Tag: BT Potter

Clemson Tigers pro day: Trenton Simpson puts on an athletic show

Clemson Tigers pro day: LB Trenton Simpson puts on an athletic show as all 32 NFL teams watched 13 players work out

All 32 NFL teams made the short trek from Monday’s pro day circuit stop at South Carolina to the northwest corner of the state for Clemson’s athletic testing event. The Tigers have steadily churned out NFL talents over the last few years and the 2023 NFL draft will be no exception.

Many teams sent defensive coaches to Clemson’s pro day, while Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin was the only head coach in attendance. The Steelers also sent GM Omar Khan. They all got to see an impressive display from several of the 13 Tigers prospects.

Linebacker Trenton Simpson, as expected, put on quite an athletic show. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound LB showed off his explosiveness and agility in testing:

Short Shuttle 4.22
3 cone 6.89
Vertical 40.5”

Simpson clocked a 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and also nailed the interview podium portion in Indianapolis. He’s scheduled for a private visit with the Houston Texans on Wednesday. Simpson projects in the 25-50 overall range.

The consensus top Clemson prospect in 2023, EDGE Myles Murphy, did not work out due to a minor injury. Murphy, a potential top-10 overall pick, will hold a private workout in April for interested teams.

A third Clemson defender with some first-round buzz, DT Bryan Bresee, worked out for interested coaches. His combine testing was solid but not exceptional for a 298-pound attack-style DT.

EDGE K.J. Henry, who had an impressive week of action at the Senior Bowl, also continued to help his draft stock. Henry projects on Day 2 for a team that values power-to-speed on the edge.

Tight end Davis Allen caught the ball well. His workout was run by Bengals TE coach James Casey, a former NFL tight end of similar build himself.

Pro days aren’t normally critical for kickers, but BT Potter nailed a 55-yard field goal. At minimum, Potter helped raise himself up the rung of kickers who should get several calls immediately after the draft concludes. He rewrote the placekicker record books at Clemson.

Others who worked out:

LB Jesiah Carlton

QB Hunter Johnson

LB Keith Maguire

OL Jordan McFadden

WR Joseph Ngata

TE Luke Price

DT Jabriel Robinson

CB Elijah Rodgers

2023 NFL draft: Full pro day schedule

The Newcomer Files: Robert Gunn III

Clemson signed 21 players as part of its 2022 recruiting class, some of whom still have yet to make it to campus. Nine signees went through spring practice as early enrollees while the rest, including transfer Hunter Johnson, will arrive on campus …

Clemson signed 21 players as part of its 2022 recruiting class, some of whom still have yet to make it to campus.

Nine signees went through spring practice as early enrollees while the rest, including transfer Hunter Johnson, will arrive on campus this summer. The Clemson Insider is taking a closer look at each newcomer and the likelihood of him contributing immediately this fall based on development and positional need.

TCI previously highlighted Keith Adams Jr., T.J. Dudley and Sherrod Covil Jr. Next up is Robert Gunn III.

Position: Kicker

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 175 pounds

Ranking: 3 stars (247Sports Composite)

Previous school: Pinellas Park (Florida) High

Early enrollee? Yes

The skinny: One of two specialists in Clemson’s 2022 signing class, Gunn possesses a powerful leg that plenty of schools around the country pursued before he ultimately chose Dabo Swinney’s program. Gunn, who made a 57-yard field goal in high school, was ranked the nation’s No. 8 kicking prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He handled kicking and punting duties in high school but was recruited as a kicker by the Tigers.

Gunn didn’t get a chance to participate much this spring. He was largely a spectator as he continues to work his way back to full strength after tearing the ACL in his kicking leg during his final high school season. He’s also joining a position group that includes one of the ACC’s best placekickers in veteran B.T. Potter, so contributing as a true freshman this fall was going to be a longshot for Gunn from the start barring injury. But a healthy Gunn could very well be the heir apparent to Potter, who’s entering his fifth and final season with the Tigers.

Potter paying it forward

Returning for his fifth year of eligibility, placekicker B.T. Potter is one of the oldest guys on Clemson’s roster who has had a front-row seat to the growth of the program. “I remember coming in my freshman year, and the guy who led me was Greg …

Returning for his fifth year of eligibility, placekicker B.T. Potter is one of the oldest guys on Clemson’s roster who has had a front-row seat to the growth of the program.

“I remember coming in my freshman year, and the guy who led me was Greg Huegel,” Potter said of the former Clemson standout kicker, “and I always looked at him like a big brother and so it’s been pretty cool to take on that role and just see everybody grow up really.”

The 2021 season was Potter’s best to date, connecting on a career-high 80.8 percent of his field goals (minimum 21 attempts), but now Potter will look to leverage his craft with a shot at punter. He admittedly says he wasn’t very good at punting in high school but wants to become a more versatile player with a potential future playing professionally.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Potter said. “I haven’t really ever focused on it. I’d say in January, I was like I might as well start trying, and I’ve done alright so far. I want to make it to the NFL Draft and so I think this will help me get a shot there.”

This is the first time Potter has really been practicing punting on a regular basis, saying he was always the third or fourth guy in years past.

“Freshman year I was traveling and I was the backup punter, except Hunter Renfrow went in over me when we were at Wake Forest,” Potter joked. “I was a backup when we traveled but this is the first time I’ve been doing it every day.”

Potter is happy with his performance in practice thus far, but has found that his biggest challenge is remaining consistent.

“I knew I could hit a big ball but I couldn’t do it over and over,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been working on, really learning what it takes to hit a consistently good punt. I’ll hit a good hang time but it won’t go far enough and then I’ll hit one that’s not a great hang time but it’ll go far enough. I’m focusing on my drop and looking at the ball, which sounds basic, but it’s the same thing with kicking. If I’m not looking at the ball I’m not gonna hit it well. I’ve been working on hitting it downfield instead of just straight up.”

On his decision to return for his final year of eligibility, Potter sought advice from previous punter Will Spiers, who exhausted his eligibility after the 2021 season.

“I guess it was over Thanksgiving, me and Will Spiers were talking, and I asked him if he had any regrets about coming back and he said he didn’t,” Potter said. “I think it just kind of hit me that the real world is out there, and there’s only so many years I can play college football and I can’t complain one bit about where I’m at.”

Potter is currently working toward his master’s degree in athletic leadership and will graduate again in December.

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

The Insider Report – Reactions to Bates’ and Caldwells departures

Each week The Clemson Insider brings you the latest Inside information on the Clemson Tigers in The Insider Report. How are recruits reacting to coach Bates departure? What does one Clemson OL signee think of Caldwell’s departure as offensive line …

Each week The Clemson Insider brings you the latest Inside information on the Clemson Tigers in The Insider Report.

How are recruits reacting to coach Bates departure? What does one Clemson OL signee think of Caldwell’s departure as offensive line coach? The latest on a couple of linebackers on the Tigers radar?  Exciting NIL news for TCI.   All of this and more in this week’s edition of The Insider Report (FREE).

If you are not already a Clemson Insider register today for Free and enjoy all of the Insider information on TheClemsonInsider.com.

Picture courtesy Clemson Athletics.

Christmas is right around the corner.  Once again Clemson Variety & Frame is ready to make it a special holiday for your favorite Tiger.

Order today to make sure your gift arrives in time for Christmas.

Myles Murphy signs NIL deal with The Clemson Insider

The Clemson Insider is excited to announce another name, image and likeness endorsement deal. Clemson football defensive end Myles Murphy has signed an advertising agreement with TCI. “I am happy to have Myles signed as our second NIL deal. He is a …

The Clemson Insider is excited to announce another name, image and likeness endorsement deal.

Clemson football defensive end Myles Murphy has signed an advertising agreement with TCI.

“I am happy to have Myles signed as our second NIL deal. He is a great representative of Clemson University and comes from a great family.  I look forward to having Myles help us promote The Clemson Insider,” said Robert MacRae.

Earlier in July TCI announced that B.T. Potter has signed an NIL deal.

“I couldn’t think of two better people to help us promote what we do at TCI,” MacRae said. “We aren’t done yet.  I look forward to announcing more advertising agreements in the future.”

A former top-five national recruit, Murphy made an instant impact for the Tigers in 2020, earning Freshman All-America honors from several outlets. The Marietta, Ga., native enters the 2021 season credited with 51 tackles (12.0 for loss), 4.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and a pass breakup over 12 games (six starts).

Murphy was named ACC Co-Newcomer of the Year by the AP and a third-team All-ACC pick by PFF last season when he became the first Clemson true freshman in the Dabo Swinney era to record three forced fumbles in a season as well as the first Clemson freshman (true or redshirt) with three forced fumbles in a season since redshirt freshman Ed McDaniel in 1988.

Along with fellow true freshmen Bryan Bresee and Trenton Simpson, Murphy’s four sacks in 2020 tied William Perry (4.0 in 1981), Ricky Sapp (4.0 in 2006) and Shaq Lawson (4.0 in 2013) for third-most sacks by a Clemson true freshman all-time.

On Tuesday, Murphy was named to the Preseason All-ACC Football team.

B.T. Potter signs NIL deal with The Clemson Insider

The Clemson Insider is excited to announce our first name, image and likeness endorsement deal. Clemson football senior kicker B.T. Potter has signed an advertising agreement with TCI. “I am happy to have B.T. signed as our first NIL deal. He comes …

The Clemson Insider is excited to announce our first name, image and likeness endorsement deal.

Clemson football senior kicker B.T. Potter has signed an advertising agreement with TCI.

“I am happy to have B.T. signed as our first NIL deal. He comes from a great family and has been a great representative of Clemson University,  I look forward to having B.T. help us promote The Clemson Insider,” said Robert MacRae.

The NCAA formally changed its policy to allow student-athletes to receive compensation in exchange for the use of their name, image and likeness on July 1.

“The world of college athletics changed on July 1,” MacRae said. “As soon as it became clear that players at Clemson would be able to be paid for the use of their name, image and likeness I began to investigate opportunities to promote TCI.  I look forward to announcing more advertising agreements in the near future.”

Potter has shown his gift of a big leg on kickoffs and scoring attempts. The senior enters the 2021 season with a 32-of-45 career mark on field goals and a 147-of-148 mark on PATs in 42 career games (27 starts). The Rock Hill, S.C., native also enters this season averaging 63.5 yards on 299 kickoffs with 231 touchbacks since 2018.

Potter opened his career converting his first 122 consecutive PATs, a school record, and holds the CFP National Championship Game record for longest field goal, which he converted on a 52-yarder against LSU. The kick was one of his Clemson record tying five field goals of 50 yards or more heading into the 2021 campaign.

In 2020, Potter earned an All-ACC Academic Team selection and was named a finalist for the Lou Groza Award for the nation’s top kicker. He made 18-of-23 field-goal attempts and 61-of-62 PATs in 12 games. And Potter was the only player in the nation with 15-plus field goals and 70-plus touchbacks.

Potter was also a highly touted recruit after a stellar career at South Pointe High School, S.C. As a Stallion he converted on 31-of-45 field goal attempts and made 211 PATs. His success earned him a top 10 ranking at his position by most recruiting services including a No. 1 kicker ranking by Chris Sailer.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!