Tag: Clemson fall camp

Dabo Swinney updates Clemson fall camp injuries

Here’s the latest on Clemson fall camp injury updates from Dabo Swinney.

Clemson held its first scrimmage of fall camp Saturday, giving Dabo Swinney a fresh look at his team in a live setting at Memorial Stadium.

Swinney had lots to say after Saturday’s scrimmage, including praise for his offensive line and quarterback Cade Klubnik among others.

The Tigers’ coach, now in his 17th season, also offered an update on the team’s injury situation.

“Got a couple guys got banged up,” Swinney said following the scrimmage. “We just have to see what the trainers say, with the extent of a couple guys that got taken out of the scrimmage for whatever reason it was. Don’t want to speculate on any of that.”

One of the players Swinney mentioned was cornerback Shelton Lewis, who sustained an unspecified injury Saturday.

“He’s out right now, but we should get him back here pretty soon. He’ll be day to day,” Swinney confirmed after the scrimmage,

Swinney added that freshman defensive tackle Vic Burley was also “day to day.”

“He had a good day (Friday), wasn’t quite ready to scrimmage (Saturday), but he’s working his way back in there,” Swinney said.

Also on the defensive line, freshman Stephiylan Green and junior Cade Denhoff are likewise dealing with unspecified injuries. 247Sports’ Austin Hannon noted that both Green and Denhoff were new additions to the team’s green non-contact jerseys at Saturday’s scrimmage.

“Denhoff’s fine. Stephiylan, same thing. Just not quite ready yet and working his way back, day to day,” Swinney said.

At receiver, Swinney said that tight end Jake Briningstool had been “limited.” “We kind of limited Brinny this week,” Swinney said. “Working him back in. He should be ready to go Monday.”

Sophomore Cole Turner, who was injured in the Tigers’ Week 3 victory over Florida Atlantic last season and missed the remainder of the season, was also a limited participant at Saturday’s scrimmage.

Swinney said he was impressed with Turner’s showing in fall camp.

“He’s another guy who had a good first three days and then he got a little banged up. We just got him back (Saturday). We kind of limited him. Just being smart with him,” Swinney said.

“He’s into his third year as a redshirt sophomore. Technically he could be a redshirt freshman because he could get the year back from last year if he wanted to, but he brings a lot. He’s a really fast dude, plays with a lot of confidence and good ball skills. So, it’s a deep group (at receiver). We’ve got a lot of options at that position.”

Clemson returns to the practice field Monday.

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Everything Dabo Swinney said after first scrimmage of Clemson fall camp

Here’s everything Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said following his team’s first scrimmage of fall camp Saturday.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney met with reporters at the conclusion of the first full scrimmage of fall camp at Memorial Stadium Saturday.

“This is our first preseason game, if you will,” Swinney said as part of his opening remarks. “We get two, basically, today and then we’ll go again next Thursday as a true preseason game, like, ‘Let’s go play football.’ We didn’t get into pads until Wednesday. We had a little bit of live, but this was the first day where it’s all live so there was some good and there was some bad like there always is. It’s never as good as you think it is and never as bad as you think it is.

“But a lot of things to be encouraged by (with) some individual guys, but still a long way to go. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ve got three weeks until we play (Georgia)… Not anywhere where we need to be, but this is just the next step for us in our preparation process,” Swinney added.

Swinney offered particular praise for his team’s offensive line play as well as for quarterback Cade Klubnik.

“If I had to just say who won the day, I’d say the OL won the day,” Swinney said. “I’m really pleased with how they’ve performed to this point, and I was anxious just to see them go today. I thought they came right out and opening drive, touchdown drive. I thought Cade had an outstanding day. He’s had a really good camp and he did some really good things today, as well.”

Here’s everything the Tigers’ coach had to say after Saturday’s scrimmage.

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Everything Dabo Swinney said Thursday before start of fall camp

Here’s everything the Tigers’ coach had to say Thursday before the start of fall camp.

With just 30 days until Clemson opens the 2024 season against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (noon ET, ABC), Tigers coach Dabo Swinney met with the media at the Allen Reeves Football Complex Thursday before the official start of fall camp.

“We’re ready to roll,” Swinney said in his opening statement to reporters. “Excited to get back on the grass, man. It never gets old. Like I said a week or so ago, everything builds to this. This is what we love to do: to be able to get back into the meetings, get back onto the field and just start putting it together and getting ready to go compete against some other people.

“So, it’s a lot of fun. We’ve had a good couple of weeks as far as staff-wise getting ready in our meetings and prep, and last couple of days with players, trying to get them acclimated from a program standpoint, as well. Now we can get out there and get on with it and get to work on the football side of it. So, ready to roll.”

Here’s everything Swinney had to say Thursday.

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Swinney dishes on Will Taylor’s decision to commit to baseball

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said that Will Taylor’s decision to commit to baseball full-time was “definitely the right choice.”

If his former coach’s comments are any indication, there is no ill will toward Will Taylor leaving the Clemson football program.

After two years of being a dual-sport athlete, Taylor announced on July 12 that he was leaving the football team to pursue his passion for baseball full-time.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said the decision to focus on baseball “was definitely the right choice” for Taylor.

“I think we all knew that long term, that was going to be his future,” Swinney said. “Will wants to be a first-round draft pick, and he really felt like this is what he needed to concentrate on this fall. I love that kid, and hopefully, he’ll just come over here and sit around and hang out with us some because he’s just one of those guys you love being around.

“He wouldn’t give anything for the experience he’s gotten; this is what he wanted. He wanted the college experience, and not many guys have the ability to play one sport, much less two. And (he got) to be a champion in both sports.”

Taylor came to Clemson in 2021 and immediately earned playing time as a punt returner before a torn ACL derailed his freshman season. He finished his career as a wide receiver with seven receptions for 22 yards and one touchdown. He also returned 16 punts in his career for an average of 5.63 yards per return.

“Obviously, it didn’t go quite according to script — it rarely does —but he got off to a really good start and was really kind of on his way,” Swinney said.

As Swinney mentioned, Taylor won an ACC championship in two different sports this past academic year, the first Clemson athlete to do so since 1991-92.

While Taylor didn’t find his footing on the football field, he shined on the diamond this past spring, hitting .362 with 67 runs, 16 doubles, two triples and five homers in 62 games (60 starts). He was also fourth in the ACC in on-base percentage at .489.

With Taylor’s commitment to baseball, Clemson’s wide receiver room consists of Beaux Collins, Adam Randall, Antonio Williams and Cole Turner, among others.

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