catch-and-run touchdown against Georgia Tech.

Ajou has been getting most of his reps with the second-team offense early in camp, and Elliott said he’s trending in the right direction. Ajou certainly has the physical tools.

“He’s a freak of nature,” Elliott said. “Now it’s just our job as coaches to just help polish that diamond in the rough. We’ve got to cut it, and we’ve got to polish it. Just so when the light hits it, it shines. And it shines bright.”