Tag: Dacari Collins

What to watch for in Clemson’s bowl game

ORLANDO, Fla. – The final day of the 2021 season is here for Clemson and Iowa State, which will square off in the Cheez-It Bowl at 5:45 p.m. inside Camping World Stadium. Clemson (9-3) is vying for its 11th straight double-digit win season while …

ORLANDO, Fla. – The final day of the 2021 season is here for Clemson and Iowa State, which will square off in the Cheez-It Bowl at 5:45 p.m. inside Camping World Stadium.

Clemson (9-3) is vying for its 11th straight double-digit win season while Iowa State (7-5) will try for its second straight bowl win in the teams’ first-ever meeting. Both teams head into this one having undergone some alterations since the last time they played a game.

Here are five things to watch for once it’s kicked off:

Coordinator debuts

Technically, Brandon Streeter has called plays before. He did so at the FCS level with Liberty and Richmond and also on an interim basis during the Tigers’ College Football Playoff semifinal against Ohio State last season.

But this will be the first time for Streeter and Wesley Goodwin to coordinate their respective groups since their promotions to their new titles following the departures of Brent Venables and Tony Elliott. What that might look like?

Streeter, Clemson’s quarterbacks coach for the last seven seasons, said he generally likes to be aggressive with his offensive play calling. Part of that, at least according to running back Will Shipley, is pushing the tempo.

As for Goodwin — Venables’ lesser-known right-hand man as Clemson’s senior defensive assistant — he also isn’t the type to sit back and let the opponent dictate things. As Goodwin put it, “I want to take the fight to the offense.”

Don’t expect Clemson to make any drastic changes to what it’s been doing on both sides of the ball under a couple of coaches who are well-versed with the systems already in place, but it’ll take more than one game for Streeter and Goodwin to add all of their flavor to it.

Still, today should provide a taste as to what that might be.

Clemson’s defense vs. Iowa State’s other RBs

Though Clemson has been one of the ACC’s top run defenses all season, it looked as if the Tigers might get tested this week by arguably the best running back they’ve seen all year.

But that won’t happen.

Iowa State’s star running back, Breece Hall, led the Big 12 in rushing during the regular season (1,464 yards). His 122 rushing yards per game rank sixth nationally while his 20 rushing touchdowns are tied for third. Only Syracuse’s Sean Tucker averaged more yards per game among the running backs Clemson has faced this season.

But Hall has opted out of the bowl game, leaving the Cyclones not only without one of the nation’s top rushers but also much more green in the backfield. Sophomore Jirehl Brock, the projected starter in Hall’s absence, has rushed for just 132 yards and one score. He’s combined with freshman Deon Silas for just 34 carries this season.

Iowa State’s leading available rusher? Quarterback Brock Purdy, who’s rushed for 224 yards.

Purdy is capable of being dangerous with his arm as the Big 12’s leading passer, but if he can’t get help from an effective running game sans Hall, will it matter?

Clemson’s offense vs. a stout Iowa State defense

Clemson isn’t the only team bringing a quality defense into this one.

Iowa State ranks in the top 21 nationally in points and yards allowed, which figures to be a stiff test for the Tigers’ up-and-down offense that’s still missing some key personnel. Clemson was better on that side of the ball over the last six games of the regular season behind a much-improved rushing attack, which included a 265-yard effort the last time out against South Carolina.

Of course, Clemson would increase its chance of being effective against the Cyclones if it can keep them honest through the air. Can D.J. Uiagalelei do that consistently?

It hasn’t happened often this season for the Tigers’ quarterback, who’s had his good moments but went just 9 of 19 for 99 yards with a pick in the regular-season finale against Carolina. And he’s still dealing with that sprained right knee.

If nothing else, Uiagalelei could use a high-note ending to take some confidence into the offseason.

Which receivers are available?

Speaking of offensive personnel, breaks continue to be hard to come by for Clemson out wide.

Swinney said a couple of weeks ago that star wideout Justyn Ross (foot surgery) was officially out for the bowl. Clemson got some good news when E.J. Williams (leg) returned to practice earlier this month after missing the last two games of the regular season, but Williams will miss the bowl because of COVID-19 protocols. Frank Ladson, whose season ended prematurely with a groin injury, has entered the transfer portal.

But Clemson may be getting its second-leading receiver, Joseph Ngata, back for today’s game. A foot injury sidelined Ngata late in the regular season, but he’s been practicing this week with no visible limitations. Freshmen Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins figure to keep getting plenty of reps regardless whether Ngata plays or not given the lack of depth at receiver. If Ngata doesn’t end up giving it a go, expect to see more of Will Swinney, too.

Next up at linebacker?

The Tigers were always going to have a couple of new opportunities at the second level of the defense next season with their veteran linebackers on the way out, but one of those opportunities is coming earlier than expected.

James Skalski will play his final game in a Clemson uniform along fellow linebacker Trenton Simpson, but Baylon Spector’s collegiate career is over after recently undergoing hand surgery that will keep him out of the bowl game. That leaves a vacancy at the weak-side ‘backer spot, which is likely to be filled by LaVonta Bentley.

Bentley has already stepped into the starting lineup once for Spector this season when the latter was dealing with an early season knee injury, recording a team-high 13 tackles in Clemson’s September win over Georgia Tech. For Bentley, the bowl game could be another audition for the permanent job.

Keith McGuire and freshmen Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter are younger players who could also get some reps today.

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Taking inventory: Receiver

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 and tight end have already been assessed.

Next up is receiver.

A quick note first: This is where things currently stand with Clemson’s personnel at receiver. 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

Between D.J. Uiagalelei’s inconsistency, some drops and a wave of injuries, it was a season that was weaker than usual for the Tigers’ passing game and their receivers.

The year started on a high note for the group with Justyn Ross, Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson Jr. — arguably Clemson’s top three wideouts — at full strength. Or at least close to it. Ross returned from the spinal fusion surgery that cost him all of last season while Ngata and Ladson dealt with nagging injuries that limited them a season ago.

But it didn’t last.

Ladson, who has since entered the transfer portal, sustained a season-ending groin injury in the first half of the season, leaving Ross and Ngata to carry the unit. While it wasn’t as productive as he’s used to, Ross had a solid return to the field given the circumstances. He still leads the Tigers in receptions and receiving yards and is tied for the team lead with three touchdown catches despite missing the last two games and change with a fractured foot.

Ngata has been Clemson’s most consistent big-play threat in what’s proven to be his best season in a Tiger uniform so far. Ngata has 438 receiving yards – second only to Ross – on just 23 catches, a team-best average of 19 yards per reception. But the injury bug has again taken a bite out of Ngata, who missed the last three games of the regular season with a foot injury.

Ross won’t play in the bowl game, so his Clemson career is over. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was more optimistic about Ngata’s chances of returning to play against Iowa State in the Cheez-It Bowl, though it’s not a guarantee. Ngata is out of the protective boot he wore late in the regular season.

E.J. Williams, who’s missed four games this season with numerous injuries, is back practicing, Swinney said. But all of the injuries at the position have forced Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins into more game reps than expected this season, and the true freshmen have taken advantage of them.

Beaux, who could also play in the slot but has gotten most of his reps on the outside, is second on the team with 28 catches. He’s posted two 100-yard games in the last four, including a career-high 137-yard day against Wake Forest. Dacari has eight of his 10 catches in the last three games.

Will Taylor is another freshman that showed promise before sustaining a season-ending knee injury five games in. He’s a prime slot candidate next season and also returned punts, duties that another receiver, Will Brown, took over after Taylor’s injury. Fellow freshman Troy Stellato, who’s been dealing with a bruised heel, is in line for a redshirt even if he plays in the bowl game.

Meanwhile, Brannon Spector missed all of this season because of injuries and COVID-19 complications but still has eligibility left. The mix of old and new will be tasked with replacing Clemson’s share of attrition at the position, and there are currently no shortage of options.

Who’s leaving?

Ross, Ladson, Ajou Ajou (transfer), Will Swinney 

Who’s staying?

Ngata, Williams, Beaux Collins, Dacari Collins, Taylor, Stellato, Spector

Who’s joining?

Clemson inked two in-state receivers in its 2022 recruiting class during the early signing period. The headliner is Myrtle Beach High standout Adam Randall, a consensus four-star prospect ranked as the nation’s No. 119 prospect in the 247Sports Composite.

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Clemson’s freshmen flash potential, provide glimpse into future

Clemson won seven of its last eight games and five straight at the end of the regular season after a 2-2 start, a turnaround spearheaded by a defense that now ranks second nationally in points allowed and an offense that finally found some cohesion …

Clemson won seven of its last eight games and five straight at the end of the regular season after a 2-2 start, a turnaround spearheaded by a defense that now ranks second nationally in points allowed and an offense that finally found some cohesion in the second half of the season (36 points on average in the last five games).

Built into that success is the help the Tigers got from their freshmen.

Clemson signed the nation’s fifth-best recruiting class this year, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, and got a glimpse into the future by getting many of their first-year players on the field quickly. Some got more reps than others while some got more than expected.

The headliner, at least in terms of production, has been running back Will Shipley, who’s shown why he was a five-star recruit coming out of the North Carolina prep ranks. Equipped with some of the best speed and quickness on Clemson’s roster, Shipley started getting some first-team reps in fall camp. Once veteran Lyn-J Dixon left the program after the first three games, they became more frequent.

Shipley got his first career start the next week against North Carolina State and has started three more since. Despite missing three games with injuries, Shipley is still Clemson’s leading rusher with 678 yards and has a team-high 10 rushing touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder has turned it on late in the season with three 100-yard rushing games in his last four. His 128 yards in Clemson’s win over South Carolina last week, which included a 29-yard touchdown, tied his season-high.

He’s been joined in the backfield by fellow newcomer Phil Mafah, a different kind of back at 6-1 and 225 pounds. Mafah didn’t play in the first four games with Clemson initially planning on redshirting him, but when Michel Dukes’ midseason transfer thinned out the depth at the position even more, those plans changed.

Mafah provides a change of pace to Shipley and sophomore Kobe Pace, who has split first-team reps with Shipley for most of the season. Mafah debuted with 58 yards on just eight carries against Boston College on Oct. 2 and had a season-high 69 yards on nine carries against Florida State. He scored Clemson’s final touchdown against Carolina to give him three rushing touchdowns on the season.

But the backfield isn’t the only place that’s seen a bit of a youth movement this season.

Receiver was one of the deepest positions on the roster entering the season, but injuries have cut into the numbers, forcing Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins into more significant roles down the stretch. Without Frank Ladson Jr. (groin) for most of the season and Justyn Ross (foot), Joseph Ngata (foot) and E.J. Williams (leg) for the last couple of games at least, Beaux and Dacari have become first-year starters.

A versatile receiver capable of playing inside or out, Beaux has become one of D.J. Uiagalelei’s favorite targets since entering the starting lineup permanently four games ago. He caught a season-high six passes against Louisville in early November and came back two weeks later with a season-high 137 receiving yards against Wake Forest. He’s worked his way up to second on the team in receptions (28) and receiving yards (387).

At 6-4 and 215 pounds, Dacari is one of the bigger targets on the roster who’s used that size to his advantage on the outside. He’s caught just 10 passes this season but is averaging more than 16 yards on those receptions. Dacari produced Clemson’s most explosive play through the air against South Carolina last week when he hauled in a 37-yard pass on a double move.

Another big target, Jake Briningstool, has shown flashes of what made him one of the nation’s top tight end prospects coming out of high school this past year.

Junior Davis Allen has been the Tigers’ primary tight end for most of the season, but with a shoulder injury derailing Braden Galloway’s season earlier than expected, Briningstool has seen his playing time increase, particularly of late. The 6-6, 230-pounder had two catches for 56 yards against Connecticut last month, including an acrobatic 25-yard touchdown, and was often the second tight end when Clemson went with multiple tight-end sets against Carolina last week.

But none of Clemson’s newcomers have been utilized more heavily this season than Marcus Tate and Andrew Mukuba.

Mukuba enrolled early as a four-star signee and impressed enough to earn a start in his first career game against Georgia while veteran safety Nolan Turner was still nursing an injury. Mukuba hasn’t come out of the starting lineup much since then, logging 523 snaps in nine starts so far. He’s fifth on the team with 52 tackles and leads a defense that includes all-ACC caliber corners Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich with nine pass breakups.

Meanwhile, Tate has logged 555 snaps this season, more than any true freshman. He’s done it along the offensive line, a position notorious for being difficult to manage for first-year players. 

It hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for Tate, who won the starting job at left guard to start the season once Matt Bockhorst moved to center but has been in and out of the starting lineup since. With the Tigers’ offensive line getting healthier late in the season, Hunter Rayburn has started over Tate in each of the last two games, but there’s no substitute for experience. And Tate has gotten plenty of it this season.

Others have, too. Linebacker Barrett Carter (one start), defensive tackle Payton Page and cornerback Nate Wiggins are among those who’ve gotten their feet wet in preparation for what could be more expanded roles next season. Others have had to practice more patience. Offensive tackle Tristan Leigh was the highest-ranked recruit in the Tigers’ 2021 class, but senior Jordan McFadden and sophomore Walker Parkers have been some of the team’s most consistent performers at that position. Leigh has played in just two games as a result and is in line to redshirt.

But this season has given Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and his staff a good look at the group’s overall potential.

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WRU Members Drop a 7 at Williams-Brice Stadium

Clemson continued the win streak over South Carolina Saturday night dominating the Gamecocks 30-0. How many games in a row was it for the Tigers? Well Ajou Ajou, Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins have your answer. Not 1..2..3..4..5..6..but 7 …

Clemson continued the win streak over South Carolina Saturday night dominating the Gamecocks 30-0.

How many games in a row was it for the Tigers?  Well Ajou Ajou, Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins have your answer.

Dacari Collins makes his presence felt against South Carolina

Clemson doesn’t have many scholarship players available at the wide receiver position. In fact, the Tigers’ options are pretty limited as far as warm bodies go. Don’t tell that to Dacari Collins. The true freshman receiver out of Southwest Atlanta …

Clemson doesn’t have many scholarship players available at the wide receiver position. In fact, the Tigers’ options are pretty limited as far as warm bodies go.

Don’t tell that to Dacari Collins.

The true freshman receiver out of Southwest Atlanta continues to make the most of his opportunities, which have come at the expense of Clemson’s injury woes.

In Clemson’s 30-0 win over South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night, Collins totaled two receptions with 50 yards receiving. He also continues to excel as a run-blocker.

Collins’ biggest contribution came with the game already out of reach. With Clemson up 17-0, D.J. Uiaglelei rolled out to his right and threw a rope down the field. Collins tracked the ball like a center fielder and made an impressive leaping grab in between two South Carolina defenders.

Even though his catch didn’t impact the final score of Saturday’s contest, Collins was surely able to make his presence felt.

Although he was Clemson’s leading receiver Saturday, the team’s main source of offense came via the ground. The Tigers rushed for 265 yards on 43 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per carry and three rushing touchdowns.

“Dacari, you saw some big plays in the run game last week,” Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said postgame. “Very physical. Really, really proud of him because he was a guy, who came in mid-year and maybe didn’t have the start of the season that he wanted, but when we needed him, he was ready. He stepped up. We needed him here down the stretch.”

In reality, Collins could have very easily been a candidate to redshirt this season. However, he’s placed himself in a good position with his work ethic, even surpassing Ajou Ajou on Clemson’s depth chart.

“He’s made big plays both in the passing game and the run game,” Eliott added. “He’s gonna continue to get better, so this experience, here at the end of the season for him is gonna pay huge dividends for him going into next year, for the bowl game and for the future.”

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The good, the bad and the ugly from Clemson’s win over South Carolina

Clemson dominated South Carolina on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium to close out the regular season with its fifth straight win. Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from the Tigers’ 30-0 victory: The good Where to start? The first possession of …

Clemson dominated South Carolina on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium to close out the regular season with its fifth straight win. Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from the Tigers’ 30-0 victory:

The good

Where to start?

The first possession of the game seems like a good place. Clemson took the opening kickoff and wasted no time setting the tone with a seven-play, 73-yard scoring drive capped by Will Shipley’s 29-yard touchdown run, which yet again became a theme for the Tigers’ offense.

After Clemson racked up a season-high 333 rushing yards the previous week against Wake Forest, the Tigers, again shorthanded at receiver, pounded away at Carolina with 43 rushing attempts and all three of their touchdowns on the ground. An offensive line that started the same five for the second straight week got consistent push, the Tigers again utilized more multiple tight end sets to help block, and Shipley and Kobe Pace did the rest. Clemson ripped off 6.2 yards per carry, an average that actually dropped from a whopping 7.7 in the first half, which included Pace’s 34-yard touchdown early in the second quarter that gave Clemson a three-score lead.

That was plenty for a defense that, for the first time in more than three decades against its biggest rival, didn’t give up anything. Even without the services of starting defensive end Xavier Thomas (hamstring), Clemson suffocated Carolina from the jump, limiting the Gamecocks to 12 yards in the first quarter and three first downs in the first half. By the time it was over, Clemson held Carolina (206) to 158 fewer yards than the Tigers finished with (364) despite the teams running the same number of plays. Carolina’s yards per play? 3.3.

Cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. continued to improve his draft stock with a pair of interceptions, including one deep in Carolina territory late in the first quarter to set up a 29-yard field goal from B.T. Potter, who continued his perfect end to the regular season.

Potter connected on all three of his field-goal attempts to improve his success rate to 82.6% on the season. The senior has gone 11-for-11 since missing those three field goals against Florida State back on Oct. 30.

Throw in one last stop by Clemson’s backups near the goal line as time expired, and it all helped the Tigers notch their first shutout in the series since 1989 en route to their seventh straight win over the Gamecocks, matching their longest winning streak ever against their in-state rival.

The bad

Not that it really had to given the way it moved the ball on the ground, but Clemson’s offense rarely took advantage of that success through the air.

It was another up-and-down day for quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who sported a brace again to help support his sprained right knee. With E.J. Williams (leg) also out for the second straight week, he also threw to a skeleton receiver group again, though freshmen Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins had performed well of late in their new starting roles.

But Uiagalelei finished 9 of 19 for 99 yards and threw an interception on the Tigers’ second possession that accounted for Clemson’s lone turnover. There was also a strange call midway through the second quarter with Clemson trying to add to its 17-0 lead at the time.

The Tigers faced fourth-and-1 from Carolina’s 36-yard line, but instead of running it (again, Clemson averaged more than 7 yards a carry in the first two quarters), they tried to draw Carolina offsides and take advantage of a free play through the air. Except the Gamecocks didn’t jump into the neutral zone for a penalty, and Uiagalelei’s heave down the sideline intended for Beaux Collins fell incomplete.

Offensive coordinator Tony Elliott took the blame for that brief halt in the Tigers’ momentum, admitting he “probably outsmarted” himself on that fourth-down call. But Clemson got it back on Potter’s next field goal to cap the Tigers’ first possession of the third quarter and never relinquished it from that point.

The ugly

Clemson played one of its cleaner games of the regular season to end it with a shutout of its archrival on the road. The Tigers also got out of Williams-Brice without any other major injuries — and no visible incidents with Carolina fans afterward — so there’s really nothing to put in this category.

 

Clemson vs. South Carolina: Who has the edge?

Clemson (8-3) will try for its seventh straight win over South Carolina (6-5) when the rivalry series resumes Saturday in Columbia. Kickoff from Williams-Brice Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised on the SEC Network. Clemson’s …

Clemson (8-3) will try for its seventh straight win over South Carolina (6-5) when the rivalry series resumes Saturday in Columbia. Kickoff from Williams-Brice Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.

Clemson’s offense vs. South Carolina’s defense: The Tigers put it all together against Wake Forest last week to produce season-highs in points and yards. That despite the constant attrition Clemson has dealt with on that side of the ball.

Of late, it’s been out wide. Clemson will again be without its top two receivers, Justyn Ross and Joseph Ngata (in addition to Frank Ladson Jr.) on Saturday, but will that be it? E.J. Williams is still questionable after missing last week’s game with a leg injury unrelated to the knee injury he dealt with earlier in the season, though freshmen Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins have filled in admirably.

Meanwhile, Carolina has one of the nation’s top pass defenses, allowing just 186 yards a game through the air. That ranks 14th in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

The key for Clemson’s depleted passing game might be for D.J. Uiagalelei, who’s still dealing with that sprained right knee, to complete enough passes to simply keep the Gamecocks’ defense honest. Which is where the Tigers’ running game comes in.

The ground is where Clemson largely kept the ball against Wake Forest, racking up a season-high 333 rushing yards and more than 6 yards per carry. Kobe Pace and Will Shipley returned after being held out against Connecticut as a precaution and each surpassed 100 yards on the ground. Pace, with his career-high 191 yards, nearly got to 200.

Having a healthy offensive line with the return of guard Will Putnam certainly helped. Now the running game will try its hand against a Carolina defense that hasn’t been nearly as good at containing teams on the ground. The Gamecocks are yielding more than 171 rushing yards on average and gave up 164 alone to Auburn’s Tank Bigsby last week. Teams are ripping off more than 4.5 yards per tote against Carolina.

But Carolina, which has yet to allow more than 20 points at home, has been good at halting offenses’ momentum at times by taking the ball away. Nobody has forced more turnovers in the SEC than the Gamecocks (22). Clemson has turned it over multiple times in four of its last five games, and the Tigers are coming off a three-turnover day against Wake Forest, which matched their season-high. Advantage: Draw

Clemson’s defense vs. South Carolina’s offense: On the other side of the ball, the Tigers keep doing what they’ve been doing all season, holding even the best offenses they’ve gone up against to (basically) half of their season average in points.

Clemson held Wake Forest, then the No. 2 scoring offense in the country, to its lowest total of the season (27) and will take the nation’s eighth-best scoring defense (16.4 points allowed per game) into Williams-Brice. South Carolina, meanwhile, is barely averaging 23 points on offense, good for just 104th nationally.

The Gamecocks are on their third quarterback with Zeb Nolan and Luke Doty both injured. Jason Brown has stepped in behind center as a result, but, as expected, the bulk of Carolina’s offensive success during their 2-1 run over that stretch has come on the ground. With ZaQuandre White (6.9 yards per carry) giving the running game a lift, Carolina ran the ball 83 times for 433 yards in its last two wins over Florida and, most recently, Auburn. The lone loss during that stretch (to Missouri)? The Gamecocks threw it (30 times) nearly as much as they ran it (35), which isn’t what they want.

Problem is, Clemson’s defense has been one of the best all season at containing opposing running games. The Tigers are allowing less than 104 yards on average on the ground (14th nationally) and have been suffocating in that department the last two weeks in particular. UConn and Wake Forest combined to muster 15 net rushing yards against the Tigers, who racked up a season-high eight sacks against the Demon Deacons last week.

Carolina has some weapons in the passing game in Josh Vann (16.4 yards per reception) and tight end Jaheim Bell (15), but can Brown consistently make the throws against a Clemson defense in the top 50 nationally, too, in passing yards allowed? Odds are the Tigers are going to try to take away Carolina’s ground game and make him try. Advantage: Clemson

Special teams: B.T. Potter has been money ever since that hiccup of a day against Florida State late last month, connecting on all eight of his field-goal attempts since. Keeping that going would help if Clemson’s offense moves the ball into Carolina territory but bogs down before reaching the end zone.

Carolina’s kicker isn’t too shabby either. Parker White has made all but one of his 14 attempts this season, including a 54-yarder against Kentucky. The fifth-year senior ranks sixth in the FBS in field-goal percentage (92.9) and is just four points shy of becoming the Gamecocks’ all-time leading scorer.

Both punters (Carolina’s Kai Kroeger and Clemson’s Will Spiers) are averaging more than 42 yards per boot. Vann is averaging nearly 12 yards on punt returns for Carolina, though he’s only gotten six cracks at it. Advantage: Draw

Bottom line: Clemson’s offense is fresh off its most complete performance of the season, but will that same version show up Saturday night? The Tigers have scored more than 17 regulation points just once on the road, but it’s hard to see Carolina, with a third-string quarterback, scoring more than that on this Clemson defense.

Prediction: Clemson 27, Carolina 13

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The good, the bad and the ugly from Clemson’s win over Wake Forest

Clemson closed out a fifth straight unblemished home slate Saturday with a dominant performance against No. 10 Wake Forest at Memorial Stadium. Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from the Tigers’ 48-29 win: The good Where has that offense been …

Clemson closed out a fifth straight unblemished home slate Saturday with a dominant performance against No. 10 Wake Forest at Memorial Stadium. Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from the Tigers’ 48-29 win:

The good

Where has that offense been all season?

Whether it was driving the length of the field or turnovers that set them up with shorter ones, the Tigers took advantage of their opportunities in their best all-around performance of the season. Thanks in large part to the kind of red-zone execution Clemson coach Dabo Swinney called “incredible” afterward, Clemson started with a field goal and a touchdown on its first two possessions and got points on each of its final five, four of those being touchdowns. Will Spiers only punted once on a day in which the Tigers found the end zone six times en route to season-highs in points and yards (543).

Of course, the catalyst was a running game that also had its best performance of the season. With the Tigers back at full strength in the backfield, they racked up a whopping 333 yards on the ground and ripped off 6.2 yards per carry, doubling their average from an uninspiring showing against Connecticut the previous week. Kobe Pace, who had missed the previous six quarters, spearheaded it all with a career-high 191 yards and two scores on just 24 carries in his return. Will Shipley added 112 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 19 carries, giving Clemson multiple 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time since Travis Etienne, Lyn-J Dixon and Tavien Feaster all got there against Louisville in 2018.

And while the passing game didn’t have to do much with the way the Tigers ran the ball, Clemson produced some explosive plays through the air as D.J. Uiagelelei eventually settled in on a day in which the Tigers ran out a skeleton crew at receiver. Uiagalelei only attempted 19 passes but completed 11 of them, including five of his last six (his only miss during that stretch was an interception that bounced off the helmet of receiver Dacari Collins).

His final throw was a beauty of a deep ball to Beaux Collins, who made a one-handed grab before finishing off a 58-yard touchdown in the third quarter as part of a 137-yard day, a season-high for the freshman. Uiagalelei also turned in arguably his best play of the season when, despite still being braced up with that sprained right knee, he shed two would-be sacks before rolling out and eventually heaving a 52-yard bomb to Collins to set up Clemson’s first touchdown in the opening quarter.

Meanwhile, the defense did its thing against another potent offense that looked average at times against Clemson. Wake Forest, with its slow mesh point, came in as the second-highest scoring team in the FBS, but the Tigers attacked from the start and rarely relented their pressure. Clemson set the tone with four sacks of Sam Hartman in the first quarter and finished with seven, a season-high. Those contributed to holding the Demon Deacons to just 36 net rushing yards. Add that to the minus-21 UConn had, and those 15 net rushing yards are the fewest allowed by the Tigers in back-to-back games going back to 1954, according to the school.

Clemson also forced three turnovers, two of them deep in Wake Forest territory. And senior kicker B.T. Potter connected on both of his field-goal attempts, making him 8 for 8 since those three misses he had against Florida State late last month.

It all helped Clemson easily extend the nation’s longest active home winning streak to 34 games heading into next season.

The bad

Clemson could’ve hung half a hundred on the Demon Deacons if not for some of its own turnovers.

In addition to Uiagalalei’s lone interception, Pace fumbled in the first half while the Tigers were driving in Wake Forest territory. Clemson put it on the ground again inside the Demon Deacons’ 10 early in the third quarter when Wake defensive end Rondell Bothroyd got in the way of Uiagalelei’s pitch on an option play. The three turnovers tied a season-high for the Tigers, who’ve committed as many turnovers as they’ve forced this season (17).

The Tigers also allowed a season-high in passing yards (370). While some of that came with Clemson up big late in garbage time, Wake threw for 168 yards alone in the second quarter when the Tigers had a hard time getting off the field. The Demon Deacons converted five of its seven third downs in the quarter and reached the end zone on its next to last possession of the first half to trim Clemson’s lead to 17-10. Andrew Booth’s interception on Wake’s last possession kept that halftime lead intact before the Tigers began to take control.

The ugly

It’s hard to put anything about Clemson’s performance Saturday into this category, but fans might be at the point where they just want to look away from the Tigers’ injury situation.

The constant attrition is becoming comical in that department, particularly at receiver. Clemson already knew it would be without Frank Ladson Jr. (groin), Joseph Ngata (foot) and Justyn Ross (foot) at the beginning of the week. Then E.J. Williams, who’s already dealt with knee and thumb injuries, went down with an unrelated leg injury during practice Wednesday that Swinney had a hard time explaining afterward.

Swinney said he’s “got nothing” when asked how long Williams might be out, but that wasn’t the end of it. Swinney revealed freshman receiver Troy Stellato injured his heel during pregame warmups, leaving Beaux and Dacari Collins, walk-on Will Brown and Swinney’s sons, Will and Drew, as the primary group of receivers Saturday.

Defensive tackle Tre Williams went down at one point, though he’s been dealing with numerous injuries throughout the season and will need surgery once it’s over. Shipley and offensive lineman Walker Parks briefly left Saturday’s game but returned and finished.

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3 keys to a Clemson win over Wake Forest

Clemson will look to go out at Memorial Stadium on a high note Saturday when No. 10 Wake Forest comes to town for the Tigers’ home finale. Should Clemson pull the upset, it would keep its (small) hope alive of representing the Atlantic Division in …

Clemson will look to go out at Memorial Stadium on a high note Saturday when No. 10 Wake Forest comes to town for the Tigers’ home finale. Should Clemson pull the upset, it would keep its (small) hope alive of representing the Atlantic Division in the ACC championship game next month. 

So what do the Tigers need to do for that to happen? Here are three keys:

Mess up the mesh

Wake Forest (44.7 points per game) has been one of the more potent offenses all season with its spread principles, which isn’t unique to college football. But one element of its attack is.

The Demon Deacons use a much slower mesh point than nearly every other offense when running zone reads, run-pass options or play-action passes, forcing defenses to wait longer to figure out who has the ball and ultimately putting them in more conflict than usual. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables have likened it to defending the triple option.

Of course, the way to disrupt that timing is to affect the mesh, which will require a disruptive performance from the Tigers up front.

The linebackers and secondary will need to do their part, too, in order to maintain gap integrity and coverage on the back end against an offense throwing for the third-most yards of anybody in the ACC. But applying pressure in the backfield will force Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman to make quicker decisions on whether he wants to keep the ball or hand it off, which would allow the rest of the defense to know what’s coming sooner and reacting accordingly.

Clemson has been one of the nation’s best all season at doing that, ranking in the top 13 nationally in sacks (3.2 per game) and tackles for loss (7.5). The Tigers will need another pressurized performance from its defensive line, particularly defensive tackles Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro, who, if they can get push on the interior, can set the tone for everyone else.

And if the Tigers can meet Hartman and his backs at the mesh frequently enough, they could force a turnover or two, which would also help Clemson’s chances.

Give up three instead of six

In a matchup of strength versus strength, though, Clemson’s ACC-leading defense and Wake’s big-play offense figure to both make their share of plays. The Demon Deacons have scored at least 35 points against everyone they’ve played and figure to pose plenty of scoring threats this weekend.

In fact, Wake has made 48 trips to the red zone this season. Only 10 teams in the FBS have visited it more. The Demon Deacons, who rank seventh nationally in red-zone efficiency (93.8%), have turned 34 of those trips into touchdowns, including all five in their win over North Carolina State last week.

Meanwhile, Clemson has made a living turning opposing offenses away — or at least limiting the damage — the closer they get to the end zone. The Tigers own the nation’s top red-zone defense, allowing points on just 13 of 24 trips. Only six times has Clemson given up a touchdown once an opposing offense reaches the 20-yard line.

The defense has bailed Clemson out time and time again with late stops, including a pair of goal-line stands against Georgia Tech and Louisville and a red-zone turnover forced against Boston College. Could the Tigers find themselves in that situation again?

Keeping everything in front would help against an offense that’s produced plenty of chunk touchdowns. And then forcing field goals when Wake Forest does get close would go a long way toward giving Clemson a shot at the end.

Run the ball

Clemson’s offense has to do its part as well. And given the Tigers’ quarterback situation, it’s not hard to figure out which facet needs to come through the most.

D.J. Uiagalelei had made some strides in the passing game before spraining his knee in the first half against Louisville a couple of weeks ago. Then he went an uninspiring 21 of 44 against Connecticut last week, which included an interception, a number of off-target throws and more drops by a receiving corps that’s been further decimated by injuries.

The loss of Justyn Ross means Clemson will be without its top three receivers Saturday, leaving sophomore E.J. Williams and a pair of true freshmen, Beaux Collin and Dacari Collins, as Uiagalelei’s primary targets (along with tight end Davis Allen). Oh, and backup quarterback Taisun Phommachanh is dealing with a banged-up throwing shoulder he injured in his only handful of snaps last week, so how much he’ll be able to do if anything Saturday is unclear.

Clemson will need to find a way to hit on some plays through the air to help loosen up Wake Forest’s defense, but the aforementioned issues make it hard to envision the Tigers being able to do that consistently. Their best chance to consistently move the ball figures to be with a running game that needs to show back up in a big way.

After averaging nearly 168 rushing yards over the previous five games, the Tigers had a stinker against UConn, rushing for just 129 yards on 43 carries against the nation’s 105th-ranked run defense. Wake Forest has been even worse defending the run, allowing nearly 202 yards a game on the ground (112th nationally).

While last week’s performance didn’t inspire much confidence, Clemson was missing its top two running backs in leading rusher Will Shipley (knee) and Kobe Pace (concussion), who were held out in order to get them back to as close to full strength as possible for this week. The Tigers were also without starting lineman Will Putnam (ankle), who’s also expected to play Saturday.

Clemson has only lost once in Swinney’s tenure when it reaches 200 yards on the ground. The Tigers have only rushed for 200-plus yards three times this season, but they’ll need as much help as they can get from a more complete stable of backs and the offensive line with a quarterback who’s hurting and a more mobile backup that may not be available.

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Collins stepping up when receivers need it most

Clemson has had to lean on a few more younger faces than usual this fall, including freshman wide receiver Dacari Collins. With their fair share of injuries, the Tigers have had more than 30 players on the injured list this year, the most recent …

Clemson has had to lean on a few more younger faces than usual this fall, including freshman wide receiver Dacari Collins. With their fair share of injuries, the Tigers have had more than 30 players on the injured list this year, the most recent being wide receiver Justyn Ross, who sustained a foot injury in Clemson’s 44-7 win over UConn.

Despite the number of injuries that seem to continue piling up, freshman Dacari Collins has chosen to take advantage of his opportunity in the wide receiver group and rise to the occasion.

“What it means for me, I just have to step up and be ready,” Collins told the media on Tuesday. “I feel like I’ve been preparing and working my butt off every day. I’m grateful for the opportunity, so I’m just going to go out there and compete.”

For Collins, the opportunity to be a difference maker in his first season has been surreal, something that has allowed the Atlanta-native to grow up quick and step up in a big way.

“It’s surreal. You grow up quick and the thing is that when you get here, they prepare you to be ready, so there’s really no bad thing if somebody goes down or somebody has to step up,” Collins said. “That person should be able to execute and do the same things as the last person.”

And execute is just what Collins did in his breakout performance against UConn last weekend. Collins, who saw limited action prior to Saturday’s matchup, led the Tigers in receptions with six catches for 97 yards. A feat Collin’s credits to having a next man up mentality.

“Just being ready, just a next man up mentality,” Collins said. “You never know when something can happen, so just always being prepared and trying to be ready. Like over the years just getting in the game a few plays, just taking that in, practicing hard, all that’s just translating to helping me be better when it’s my time.”

With Saturday’s big performance under his belt, Collins is ready now more than ever to continue showing out on the field and become “that guy” for the Tigers at receiver.

“It showed that I am myself and I am who I am,” Collins said. “I know that I can compete and that’s what I plan to do.”

Clemson hosts No. 12 Wake Forest for its last home game of the 2021 season in celebration of Senior Day and Hall of Fame Day. Kickoff is slated for noon on ESPN.

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