Xavier Thomas makes major announcement for Clemson

Xavier Thomas has made his decision as to whether to return to Clemson for another season or get started on a professional football career. And it’s more good news for the Tigers’ defensive line. pic.twitter.com/RAIO60p67k – Xavier Thomas (@atxlete) …

Xavier Thomas has made his decision as to whether to return to Clemson for another season or get started on a professional football career.

And it’s more good news for the Tigers’ defensive line.

pic.twitter.com/RAIO60p67k

— Xavier Thomas (@atxlete) January 16, 2022

Thomas announced Saturday he has opted to use his COVID-19 year and return for a fifth season at Clemson. It’s another major boost heading into the offseason for the Tigers’ defense, which is also getting K.J. Henry back along a defensive line that paced the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense, No. 7 run defense and No. 8 total defense.

With Thomas back in the fold, Clemson is set to return every starter along the defensive front and every linemen in the two-deep, including star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, who’s recovering from ACL surgery that limited him to four games this season. The unit helped the Tigers finish 10th nationally in sacks (3.23 per game) and 15th in tackles for loss (7.1).

Thomas was as effective as anyone Clemson had at creating havoc in the backfield. After contemplating giving up football following a difficult 2020 season, Thomas returned to the field looking more like his old self this season, finishing with 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 12 games.

While that sack total may have been low compared to others on the Tigers’ defense — fellow end Myles Murphy led the team with seven sacks while linebacker Trenton Simpson wasn’t far behind with six — it matched his career-high. And nobody got more consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks than Thomas, who racked up a whopping 17 quarterback hurries.

A former blue-chip recruit out of IMG Academy, Thomas has 92 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks through his first four seasons with the Tigers. He has a chance to add to those totals as part of what figures to remain one of college football’s top defensive lines in 2022.

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3 pressing offseason questions for Clemson’s defense

With the offseason a couple of weeks old now, The Clemson Insider is pondering some of the most pressing on-field questions for Clemson’s football program as the Tigers wipe the slate clean and start fresh in 2022. Clemson is coming off yet another …

Clemson is coming off yet another 10-win season, but there’s still some uncertainty and room for improvement in all facets of the Tigers’ game heading into Dabo Swinney’s 14th season at the helm. After probing the offense, here are some inquiries regarding the defensive side of the ball.

Will Bryan Bresee return to his pre-injury form?

Longtime defensive assistant and first-year defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin is inheriting one of the ACC’s top defensive lines. With players like Myles Murphy, Tyler Davis and K.J Henry returning – the Tigers are also awaiting a decision from veteran defensive end Xavier Thomas – Clemson should once again have one of the country’s more formidable defensive fronts next fall.

Bresee may be the best of the bunch.

Clemson’s star defensive tackle was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and a freshman All-American in 2020 and started the first four games this season before it ended prematurely after he suffered a torn ACL in late September. Through the first 16 games of his Clemson career, Bresee has 9.5 tackles for loss, including 5.5 sacks. How highly do coaches and media members think of Bresee’s talent? He was named third-team all-ACC this year despite playing in less than one-third of the season.

There’s a reason why some recruiting services ranked Bresee as the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect a couple of recruiting cycles ago. At 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, he has a combination of strength, get-off and quick-twitch ability that not many interior defensive linemen possess at that size.

If he can get back anywhere close to his pre-injury form, Bresee will almost certainly be a high NFL draft pick come 2023. There’s no reason to think he can’t other than any injury requiring reconstructive surgery is always tricky.

Barring any setbacks, Bresee is on track to return in some capacity during spring practice with the expectation that he’ll be back at full strength come the fall if not earlier. He’s a massive piece for Clemson’s defense not only because of his talent but also because of the opportunities that can be created for other players up front given the attention he requires from opposing offenses.

What do the Tigers do at linebacker?

Clemson does have one starter at the second level returning in Trenton Simpson, but the Bruise Brothers are gone.

That was the nickname given by Swinney to James Skalski and Baylon Spector, Clemson’s veteran linebacking duo. They played alongside each other as starters for the last couple of seasons and spent a combined 11 seasons in Clemson’s program.

Skalski, who’s played in as many games as any player to ever come through Clemson, led the Tigers with 100 tackles this season from his middle linebacker spot. Spector was right behind him from his weak-side ‘backer spot, racking up 85 stops. Skalski (698) and Spector (593) logged more snaps than anybody on defense this season, and the duo combined to play more than 3,300 snaps during their collegiate careers.

That’s a ton of seasoning, production and leadership to be losing. And with Skalski and Spector hogging the field, there’s not a lot of experience behind them.

LaVonta Bentley, who got a couple of spots starts for Spector when the latter was injured this season, figures to get a long look as Spector’s potential replacement. Meanwhile, Skalski’s primary backup in the middle, Kane Patterson, transferred out of the program late in the season.

Clemson has a couple of former five-star signees at the position in Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter, who saw some extended reps at times in certain packages at outside linebacker. If the Tigers want to get more athletic at the position as a whole, they could also mix things up with Simpson, who had 12 tackles for loss, six sacks and three pass breakups from his strong-side spot and may be Clemson’s most complete ‘backer.

Might Clemson move Simpson to the middle and slide Carter in as a starter on the outside? The Tigers have options at the position, including the transfer portal if they feel like they need a plug-and-play guy or two.

Who takes over at corner?

The defense is being hit hardest by attrition in the secondary, where Clemson is losing all but one starter.

The Tigers feel like they have answers for the departure of sixth-year safety Nolan Turner in Jalyn Phillips, R.J. Mickens and Tyler Venables, who were all part of the rotation at the position this season. Phillips started three games at free safety when Turner was injured and finished the season with 47 tackles and three pass breakups.

Those answers are less clear at cornerback.

Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich are taking a lot of all-around production with them to the NFL after forming the top corner tandem in the ACC this season. They combined for 14 pass breakups and five interceptions and may have been the league’s best tackling corners, too, combining for 87 tackles.

Sheridan Jones has to be considered a favorite to take over at one spot after spending the season as Clemson’s No. 3 corner. He’s also the only corner left on the roster (not counting nickel Malcolm Greene) with any starting experience. Fred Davis, Nate Wiggins and early enrollees Jeadyn Lukus and Toriano Pride will make for an interesting competition beginning this spring, and don’t be surprised if Clemson brings in more at the position through its current recruiting class.

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5 recruits new co-defensive coordinator and defensive tackles coach Todd Bates landed at Clemson

Todd Bates is joining Oklahoma’s staff as OU’s co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach. Who are the top five recruits he’s landed?

Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables is adding one of the nation’s best defensive line recruiters to his first staff, Todd Bates.

Bates is Oklahoma’s associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator and run defense and will coach defensive tackles.

Bates earned Rivals’ Recruiter of the Year award for his work with Clemson’s 2020 recruiting class.

Here’s a look at the top-five recruits according to 247 Sports that Bates landed while operating as the primary recruiter at Clemson.

Clemson’s latest coaching vacancy an appealing one

The last time Dabo Swinney had some vacancies on his coaching staff, he didn’t have any shortage of suitors. Discussing the departure of longtime coordinators Brent Venables and Tony Elliott last month, Swinney said he had “absolutely incredible …

The last time Dabo Swinney had some vacancies on his coaching staff, he didn’t have any shortage of suitors.

Discussing the departure of longtime coordinators Brent Venables and Tony Elliott last month, Swinney said he had “absolutely incredible interest” from people interested in those jobs, understandable considering the success the Tigers have had in recent years. But Swinney said he decided to promote Brandon Streeter and Wesley Goodwin to the roles within 30 seconds of those jobs coming open and didn’t formally interview any external candidates.

“But it’s been cool, too, because I’ve been able to communicate with a lot people,” Swinney said then. “Been good to catch up with some folks. Had some good conversations.”

Clemson’s latest vacancy should be just as appealing.

Less than a week removed from the Tigers’ Cheez-It Bowl win over Iowa State, Todd Bates has decided to jump ship. Bates has served as Clemson’s defensive tackles coach since joining Swinney’s staff in 2017, but he’ll join Venables in Oklahoma, where he’s also expected to take on co-coordinator duties.

But whether Swinney decides to promote from within or change things up and make an outside hire, whoever is next to oversee the interior of Clemson’s defensive line will take over not only a talented position but one of the deepest on the roster heading into the offseason.

Clemson’s defense was as good as it’s ever been under Venables this season, finishing second nationally in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed. To put the Tigers’ performance into even more perspective, particularly up front, Clemson ranked second in the ACC in sacks (3.23 per game) and 14th nationally in tackles for loss (7.1) despite playing most of the season without the best of the bunch on the interior.

Bryan Bresee, the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit coming out of Damascus (Maryland) High during the 2020 recruiting cycle, only played four games of his sophomore season after tearing his ACL against North Carolina State back in September. Including him, Clemson is in line to return its top seven interior defensive linemen, five of which were four- or five-star recruits.

The only loss at the position – at least for now – is Darnell Jefferies, who has officially entered the transfer portal as a graduate student after getting passed up on the depth chart this season. Jefferies tallied just one tackle in six games in his final season in a Clemson uniform.

Clemson also went four games without another NFL Draft hopeful up front in Bresee’s running mate, Tyler Davis. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder underwent bicep surgery just three games into the season but returned to play the final seven, further solidifying the middle of a defense that allowed just 96.3 rushing yards per game, good for seventh-fewest in the FBS.

Davis will be back next season as will Ruke Orhorhoro, who thrived in Bresee’s absence. Orhorhoro moved into the starting lineup after Bresee’s injury and finished with 36 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The attrition also created more opportunities for younger players like Etinosa Reuben and Tre Williams, who turned in their most significant contributions at Clemson to this point. The duo combined for 24 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

True freshman Payton Page, a former top-100 recruit, finished out the regular rotation on the interior, appearing in 12 games. The biggest body among the group, the 6-4, 335-pounder had two tackles in the bowl win. There’s also redshirt freshman DeMonte Capehart, who would’ve been a bigger part of the rotation if not for a knee injury that slowed him for most of the season.

Clemson hasn’t signed anymore defensive linemen on the interior to its 2022 recruiting class and likely won’t given the numbers it already has at the position. Those already on the roster just need someone to continue coaching them, which shouldn’t be too hard to find.

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Taking inventory: Defensive tackle

Clemson still has a bowl game left to play this season, but it’s never too early to look ahead. With the regular season in the books, TCI is taking some time to analyze how the Tigers performed at each position this fall and where the Tigers stand …

Clemson still has a bowl game left to play this season, but it’s never too early to look ahead.

With the regular season in the books, TCI is taking some time to analyze how the Tigers performed at each position this fall and where the Tigers stand with each as the offseason quickly approaches. Quarterback, running back, tight end, receiver, center, guard, offensive tackle and defensive end have already been assessed.

Next up is defensive tackle.

A quick note first: This is where things currently stand with Clemson’s personnel at defensive tackle. With the one-time transfer rule and recruiting still in full effect, things are always subject to change. This story will be updated as needed to reflect any future modifications at the position.

2021 in review

Clemson began the regular season with one of the ACC’s top interior defensive line tandems. The Tigers finished it with only half of it still in place.

They developed more quality depth at defensive tackle as a result.

For a while, Clemson had to play without Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis. The headliner of the Tigers’ defensive front, Bresee’s sophomore season lasted less than four games after he tore his ACL against North Carolina State in late September. That came after Davis, a three-year starter, was already temporarily lost with a bicep injury.

Davis returned against Pittsburgh in late October and finished with 22 tackle and 1.5 sacks in seven regular-season games, but the interior of the line got just as much of a boost from Ruke Orhorhoro, who’s enjoyed a breakout season after moving into the starting lineup in Bresee’s absence. The 6-foot-4, 295-pound sophomore started eight games during the regular season and tallied 40 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, helping Clemson rank second nationally in points allowed and eighth in rush defense.

Tre Williams and Etinosa Reuben also saw their roles increase given the attrition at the position, serving as the Tigers’ primary backups at the position. Despite dealing with various injuries throughout the regular season, Williams finished with three tackles for loss and seven quarterback hurries in 11 games. Reuben also played in 11 regular-season games, recording 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

True freshman Payton Page has provided more depth at the position with five tackles in 11 games. Darnell Jefferies and redshirt freshman Demonte Capehart, who dealt with a knee injury early in the season, also got more reps late in the regular season.

Barring any transfers, the group will largely return intact next season. Bresee is expected to be back in action to some degree in the spring.

Who’s leaving?

Jefferies

Who’s staying?

Bresee, Davis, Orhorhoro, Williams, Etinosa, Page, Capehart

Who’s joining?

Nobody as of now

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Davis ‘grateful’ for quick return from his latest injury

It wasn’t pain that let Tyler Davis know something was wrong. It was his range of motion. Or lack thereof. “I just couldn’t move my arm all the way down,” Davis said. “Couldn’t extend it.” Clemson’s defensive tackle was less than three games into …

It wasn’t pain that let Tyler Davis know something was wrong. It was his range of motion. Or lack thereof.

“I just couldn’t move my arm all the way down,” Davis said. “Couldn’t extend it.”

Clemson’s defensive tackle was less than three games into his junior season when the injury happened during the second quarter of the Tigers’ 14-8 win over Georgia Tech back on Sept. 18. Turns out one of Davis’ bicep tendons had detached from the bone, but it didn’t keep him from finishing the game.

“When it first happened, I was like, ‘Yeah, I can still play,” he said. “I was playing on it, but I ain’t know it was going to be a torn bicep tendon.”

Davis underwent surgery the following week, and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney initially said his recovery would likely keep Davis out of action anywhere from seven to eight weeks. The most difficult part, Davis said, was sleeping in a sling for a couple of weeks after the operation.

But Davis was determined to make it back sooner than that. He was “sailing through” his rehab, he said, which first gave Davis an inkling that he’d be able to do just that.

“I guess it’s just the nature of who I am,” Davis said. “I feel like I always try to help my team the best way I can. So if I can play, I can play.”

After just four weeks, Davis made his return in Clemson’s loss at Pittsburgh, giving a defensive line that had already lost its other starting defensive tackle, Bryan Bresee (torn ACL), for the season a sooner-than-expected boost. He was on what Swinney called a pitch count against the Panthers but hasn’t had his snaps limited since. Davis has 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks in seven games this season.

The only lingering sign of Davis’ injury to the naked eye is a bulky brace he’s been wearing on right arm each week. He said the extra support doesn’t hinder his ability to strike offensive linemen or get off blocks, though he’s not always a fan of it.

“We’ve got kind of like a love-hate relationship with the brace,” Davis said. “It helps me out a lot, but I don’t like wearing it sometimes.”

But Davis is just glad to be back on the field after his latest injury. Davis was a second-team all-ACC selection as a freshman in 2019 when he had 51 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, but a knee injury forced him to miss five games as a sophomore. In the seven games he played last season, he had 17 tackles and five tackles for loss.

“You never know when it’s your last play,” Davis said. “Just always stay grateful for every opportunity you get on the field.”

Clemson’s defense is happy to have him back, too, particularly with its depth on the interior of the defensive line starting to thin out more. Tre Williams, who’s dealt with various injuries throughout the season, is set to undergo season-ending surgery, leaving Davis, Ruke Orhorhoro and Etinosa Reuben as the Tigers’ primary rotation on the inside heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale at South Carolina.

Once the season is over, Davis, who’s draft-eligible, may have a decision to make regarding his future, though he said he’s likely to return to Clemson for another season.

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Starting defensive lineman undergoes surgery

The road to recovery has officially started for one of Clemson’s starting defensive linemen. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said during his weekly call-in radio show Monday that defensive tackle Bryan Bresee underwent surgery last week on his torn ACL. …

The road to recovery has officially started for one of Clemson’s starting defensive linemen.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said during his weekly call-in radio show Monday that defensive tackle Bryan Bresee underwent surgery last week on his torn ACL.

“Bryan had his surgery Friday morning,” Swinney said. “It went really well. (The doctor) felt really good about his deal.”

Bresee suffered the injury in the second half of the Tigers’ double-overtime loss at North Carolina State on Sept. 25. The sophomore had 15 tackles, three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in three games this season.

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Clemson vs. Boston College: Who has the edge?

No. 19 Clemson (2-2, 1-1 ACC) returns home Saturday for another Atlantic Division clash with Boston College (4-0, 0-0), a team the Tigers are hosting for a third straight year. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. on the ACC Network. …

Clemson’s offense vs. Boston College’s defense: One step forward, two steps back. That’s what the situation seems like with Clemson’s offense, which put together a lengthy touchdown drive on its second possession against North Carolina State last week only to not be heard from again until the fourth quarter. Clemson can’t run the ball against seemingly any look it gets from opposing defenses, which is hampering every other part of the offense. A young offense is going to get even younger with running back Will Shipley (leg injury) out. Phil Mafah, another true freshman, is likely to make his season debut and could give the Tigers a little more power in the running game at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, but the offensive line has got to get more push up front.

D.J. Uiagalelei is still fighting consistency throwing the ball, too. It won’t get any easier against a Boston College offense ranked in the top 30 nationally in points and yards allowed. The Eagles have also been a top-20 defense in terms of getting off the field, holding teams to just a 29.5% conversion rate on third down. Clemson’s offense has been average in that department (43.6%). If you’re a Clemson fan looking for some good news heading into this matchup, Uiagalelei had one of his most explosive — and his most efficient — passing performances last season against a Boston College defense that has nine of 11 starters back. He’ll need more from himself and a different supporting cast this time around. Advantage: Boston College

Clemson’s defense vs. Boston College’s offense: Clemson’s defense lost James Skalski to a bum shoulder early against N.C. State. Then star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee went out with a torn ACL. Ruke Orhorhoro and Tre Williams also got banged up on the interior of the defensive line, though they eventually returned. And still Clemson only allowed 14 points in regulation on the road against what’s been one of the ACC’s better offenses. Skalski is fine, according to Clemson’s coaches, and should be back in the lineup Saturday, but not having Bresee or Tyler Davis (bicep surgey) is a major blow.

Yet Clemson is only yielding 12 points per game (fifth nationally) and still ranks in the top 25 in the FBS in yards allowed. And it’s been difficult for teams to find running room against the Tigers (116.8 rushing yards allowed per game) even without their starting defensive tackle tandem. Clemson also gets to go against a backup quarterback, Dennis Grosel, who’s taken over the Eagles’ offense with Phil Jurkovec (hand injury) out. Grosel hasn’t been asked to do much (477 passing yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs in four games) with Boston College’s running game as effective as it’s been (220 yards per game), but that could change Saturday against a Clemson defense that’s still plenty talented. The question is, can the Tigers’ offense, which ran less than 50 plays in regulation and two overtimes, do its part in keeping the defense fresh after Clemson had to defend 96 plays last week? Advantage: Clemson

Special teams: B.T. Potter (1-2 FGs; 12-12 XP) began the season as one of the country’s top kickers while freshman Will Taylor (10.7-yard average on six returns) has given Clemson’s punt return game a jolt, though neither has gotten many chances. Will Spiers (41.8 yards punt) has already punted 21 times and has been solid, but Boston College’s Grant Carlson could be a field-flipping weapon for the Eagles at 46.6 yards per punt. Travis Levy has only returned three kickoffs for Boston College, but one of them was for a touchdown. Advantage: Draw

Bottom line: As the first two conferences games have shown, the way Clemson is playing offensively is making for much more even matchups against teams the Tigers are superior to in talent. If this game were being played as Chestnut Hill, I’d pick Boston College. But Clemson’s won 30 straight games at home, and the Tigers’ defense is going up against a less experienced quarterback it should be able to bait into a mistake or two if they can slow down the Eagles’ running game. That helps Clemson squeak this one out.

Prediction: Clemson 20, Boston College 17

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

3 keys to a Clemson win against Boston College

After a double-overtime loss at North Carolina State last week, No. 19 Clemson will return home Saturday to take on Boston College at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. The Tigers (2-2, 1-1 ACC) will look to avoid their first …

After a double-overtime loss at North Carolina State last week, No. 19 Clemson will return home Saturday to take on Boston College at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

The Tigers (2-2, 1-1 ACC) will look to avoid their first losing streak of the season. So what do they need to do to prevent that from happening against the Eagles? Here are three keys:

Keep the offense on the field (and the defense off it)

Dabo Swinney called the fact that Clemson even had a chance to win at the end against N.C. State a miracle — and not because the Tigers don’t have talent.

It was because of the Wolfpack’s utter dominance in time of possession and play differential. Clemson’s offensive ineptitude after its first scoring drive early in the first quarter kept quickly putting N.C. State’s offense back on the field. By the time regulation was over, the Wolfpack had held the ball for nearly 42 minutes and run 87 plays to Clemson’s 40. The final play tally? N.C. State 96(!), Clemson 49.

Simply put, Clemson can’t be this lethargic on offense and expect its defense to hold up all season. N.C. State’s offense found the going much easier against Clemson late in regulation and in overtime in large part because the Tigers’ defense was gassed, so keeping the unit fresh would go a long way toward helping the group continue to perform at a high level. Not to mention the offense could use as many snaps as possible in order to maximize its scoring opportunities with the way it’s performing right now.

Also, the Tigers’ defense is going to have more inexperience at some key spots with injuries starting to pile up on that side of the ball. Bryan Bresee (torn ACL) and Tyler Davis (bicep surgery) are both out, and whether or not linebacker James Skalski (shoulder) plays Saturday remains to be seen. Having to play more snaps is not only a concern in terms of fatigue, but it also increases the chances of younger players making mistakes, which Clemson can’t afford too much of right now.

Get better push up front (and on the perimeter)

After seeing the success Georgia Tech had defending Clemson by dropping more defenders than not into coverage, N.C. State largely copied that blueprint. The Wolfpack mixed things up at times on the back end of their defense, but for the most part, N.C. State rotated between three- and four-man fronts and dared the Tigers to once again run the ball. Clemson again couldn’t do it consistently, which is becoming a major issue.

Whether it be getting beat on blocks or missing them all together, the offensive line, particularly on the interior, isn’t holding up in the run game even when defenses aren’t stacking the box. Until quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (Clemson’s leading rusher last week, by the way) scrambled for 37 yards late in the fourth quarter, Clemson was averaging less than 2 yards a carry against N.C. State. The Tigers’ 103 yards on the ground dropped them to 99th out of 130 FBS teams in rushing (126 yards per game).

Running backs are occasionally missing holes and cutback lanes, too, but there haven’t been many of those. The offensive line simply has to get more push at the point of attack, particularly when the numbers are even or in Clemson’s favor up front, and help the Tigers become far more consistent running the ball before defenses will think about playing them much differently.

The blocking issues haven’t been confined to the line, though. Even when the Tigers try to take advantage of the few occasions that they have numbers on the outside with quick screens and run-pass options, missed blocks by the receivers haven’t allowed those plays to go anywhere. It won’t get any easier against a Boston College defense that ranks 21st nationally in yards allowed, but that needs to change in a hurry.

Clean up the penalties (and force a turnover)

While most of the defense’s time spent on the field last week was a result of the offense’s lack of production (seven three-and-outs in an eight-possession span will do that), the unit also kept itself on the field longer than it needed to at times with penalties. Clemson was flagged for six offside penalties, including a pair on N.C. State’s first scoring drive.

In all, the Tigers committed a whopping 13 penalties for 94 yards last week. Clemson’s margin for error isn’t nearly big enough to overcome that degree of self-harm right now.

And if wouldn’t hurt if the defense could giving the offense an extra possession here and there by taking the ball way from the opposition. As well as Clemson’s defense has performed for the most part this season, that’s been one area that’s lacked. The Tigers have forced just four turnovers through the first four games and sit at minus-1 in turnover margin for the season.

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

Swinney finds humor in notion that Clemson has never been here before

Granted, it’s been a while. With six straight College Football Playoff appearances – and just three losses over the previous three seasons – Clemson has fallen well short of expectations this season after starting it as a top-5 team. Sitting at 2-2 …

Granted, it’s been a while.

With six straight College Football Playoff appearances — and just three losses over the previous three seasons — Clemson has fallen well short of expectations this season after starting it as a top-5 team. Sitting at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in ACC play heading into Saturday’s home game against Boston College, the 19th-ranked Tigers have lost two games before October for the first time in seven years and have plummeted outside the top 10 of the national rankings for the first time since 2015.

It’s made for more uncertainty and more questions than Swinney has faced about his team in quite some time, but Clemson’s head coach made a point during his weekly press conference Tuesday to remind everyone his program has actually been here before.

“I just laugh at people who act like we’ve never had any adversity around here,” Swinney said.

In 2009, Swinney’s first season as Tommy Bowden’s successor, the Tigers lost three of their first five games before rebounding to win the Atlantic Division and earn a berth in the ACC title game. Clemson won just six games a year later.

“I’ll never make it here,” Swinney said of that season, tongue in cheek. “I’ll never be successful as the coach here.”

The Tigers experienced the other end of the spectrum in 2011, starting 8-0 before losing four of their last six games. That season ended with Clemson giving up 70 points to West Virginia in an Orange Bowl loss.

Clemson bounced back to win 22 of 26 games over the next two seasons, but Swinney vividly remembers getting “embarrassed” by Florida State in 2013 and a fifth straight setback to in-state rival South Carolina State that season, too. The 2014 season brought more failure against the Seminoles, a game in which Clemson had the ball inside FSU’s 1-yard line at one point only to go backward and eventually miss a 40-yard field goal in a 23-17 overtime loss.

“Now that’s some adversity,” Swinney quipped.

Despite also losing then-freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson to a torn ACL, Clemson still went on to win 10 games that season and has won double-digit games every year since. But there have been some other regular-season hiccups, too. Just last season, the Trevor Lawrence-less Tigers fell in double overtime at Notre Dame before beating the Irish in the ACC title game rematch.

Clemson is coming off another double-overtime loss, this one at the hands of North Carolina State last week. Once D.J. Uiagalelei’s fourth-down pass intended for Justyn Ross near the goal line capped the Tigers’ 27-21 loss, Wolfpack fans stormed the field at Carter-Finley Stadium in celebration.

“That’s what it means to beat Clemson. That’s what’s been built here because we’ve always responded,” Swinney said. “This is the same thing. This is an opportunity for us to re-instill some things, grow some young people up and teach. Sometimes there are lessons that, when you lose, you can’t teach when you win. This is a unique opportunity for us as leaders to respond.”

Saturday’s loss may have dashed the Tigers’ hopes of returning to the CFP and leaves them with plenty of work to do if they’re going to repeat as ACC champs. The offensive ineptitude is a major concern with Clemson ranked no better than 99th in scoring, rushing, passing and total yards. And injuries, including the losses of starting defensive tackles Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis, are starting to pile up on the defensive side of the ball.

From Uiagalelei’s “inconsistent” throwing mechanics to a retooled offensive line still working on cohesion to everything in between, Swinney said the Tigers’ strides have to start with improvement in the execution of details and fundamentals.

“You’ve got to get better at the basics before you’re going to get better at anything else,” he said.

But Swinney knows as well as anybody there’s still some time to turn things around.

“Thank God,” Swinney said. “If the season was over after everybody had two losses, there would only be like 60 teams that would get to play football this weekend. Our September has stunk. It didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but we’ve got an eight-game season. And we’ve got to try to go make it the best we can starting this weekend.”

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