Clemson ‘loves what they see’ from CB signee Oliver

Clemson’s new cornerback signee is exactly what the Tigers needed, just ask Dabo Swinney, Douglas County High School (Villa Rica, Ga.) 2022 three-star CB Myles Oliver saw his recruitment directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently, …

Clemson’s new cornerback signee is exactly what the Tigers needed, just ask Dabo Swinney,

Douglas County High School (Villa Rica, Ga.) 2022 three-star CB Myles Oliver saw his recruitment directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently, the NCAA transfer portal. Still, Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed was able to identify a need. 

As The Clemson Insider previously mentioned, Reed has a longstanding relationship with Oliver’s head coach at Douglas County, Johnny T. White.

He was put on to Oliver’s impressive senior year film and immediately was struck, wondering why this was the first he was hearing or seeing about this kid. 

The rest is history.

“We needed another guy at corner and I think Mike did an awesome job, just identifying and evaluating,” Clemson’s head coach said Wednesday in his National Signing Day press conference. “Sure enough, everybody kind of came in there, but he’s gonna be a good one for us.”

Oliver earned a 6A all-state selection in Georgia following a senior season, in which he recorded 75 tackles with five interceptions. He finished the 2021 season with 552 all-purpose yards — including 101 via interceptions returns — and four total touchdowns. 

He also didn’t become a defensive back overnight. He’s a converted quarterback, who made the switch prior to his junior campaign. Oliver primarily played the safety position in 2020, so it wasn’t until this past season that he saw a significant chunk of time at cornerback.

And while he still might be a little raw, he made a pretty seamless transition.

“I’m really excited about Myles Oliver, out of Douglas County High School in Georgia,” Reed said, via Oliver’s official Clemson bio. “Very instinctive, always around the ball…Hasn’t played the position that long, so he still has some development, but I love what I see out of him. He’s a Great young man that comes from a great family, a good program. 

He comes from a family that’s had a lot of great football players. Oliver has two first cousins — Brandon, who played wide receiver at Georgia Tech, and Braelen, who is a starting linebacker at the University of Minnesota. Also, his older brother, Malik, played at Jacksonville State.

Myles is also cousins with New York Jets starting cornerback, Michael Carter II. Carter is also from Douglasville, as he played his high school ball at South Paulding before heading off to an illustrious career at Duke.

“I love the fact that he can play corner or safety,” Reed added. “Can’t wait ‘til he gets here. He’s gonna provide an immediate impact for us and the Clemson family will come to love Myles Oliver.”

Perhaps the most notable part of his game is his speed.

Myles is also a track athlete. He finished in the top six in the state in both the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. His ability to fly up and down the field has earned him a pretty interesting comparison from Swinney. 

While Swinney hates to compare two players to one another, it’s how a head coach’s mind operates and if you’ve been doing it for as long as he has, it can be how you evaluate certain players, like Myles.

“He can fly,” Swinney said. “(Wednesday) morning I was kind of comparing him to a Coty Sensabaugh. He’s a little thicker. Coty was very frail when he got here. This kid’s put together more than Coty, but he’s got a similar body. I think he’s got a similar upside. And he is fast and an awesome, awesome kid.”

“It feels really good to be signing with Clemson,” Myles told TCI Tuesday night. “It marks the start of a new chapter in my life. Committing took some weight off my shoulders and signing just ties it all together.”

Former Clemson, NFL player: No question who Tigers’ No. 1 RB should be

A former Clemson and NFL player recently discussed Clemson’s running back situation and says there’s no doubt in his mind who the No. 1 back should be, even when freshman Will Shipley returns to action from the leg injury that currently has him …

A former Clemson and NFL player recently discussed Clemson’s running back situation and says there’s no doubt in his mind who the No. 1 back should be, even when freshman Will Shipley returns to action from the leg injury that currently has him sidelined.

Coty Sensabaugh – a standout cornerback at Clemson from 2007-11 who went on to play with several different teams in the NFL from 2012-19 – said during the “One-on-Ones” show with former Louisville and NFL wide receiver Harry Douglas that he believes sophomore Kobe Pace should be the lead back for the Tigers moving forward.

Against Boston College last Saturday, Pace recorded a career-high 125 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown. It marked Clemson’s first 100-yard rushing performance of the season, and his 59-yard touchdown run marked the longest play of Pace’s career and Clemson’s longest play from scrimmage of the season.

“I don’t think there’s any question, whether Will Shipley’s playing or not, who should be the No. 1 guy,” Sensabaugh said. “And that’s not a knock on Will Shipley, but I think you’ve got to keep Pace as the lead dog. I think he had a rush for 59 yards, and if I’m not mistaken, that was the longest play on offense Clemson’s had all year, which is crazy.”

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Former Tiger still believes Clemson ‘is in great hands’ with Uiagalelei

A former Clemson and NFL player still believes the future of the Tigers’ offense and football program is bright with D.J. Uiagalelei at the helm, despite his struggles to this point in the season. What the sophomore quarterback did following …

A former Clemson and NFL player still believes the future of the Tigers’ offense and football program is bright with D.J. Uiagalelei at the helm, despite his struggles to this point in the season.

What the sophomore quarterback did following Clemson’s 19-13 win over Boston College last Saturday — returning to an empty Death Valley to put in some extra work — spoke volumes about Uiagalelei to former Clemson and NFL cornerback Coty Sensabaugh.

“What I heard about Big Cinco and him staying on the field, getting those extra reps in, that tells you everything you need to know about that young man — and that Clemson’s offense and their program is in great hands,” Sensabaugh said during the “One-on-Ones” show with former Louisville and NFL wide receiver Harry Douglas.

While Uiagalelei’s stats against Boston College don’t jump off the page — he went 13-of-28 passing for 207 yards — Sensabaugh noted that his receivers didn’t help him out on several occasions in the contest.

“Big Cinco, I got to give him credit,” Sensabaugh said. “He missed some throws, but he made a lot of throws that was right in the receivers’ hands, and as a receiver you know those were more than catchable balls. He hit some of them in the numbers and he hit some of them on the face mask.”

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Former Clemson, NFL player: Xavier Thomas is ‘shutting ’em up’

A former Clemson star gave a shoutout to senior defensive end Xavier Thomas for the excellent season he is having this year. Coty Sensabaugh – a standout cornerback at Clemson from 2007-11 who went on to play with several different teams in the NFL …

A former Clemson star gave a shoutout to senior defensive end Xavier Thomas for the excellent season he is having this year.

Coty Sensabaugh – a standout cornerback at Clemson from 2007-11 who went on to play with several different teams in the NFL from 2012-19 – talked about Thomas during the “One-on-Ones” show with former Louisville and NFL wide receiver Harry Douglas.

Sensabaugh believes Thomas has made himself a lot of money this year while quieting his doubters and proving to everyone what kind of player he has the potential to be in the NFL.

“I got to give it up to my man Xavier Thomas,” Sensabaugh said. “He came in as a highly recruited cat out of high school, had a hell of a freshman year, had some ups and downs in between, and now this year he’s playing at his peak level and he’s making himself a lot of money. And he’s showing everybody – he’s not only shutting ‘em up because it was a lot of negative talk about him, but that’s a whole ‘nother thing – he’s showing everybody at the next level what he’s capable of and why he needs an opportunity come next year on Sundays.”

This season, Thomas has looked more like the all-ACC performer he was earlier in his career.

In last Saturday’s game vs. Boston College, Thomas finished with three tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack to add to many of his team-leading totals in those departments. His 3.5 sacks and eight quarterback pressures are tops on the team, and only fellow defensive end Myles Murphy has more tackles for loss than Thomas (4.5) through the first five games.

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Former Tiger goes in-depth on why Clemson’s offense is ‘so frustrating’

A former Clemson and NFL player went in-depth on the issues he sees with the Tigers offensively, from quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei to the offensive line and running game to the wide receivers and coaching. Coty Sensabaugh – a standout cornerback at …

A former Clemson and NFL player went in-depth on the issues he sees with the Tigers offensively, from quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei to the offensive line and running game to the wide receivers and coaching.

Coty Sensabaugh – a standout cornerback at Clemson from 2007-11 who went on to play with several different teams in the NFL from 2012-19 – discussed the Tigers’ offensive struggles in length during the “One-on-Ones” podcast with former Louisville and NFL wide receiver Harry Douglas.

“I’m not putting the blame on anybody specifically, I’m putting it on everybody as a whole because they’re a unit — whether it’s the offensive line, QB, running backs, receivers, coaching — they have no identity,” Sensabaugh said. “From the O-line, what I would like to see… They’re young, but I think the coaches need to give them a better opportunity to be successful by getting the ball out quicker. In the run game, everything not going sideways. Sometimes you’ve got to run straight at people and punch them in the mouth. The quarterback, I think he has everything it takes to be successful, but I need to see his anticipation quicker. It’s like he’s getting the ball, he’s looking at the receiver, OK he’s open, now I’m going to throw it. It’s too late. It needs to be more anticipation. … I just want to see a little bit better anticipation from him and the receivers. I need to see more separation. Clemson went and recruited the same guy (at receiver) all across the board. All of them are big basketball guys that are straight-line guys that outrebound people. They need a mix up in the intermediate game, and until we find that, I think we’re going to struggle on offense.”

Sensabaugh explained another specific thing that frustrates him when he watches the Tigers on offense.

“I was at Clemson back in 2011 when (offensive coordinator) Chad Morris brought this same offense into the program,” Sensabaugh said. “And I know this, way back then — as great as the offense was with the playmakers that we had and still to this day, that offense is built on hitting a home run, whether it’s in the air or on the ground. The offense that Clemson runs is so frustrating to me because it’s built on scoring in two to six plays. If it can’t score in two to six plays — if it’s a seven-plus, eight-plus, nine-plus drive, it struggles because it’s not built for that. It’s built on the home run, and as we can see as fans right now, the home run isn’t there whether it’s play-calling, execution.”

Uiagalelei and the Tigers have thrown for just one touchdown this season (against FCS team South Carolina State) while Clemson (2-1, 1-0 ACC) has mustered only 17 total points in the two games against Georgia and Georgia Tech.

The Bulldogs limited the Tigers to 180 total yards and three points on a field goal while racking up seven sacks, while Clemson was held to 207 total yards through three quarters against the Yellow Jackets and scored the only two touchdowns of the game on a pair of 3-yard rushing scores by freshman running back Will Shipley.

“Georgia laid out the blueprint on how to stop Clemson, then Georgia Tech just piggybacked off of that,” Sensabaugh said. “If you don’t give up the home run against Clemson, it’s going to be hard for them to score. So, I think they have to find a better intermediate passing game at just moving the chains and not looking for the home run. It’s OK to not rush to the line and get a play off every 20 seconds. Slow it down and focus on execution more. More quality, less quantity.”

While Clemson’s offense has sputtered through the first three games, the defense has shut down opponents and not allowed a touchdown thus far.

But as good as the Tigers have been on that side of the ball, Sensabaugh thinks the offensive woes will eventually catch up to the team if the offense doesn’t step up its level of play moving forward.

“It’s just tough, man, because they have all the talent in the world,” he said. “But from the time they brought in that offense in 2011 — whether it was Chad Morris, Jeff Scott and Tony Elliott, to now Tony Elliott — it’s still based on the same principles, and it needs some retooling because it’s not working. And it would be a shame for as great as this defense is, this team doesn’t reach their capabilities because the offense isn’t adequate. Right now, it’s not even adequate. … Give me something to work with because if you can’t move the chains consistently as an offense, it’s only going to wear your defense down, and it’s only a matter of time before that time on the field catches up with that defense, even if you are getting three-and-outs.”

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Georgia’s Eric Stokes receives NFL player comparison

Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Eric Stokes was a tough to throw on at the college level. Stokes is projected as an early 2021 NFL draft pick

Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Eric Stokes was a challenge to throw on at the college level. Stokes, who ran an impressive 40-yard dash, is very athletic and has several seasons of starting experience.

In a recent NFL mock draft, Stokes goes No. 61 (second round) to the Buffalo Bills. Stokes has been compared to former Tennessee Titans defensive back Coty Sensabaugh ahead of the 2021 NFL draft.

Here’s how NFL.com evaluates Stokes’ strengths and weaknesses ahead of the 2021 NFL draft:

Depending upon scheme, need or preference, Stokes offers teams the potential to play him outside or from the slot. Speed and quickness should allow him to stay with route runners or within close-out distance when he gets behind. Stokes played with better press technique in 2020 and he’s willing to get physical near the goal line, but his play strength is below average. While there have been mild flashes of playmaking potential, he’s more likely to play the receiver rather than attacking the football and looking for takeaways. He’s twitchy in tight quarters with the potential to become more disruptive in zone. His size, speed and athleticism could make him a Day 2 pick as a future CB3, but his weakness as a run defender will be challenged quickly by NFL offenses.

Eric Stokes has what it takes to play outside defensive back in the NFL. Stokes dominated on the outside at Georgia and seldom allowed a catch that wasn’t heavily contested. He did not play the slot much after his freshman season. Stokes played well against top flight competition and has NFL-level speed and quickness.

Stokes played in 37 career college football games and recorded 78 total tackles, so, yes, he could be more aggressive as a tackler. The NFL is a passing league and being able to cover receivers closely is far more important than tackling in the run game for cornerbacks.

The former Georgia star has been compared to Sensabaugh. Who is  Sensabaugh?

The Tennessee Titans drafted Sensabaugh, a former Clemson Tiger, with a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Sensabaugh played in the NFL from 2012-2019, but was only a regular starter for two seasons.

Sensabaugh was athletic, but he did not have the elite production of Stokes in college. At Georgia, Stokes was named an All-American by CBS Sports and 247Sports for his efforts in the 2020 season. Stokes intercepted four passes as a junior.

Sensabaugh intercepted three passes in his entire NFL career. Overall, this comparison may not be the best. Regardless of his comparison, Stokes will likely be drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.

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Oct. 28, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Coty Sensabaugh (24) in action during the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field. Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia’s Eric Stokes receives NFL player comparison

Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Eric Stokes was a tough to throw on at the college level. Stokes is projected as an early 2021 NFL draft pick

Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Eric Stokes was a challenge to throw on at the college level. Stokes, who ran an impressive 40-yard dash, is very athletic and has several seasons of starting experience.

In a recent NFL mock draft, Stokes goes No. 61 (second round) to the Buffalo Bills. Stokes has been compared to former Tennessee Titans defensive back Coty Sensabaugh ahead of the 2021 NFL draft.

Here’s how NFL.com evaluates Stokes’ strengths and weaknesses ahead of the 2021 NFL draft:

Depending upon scheme, need or preference, Stokes offers teams the potential to play him outside or from the slot. Speed and quickness should allow him to stay with route runners or within close-out distance when he gets behind. Stokes played with better press technique in 2020 and he’s willing to get physical near the goal line, but his play strength is below average. While there have been mild flashes of playmaking potential, he’s more likely to play the receiver rather than attacking the football and looking for takeaways. He’s twitchy in tight quarters with the potential to become more disruptive in zone. His size, speed and athleticism could make him a Day 2 pick as a future CB3, but his weakness as a run defender will be challenged quickly by NFL offenses.

Eric Stokes has what it takes to play outside defensive back in the NFL. Stokes dominated on the outside at Georgia and seldom allowed a catch that wasn’t heavily contested. He did not play the slot much after his freshman season. Stokes played well against top flight competition and has NFL-level speed and quickness.

Stokes played in 37 career college football games and recorded 78 total tackles, so, yes, he could be more aggressive as a tackler. The NFL is a passing league and being able to cover receivers closely is far more important than tackling in the run game for cornerbacks.

The former Georgia star has been compared to Sensabaugh. Who is  Sensabaugh?

The Tennessee Titans drafted Sensabaugh, a former Clemson Tiger, with a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Sensabaugh played in the NFL from 2012-2019, but was only a regular starter for two seasons.

Sensabaugh was athletic, but he did not have the elite production of Stokes in college. At Georgia, Stokes was named an All-American by CBS Sports and 247Sports for his efforts in the 2020 season. Stokes intercepted four passes as a junior.

Sensabaugh intercepted three passes in his entire NFL career. Overall, this comparison may not be the best. Regardless of his comparison, Stokes will likely be drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.

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Oct. 28, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Coty Sensabaugh (24) in action during the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field. Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Broncos make 2 roster moves

The Broncos claimed former Patriots and Ravens cornerback/returner Cyrus Jones off waivers.

The Denver Broncos have waived cornerback Coty Sensabaugh to make room for newly acquired defensive back/returner Cyrus Jones, ESPN’s Field Yates first reported Wednesday afternoon. The news has since been confirmed by multiple media outlets.

Denver announced the move on Wednesday evening.

Sensabaugh (5-11, 187 pounds) joined the team in October and dressed for the last four games, totaling two tackles. He is 30 years old.

Jones (5-10, 200 pounds) was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft out of Alabama. He has spent time bouncing back and forth between the rosters of the Patriots and Baltimore Ravens since then, appearing mostly on special teams.

Jones has returned 12 punts for 113 yards this year, averaging 9.4 yards per return. Denver cutting a cornerback to make room for Jones likely means that Diontae Spencer‘s job is safe, at least for now. Spencer has averaged 8.2 yards per punt return this season and has caught five passes for 31 yards and rushed twice for 14 yards.

Jones, 25, is the second ex-Patriots cornerback the Broncos have acquired this season. Denver traded a sixth-round pick to New England in exchange for nickelback Duke Dawson in August.

Jones was waived by Baltimore earlier this week to make room for nose tackle Domata Peko, who played for the Broncos from 2017-2018.

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