Tag: Baylon Spector

Another Tiger accepts invite to East-West Shrine Bowl

Another Clemson standout is headed to the East-West Shrine Bowl. The East-West Shrine Bowl announced via social media Thursday that Clemson fifth-year senior linebacker Baylon Spector has accepted an invitation to the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl, …

Another Clemson standout is headed to the East-West Shrine Bowl.

The East-West Shrine Bowl announced via social media Thursday that Clemson fifth-year senior linebacker Baylon Spector has accepted an invitation to the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl, which will be played on Feb. 3, 2022, at the home of the Las Vegas Raiders as part of NFL Pro Bowl week.

Clemson super senior safety Nolan Turner has also accepted an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl. 

Televised nationally during primetime on NFL Network, the East-West Shrine Bowl will kick off from Allegiant Stadium, one of the nation’s premier professional stadiums. The Thursday evening event will bring approximately 125 of the nation’s top college seniors to be coached by NFL staffs for a week of preparation in front of hundreds of NFL scouts, professional agents and media, all leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft, which will also be held in Las Vegas.

Spector has played in all 12 games for the Tigers this season (10 starts) and ranks second on the team in total tackles (85) behind only fellow linebacker James Skalski. Spector has 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups, five quarterback pressures, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery and an interception this season.

The Calhoun, Ga., native entered 2021 credited with 125 career tackles (17.5 for loss), 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two pass breakups in 863 snaps over 42 games (11 starts).

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said this week that Spector had to have hand surgery and will not be available for the Cheez-It Bowl vs. Iowa State on Dec. 29.

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Clemson coach takes exception to these Tigers being left off All-ACC teams

A former Clemson star defensive back and current Clemson staffer took to social media about two players he feels were snubbed from the All-ACC teams, which were announced Tuesday morning. Tigers defensive analyst Deandre McDaniel, a two-time …

A former Clemson star defensive back and current Clemson staffer took to social media about two players he feels were snubbed from the All-ACC teams, which were announced Tuesday morning.

Tigers defensive analyst Deandre McDaniel, a two-time All-American for Dabo Swinney back in his playing days at Clemson, expressed his feelings on Clemson fifth-year senior linebacker Baylon Spector and sophomore linebacker Trenton Simpson being left off the All-ACC teams.

Spector and Simpson rank second and third on Clemson’s team with 85 and 72 total tackles, respectively. Spector has 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups and five quarterback pressures in 12 games this season (10 starts), while Simpson has 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, three pass breakups and nine quarterback pressures in 12 games (11 starts).

The All-ACC teams were chosen by a voting panel of 50 media members and each of the league’s head coaches.

Clemson had four players named to the All-ACC First Team defense, while 10 Tigers were named to the three All-ACC teams overall, which you can see here.

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Clemson’s offense sees red en route to breakout performance

The breakout offensive performance Clemson’s coaches and players have been trying to talk into existence all season finally came to fruition for the Tigers in impressive fashion Saturday. A unit ranked 82nd or worse nationally in both categories …

The breakout offensive performance Clemson’s coaches and players have been trying to talk into existence all season finally came to fruition for the Tigers in impressive fashion Saturday.

A unit ranked 82nd or worse nationally in both categories posted season-highs in rushing yards (333) and total offense (543) in Clemson’s runaway victory over No. 10 Wake Forest to close out its home slate at Memorial Stadium. The nation’s 95th-ranked scoring offense also easily reached a season-high in points (48) thanks in large part to one of its most efficient performances in the red zone all season.

Clemson also finished with 25 first downs — the most it’s had against anyone not named South Carolina State or Connecticut — to make seven trips inside Wake Forest’s 20-yard line, tying a season-high. Five of those finished in the end zone for the second-most touchdowns the Tigers have scored from there all season.

Just about all of them came when Clemson needed them to keep the Demon Deacons at a comfortable distance.

“Incredible execution,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.

Will Shipley’s 1-yard touchdown plunge on fourth down gave the Tigers their first two-score lead midway through the first quarter. After Wake Forest got its first points on a field goal early in the second quarter, the Tigers immediately answered with some trickeration when it got back inside Wake’s 5-yard line. Clemson punched it in from 2 yards out on Shipley’s jump pass to tight end Davis Allen on third-and-goal to push its lead back to two touchdowns. 

Once Wake Forest responded after that with its longest touchdown drive of the day (11 plays, 75 yards) to cut the deficit to 17-10 at the break, the Tigers had their lone blunder in the red zone to start the second half. Clemson reached Wake’s 15 with five straight runs on its first possession of the third quarter, most of those gashing the Demon Deacons between the tackles. But offensive coordinator Tony Elliott dialed up a speed option on the next play, and Wake’s Rondell Bothroyd sped in off the edge to get a hand on Uiagaleiei’s pitch to Kobe Pace before recovering the fumble.

“That one was on me,” Elliott said. “The option there, we were just trying to change it up a little bit. Probably should’ve just handed it off and went straight downhill, but we had had some success getting the ball on the perimeter, so that was on me more than D.J.

“I just picked the guys up and said, ‘Hey look, the defense is playing good. We’ll get an opportunity, and when we get an opportunity, let’s go capitalize.’”

Which is exactly what the Tigers did once they got the ball back in the red zone on Wake’s next offensive snap.

Running back Christian Turner returned the favor with a fumble of his own, and Baylon Spector pounced on the loose ball for Clemson to set the offense up at the Demon Deacons’ 20. Three plays later, Pace sprinted 8 yards through the middle of Wake’s defense to again extend Clemson’s lead to two touchdowns at 24-10. When Uiagalelei found Beaux Collins for a 58-yard touchdown on the Tigers’ next possession to make it a 31-13 advantage, Clemson had a new season-high in points against an FBS opponent, surpassing the 30 it scored at Louisville earlier this month.

“You see what happens when you can get in rhythm a little bit,” Swinney said. “You’ve got to play well up front, first of all. But we had a few spark plays. … You need some of that along the way, and we haven’t had enough of that.”

And by the time the Tigers took advantage of another turnover deep in its own territory, they had a lead that buried the Demon Deacons. Wake quarterback Sam Hartman dropped the ball after faking a handoff on the first play of the Demon Deacons’ next possession, and Tyler Davis was on the recovery for the Tigers at Wake’s 20.

Clemson used four straight runs to move to the 2 before Pace again powered his way into the end zone to give the Tigers their largest lead at 38-13 with 3:38 left in the third quarter. Shipley’s 3-yard touchdown run late in the fourth capped a nearly flawless day for the offense in the red zone, where Clemson came away with points on all but one of its trips.

“That’s kind of a sign of growth where we’ve been stopped twice on fourth-and-1 on the goal line this year,” Swinney said. “We didn’t get it in there, so it was good to see us get in there and good to see us make some of those short yards and those dirty yards. It’s not always going to be clean, but a great effort by our backs to finish it out.”

 

Carter: ‘The future of Clemson is going to be very bright’

Barrett Carter has gotten his fair share of playing time as the season has gone on. Sure, injuries have played a part in that, but even as Clemson’s linebacker room has stayed relatively healthy, Carter has forced his way into the equation. The true …

Barrett Carter has gotten his fair share of playing time as the season has gone on.

Sure, injuries have played a part in that, but even as Clemson’s linebacker room has stayed relatively healthy, Carter has forced his way into the equation.

The true freshman linebacker out of North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) is a former top-35 recruit and has earned the trust of the staff. Speaking with reporters Monday, he talked about how he’s been able to see the field early.

“I think it’s just the more time I put in the film room and just the more knowledge I’m learning from like [James] Skalski, Baylon [Spector], Nolan [Turner] and even Coach Venables, just getting a feel for the defense,” Carter said. “Coming in the summer, it’s a lot to process. Just the experience and those guys taking me under their wing(s) and all that stuff have helped me get on the field some more.”

Carter was asked just how difficult that transition was. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ scheme is not one you pick up overnight.

“It definitely wasn’t easy,” he said. “It takes a lot of time and a lot of dedication. I didn’t expect it to be easy. I think that’s a part of why you come to Clemson, just for the challenge. It definitely isn’t easy, but just having the fifth and sixth-year guys on the team, they really help you because it’s really like having two or three more Coach Venables on the field with you when you’re out there with them. They’ve definitely made the process of learning the defense much easier.”

During Saturday’s 27-17 loss at Pitt, Carter was beaten by Panthers wide receiver Taysir Mack, who caught a 39-yard go-ahead touchdown from Kenny Pickett.

“It was just bad execution by me,” Carter explained. “I don’t put that on anybody else, but myself. I could have played that much better than I did. I don’t really know much else to say, but it’s just bad execution on me. I take full blame for that. We’re gonna bounce back from it. I don’t put that play on anybody else but myself. Just a freshman mistake. I’m gonna learn from it and just get better from it.”

Carter indicated that the play in question was bad technique on his part. He started pedaling outwards and nothing that Mack did took him outwards. It was just bad technique and execution on his part. Regardless, he thinks he can keep up with 

“I feel like I can run with anybody in the country who I face up against,” Carter said. “That’s just the confidence that I have in myself and my training, my background, where I’m from. Just all that, I feel like it’s all prepared me for this type of experience.”

Following Saturday’s game, Venables called the 4th-and-6 play “the most inopportune drive of the night.” Though, he later admitted Monday that he put Carter in a tough spot.

While the play didn’t unfold as Carter would’ve liked for it to, it’s clear the coaching staff already has confidence in the true freshman to put him in situations like that, to begin with.

“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “I’m glad that I was just out there and that Coach Venables called that play. That shows that he has the trust in me. I just got to keep building on that and keep improving, to have him trust me even more.”

Carter attributes being able to play early to his high school coach, Bill Stewart, who had him play a similar role at North Gwinnett. Carter played all around the field, safety, linebacker and even some offense. It’s helped him prepare for this current moment, he added.

That role in Venables’s defense was a big factor in why Carter chose Clemson.

“Seeing what he’s done with past players in my position like Isaiah Simmons, Dorian O’Daniel, Mike Jones. Just those players, seeing what he’s done with them in that versatile way, that definitely as a recruit makes you want to come to play for him, just learn under him and be the next great one to come out of Clemson.”

Carter studied all three linebackers before getting to Clemson. He wanted to be able to learn from the guys who mastered that role under Venables’s tutelage, specifically O’Daniel because Carter is a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Simmons, who has had a profound impact on the positionless position and the game itself.

“He changed really the culture in football itself,” Carter said…”He truly changed the game of football with his versatility, just lining up anywhere on the field and making plays wherever it is.”

From Simmons to Skalski to Spector, Carter has had a good barometer of how linebacker play should look like in the Purple and Orange. With that being said, he’s enthralled about what the future of that position looks like with him, Trenton Simpson and LaVonta Bentley leading the way.

“I’m very excited,” he said. “Skalski and Baylon, they set the standard. They showed us what leadership and hard work are all about. The future of Clemson is going to be very bright. Just learning under them and under Coach Venables, I’m excited for what the future is going to look like.”

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Clemson eventually flips the script on Syracuse’s ground game

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Clemson held Syracuse to just seven points in the first half Friday at the Carrier Dome, though it wasn’t nearly as suffocating a performance as the scoreboard might have indicated to that point. That was particularly true when it …

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Clemson held Syracuse to just seven points in the first half Friday at the Carrier Dome, though it wasn’t nearly as suffocating a performance as the scoreboard might have indicated to that point.

That was particularly true when it came to the Orange’s running game. It was strength against strength as Syracuse put the ACC’s top rushing offense against a Clemson defense allowing the third-fewest rushing yards per game in the league. The Tigers hadn’t allowed more than 148 yards on the ground all season.

But Syracuse had the ACC’s leading rusher as well as the league’s most dangerous running quarterback, and it showed early. Sean Tucker had 791 rushing yards coming in and added 75 to that total in the first quarter, including a 52-yard scamper on the Orange’s opening drive.

By the time the first half was over, Syracuse had racked up 138 yards on the ground — 36 more than what Clemson was allowing on average coming in. The Orange’s average yards per carry? A whopping 8.6.

It was far from the stingy showings the Tigers’ defense have put on display for much of the season, and it could’ve been worse had Tyler Venables not ended the Orange’s first drive with a red-zone interception.

“I hate it that in the first half we got on our heels on the road,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “We’ve got to play better defense.”

That’s what Clemson did in the final two quarters, at least when it came to keeping the Orange from running wild.

Venables credited Syracuse with some of the things it schemed up in the running game, but Clemson adjusted at halftime. Part of that included alternating between three- and four-man fronts more than they did in the first half to give the Orange some different looks at the line of scrimmage, but being in the right place helped, too.

“We fit our gaps better. And when you’ve got a box player (like Tucker), you’ve got to box him,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “We knew that coming in here. If you don’t do your job against this bunch, they’re going to (take advantage).”

The result? Just 27 rushing yards for the Orange in the second half. Syracuse understandably tried to run it nearly as much over the final two quarters (14 attempts) as it did in the first half (16), but the Orange did have a run longer than 11 yards in the second half.

And for the first time in a long time this season, quarterback Garrett Shrader was never a factor for the Orange on the ground. Shrader was fresh off back-to-back 100-yard rushing games and averaging more than 5 yards per carry coming in, but he never came close to being a dual threat against the Tigers. He ran seven times for 10 yards with his longest covering just 4 yards.

“I’d say we won that matchup,” Swinney said.

As the first half showed, it wasn’t a perfect defensive performance, though it went beyond just Syracuse’s early success on the ground. Tyler Venables at one point was flagged for a late hit on Shrader out of bounds to help extend an Orange possession. Cornerback Malcolm Greene vacated his coverage zone too early against a scrambling Shrader with Syracuse facing third-and-15 early in its final possession, resulting in a conversion for the Orange. There was also that 62-yard touchdown Shrader threw on a seam route against a cover-3 look midway through the fourth quarter that got Syracuse back within a possession.

“It was a good route for that coverage and a good ball, but we didn’t do what we needed to do to protect ourselves,” Brent Venables said. “We’ve got to do a better job schematically and technique-wise at protecting the stress of that call, and we didn’t do that. Guys are out there guessing at what routes are coming instead of reacting to what we’re seeing.”

But the Tigers eventually got back to their old form against the run, which was on display until the end. Syracuse’s final possession reached Clemson’s 31-yard line, and with the Orange facing third-and-2, they called Turner’s number one more time. But Venables brought linebackers James Skalski and Baylon Spector on a blitz.

Spector dropped him for no gain, forcing the 48-yard field-goal attempt that missed the mark in the final minute.

“Just coming out, making some adjustments, being more physical and just playing our football,” Spector said. “Doing the things our defense does well.”

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Clemson’s defense does it again

Clemson edged Syracuse 17-14 for its first road win of the season. Once again, the offense lacked rhythm or consistency, but the Tigers found a way to get it done on defense. Head coach Dabo Swinney felt his team did just enough to secure a victory. …

Clemson edged Syracuse 17-14 for its first road win of the season.

Once again, the offense lacked rhythm or consistency, but the Tigers found a way to get it done on defense.

Head coach Dabo Swinney felt his team did just enough to secure a victory.

“We did enough to win the game and that is the objective,” Swinney said. “We have a lot of work to keep improving, but we have won two in a row and that is some momentum for us.”

Clemson’s defense started slow and allowed Syracuse running back Sean Tucker to run the ball effectively in the first half.

Tucker, the Football Bowl Subdivision’s leading rusher, toted the ball 12 times for 132 yards in the first half on Friday. But in the second half the Tigers held him to 25 yards on 10 carries.

For defensive coordinator Brent Venables it proved a tale of two halves.

I thought they blocked us and were doing some things schematically that were a little bit different, we prepared for everything, but you can’t simulate it in practice,” Venables said about the opening half.

“But they had 26 yards rushing in the second half, 25 for him and we did a much better job just getting settled in and getting in a groove,” he continued.

Not only did the Tigers’ defense bottle up Tucker in the second half. But the unit shut down quarterback Garrett Shrader for the entire game.

Syracuse rushed for 354 yards last week against Wake Forest and Shrader ran for 178 yards on 29 carries. On Friday night the sophomore ran seven times for six yards.

Baylon Spector felt the Tigers prepared adequately and executed well to keep Schrader from extending the pocket.

“He’s a great player and a great talent and he can run with his legs because he’s a super talented guy,” the linebacker said. “We had to be ready because when he scrambles, he can make plays so we wanted to confine him so he couldn’t get out and make those long plays with his legs.”

Clemson returns to action next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Pittsburgh.

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Grading Clemson’s defense through the first half of the season

Clemson won’t officially hit the halfway point on its 12-game regular season until after its game at Syracuse next week, but it’s close enough. With an open date to take a step back and evaluate where the Tigers are as a team, TCI is handing out …

Clemson won’t officially hit the halfway point on its 12-game regular season until after its game at Syracuse next week, but it’s close enough. With an open date to take a step back and evaluate where the Tigers are as a team, TCI is handing out midterm grades for Clemson’s performance so far in all facets.

Let’s hand out some grades for each position on defense through five games:

Defensive line

The front was expected to be the strength of the defense coming into the season given the mix of talent and depth the Tigers had there. Both have taken a hit because of some significant injuries, but the line is still holding its own.

Not many defenses would be able to lose both starting defensive tackles and keep rolling the way Clemson’s has. First, it was Tyler Davis who had to have surgery on his bicep that will keep him out until November. Then it was Bryan Bresee, who went down with a torn ACL against North Carolina State. Ruke Orhorhoro and Tre Williams have now become starters on the interior, and the Tigers have developed some depth with Darnell Jefferies, Etinosa Reubun and true freshman Payton Page having to be part of the rotation, too.

Meanwhile, the Tigers still have their numbers intact at end. Myles Murphy and Xavier Thomas (10 tackles for loss and six sacks) have been terrors off the edge while K.J. Henry, Justin Mascoll and Justin Foster (who’s also slid inside some) are there as well. Clemson has ranked in the top 30 nationally in points allowed, yards allowed and rush defense all season, and the front four is a big reason why. Grade: A

Linebackers

Clemson began the season with a strong blend of experience, athleticism and high football IQ at the second level of its defense. The first five weeks have shown the Tigers have more quality depth than they may have initially thought, too.

Super senior James Skalski and Baylon Spector, a fifth-year player, lead the Tigers in tackles with 80 combined stops. Skalski, whom the Tigers consider the heart and soul of the defense, showed his knowledge and instincts in a big way when he snuffed out Georgia Tech’s goal-line shovel pass late in that game to help preserve the victory. Spector has quietly been a productive player on the weakside.

If there’s a weakness for Skalski and Spector, it’s pass coverage. But sophomore Trenton Simpson helps there. The sophomore strong-side ‘backer has shown the physicality to play in the box and the speed to run with tight ends when needed. And then there’s LaVonta Bentley, a backup who hasn’t played like one when filling in for Skalski and Spector, who have been slowed by injuries at times. Bentley is fourth on the team with 24 tackles and has three tackles for loss. Grade: A-

Secondary

Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich have answered most of the questions about Clemson’s cornerbacks coming into the season. Both have not only played well in coverage, but they’ve been some of the ACC’s top tackling corners when attacking the line of scrimmage. Booth is the Tigers’ third-leading tackler (26 stops) while Goodrich is right behind him (23).

Goodrich has produced his stats in four games after not playing last week against Boston College with a groin injury, forcing Sheridan Jones into a starting role. Jones had seven tackles in that game.

Sixth-year senior Nolan Turner is holding down one safety spot while true freshman Andrew Mukuba has been a revelation for the Tigers at the other. Mukuba is tied with Goodrich in tackles and leads the team with four pass breakups. But there’s depth at the safety position, too, with Jalyn Phillips, Joseph Charleston and R.J. Mickens, who has two of the Tigers’ five interceptions.

The group hasn’t been perfect. Boston College threw for more than 300 yards last week. But the Tigers are still in the top 50 nationally in passing yards allowed (203 per game), and they’ve done it without nickel Malcolm Greene (shoulder injury) for the last two games. Grade: B+

Overall

Even with the attrition, the defense has been one of the ACC’s best and has carried Clemson while the offense gets things figured out. The Tigers have yet to allow more than 14 points in regulation, though depth will be something to watch going forward if injuries continue to mount. There isn’t a glaring weakness at any level of the defense. Grade: A

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Defense’s uncharacteristic penalties proved to be costly

RALEIGH, N.C. – During the preseason, Clemson had two scrimmages where the defense was penalized just once. Head coach Dabo Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables bragged about the Tigers’ ability to stay disciplined and the mature focus …

RALEIGH, N.C. — During the preseason, Clemson had two scrimmages where the defense was penalized just once.

Head coach Dabo Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables bragged about the Tigers’ ability to stay disciplined and the mature focus of the unit. That carried over into the first three games of the season, as the Tigers’ defense was flagged very little.

However, that was not the case in Saturday’s 27-21 double overtime loss to NC State. Clemson (2-2, 1-1 ACC) was penalized 13 times for 94 yards, and nine of those were called on the defense for 75 yards. And they were all costly.

“I will say in a game like this, and in these circumstances, they are disappointing,” Venables said after the game. “It is important that you don’t do something that is going to hurt yourself. We have to play smarter and not do things to hurt yourself. Just playing smarter and be more disciplined. That is critical.”

Four of those penalties resulted in automatic first downs … two were personal foul penalties and two were for defensive holding, including a critical holding penalty by Nolan Turner in the first overtime that led to an eventual touchdown. The Tigers were also flagged five times for invading the neutral zone.

“It was a tough night to learn a lesson,” Venables said.

The offside penalties aided NC State, giving the Wolfpack (3-1, 1-0 ACC) manageable third downs. They finished the night 11 of 21 on third down. Twice Clemson jumped offside during the Pack’s first score, which set up third-and-medium and third-and-short plays.

“We jumped offside multiple times. We put them in a lot of manageable third down situations. We have to do a better job from a discipline standpoint,” Venables said.

One of the biggest conversions came in the fourth quarter, with NC State driving for a potential game-winning field goal. On third-and-three from the Clemson 30-yard line, with 40 seconds to play, linebacker Baylon Spector was called for crossing the neutral zone.

“They do something that is very unique,” Venables said. “They are not only barking you offside, but even if you do not touch them, they are reaching out to you in the neutral zone. So, it is designed in a way that the rules allow it. If you jump in the neutral zone, but you don’t touch anybody, and even though you get back, they reach out and touch you. So now, you ‘have drawn them offside.’ You lured them into a false start. So, whatever.”

Regardless, Spector says he has to be smarter in those situations.

“That was on me. It is just a bonehead mistake. I own up to it,” Spector said. “Thankfully, we got another chance, but it was definitely a bonehead mistake by me.”

The most costly penalty came in the first overtime. With Clemson on top, 21-14, following a 9-yard D.J. Uiagalelei touchdown pass to Justyn Ross, State faced a third-and-goal from the Clemson 7. Quarterback Devin Leary’s pass in the end zone to Emeka Emezie was too tall. But Turner was flagged for holding, giving the Pack life at the Clemson three. A few plays later, Leary found Thayer Thomas for a 2-yard touchdown pass to force the second overtime.

“I just know that we have to be better in those situations,” Spector said. “I just know that obviously, we gave up a lot of third down conversions. A lot of those were due to disciplinary plays by us. We just have to continue to get better and continue to fix those mistakes.”

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

Spector named ACC Co-Linebacker of the Week

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today that linebacker Baylon Spector has earned ACC Co-Linebacker of the Week honors for his performance at NC State on Saturday. Spector will share this week’s honor with Georgia Tech’s Charlie Thomas. …

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today that linebacker Baylon Spector has earned ACC Co-Linebacker of the Week honors for his performance at NC State on Saturday. Spector will share this week’s honor with Georgia Tech’s Charlie Thomas.

Clemson has now earned a total of 546 weekly honors since 1968, including five honors this season. Spector becomes the third different Clemson linebacker to earn the honor in the season’s first four weeks, as James Skalski secured ACC Linebacker of the Week honors following Clemson’s season opener against Georgia, and LaVonta Bentley earned the award last week for his performance starting in place of Spector against Georgia Tech.

The honor is the second of Spector’s career, joining his selection following Clemson’s win against Virginia last season. This year marks the first time that Clemson has recorded three Linebacker of the Week selections in a single season since 2015, when B.J. Goodson earned the honor three times.

Against NC State, Spector recorded a team-high and career-high 19 tackles. His 19 tackles were the most by a Clemson player in a single game under Dabo Swinney, one ahead of Spencer Shuey’s 18 tackles against Georgia in 2013. The 19 tackles were also the most by a Clemson player since 2002, when John Leake recorded 21 stops against Maryland.

–Courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

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Spector takes responsibility for ‘bonehead mistake’

Baylon Spector talked to reporters following a devastating loss at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday. After missing Clemson’s 14-8 win over Georgia Tech due to knee inflammation, Spector was back in the starting lineup and was forced to play an …

Baylon Spector talked to reporters following a devastating loss at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday.

After missing Clemson’s 14-8 win over Georgia Tech due to knee inflammation, Spector was back in the starting lineup and was forced to play an important role from the get-go. James Skalski went down with a shoulder injury pretty early on and while he embraced a coaching role from the sideline, he was unable to return to the game.

Clemson’s defense, led in part by Spector, was fragile and mistake-prone during Saturday’s 27-21 loss to NC State. Spector made a crucial error. 

The veteran linebacker jumped offsides on a crucial third down with 40 seconds remaining in the game. Luckily, it wasn’t the deciding factor in Saturday’s game as NC State’s kicker missed a game-winning 39-yard field goal as time expired.

“Yeah, we did,” Spector said when asked about Clemson’s uncharacteristic penalties during the team’s 27-21 loss Saturday. “Just undisciplined in a lot of areas, especially in that key situation. That was on me. Just a bonehead mistake. I own up to it. Thankfully, we got another chance right there, but definitely a bonehead mistake by me.”

Clemson was penalized 13 times for 94 yards. A lot of the calls were due to offsides penalties and undisciplined football. 

Spector was called for the offsides penalty and a late hit on NC State running back Zonovan Knight, a questionable personal foul call at that. That drive, of course, led to the Wolfpack taking their first lead of the game, 14-7 with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter.

Spector was asked why those offsides penalties continued to transpire throughout Saturday’s contest and he wasn’t able to provide an answer, but obviously, the Tigers still have to go back and watch the film.

“I just know that we got to be better in those situations,” he said. “Obviously, they had a lot of third-down conversions and a lot of those were from unidisciplinary plays by us. But, we just got to continue to get better, continue to fix those mistakes and we’ll correct them.”

A lot of Clemon’s mistakes came without two of its best players in the lineup — Skalski and Bryan Bresee. The Tigers are already without Tyler Davis for the next 7-8 weeks, only for Bresee to go down in a heap of pain with an apparent knee injury during the third quarter. 

Bresee sat on the bench with a towel over his head and an ice pack on his knee. His body language said what he couldn’t. And while Clemson, nor Spector, used those injuries as an excuse, the Tigers were still missing some key cogs in the middle of the field.

“It’s tough. Jamie obviously does a great job coming in there, passionate about getting the calls in, getting people where they’re supposed to be lined up,” Spector said. “Bryan is Bryan. He’s very disruptive, obviously going to be a great player. Praying for him, because he’s hurting right now, I know that. So is Jamie. I know they both wish they could be out there. I wish they could be too. 

“It’s tough, but LaVonta [Bentley], Kane [Patterson] and Keith [Maguire] all came in and they’re supposed to step up and do their job. Proud of those guys to come in, step up and make plays and call the plays like they should.”

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