Tag: Eric Mac Lain

ACC analyst expects a fistfight in the Atlantic Division

Clemson has mostly owned the ACC’s Atlantic Division in recent years, en route to capturing the conference championship in six straight seasons prior to seeing Wake Forest win the division last year before going on to lose to Pittsburgh in the ACC …

Clemson has mostly owned the ACC’s Atlantic Division in recent years, en route to capturing the conference championship in six straight seasons prior to seeing Wake Forest win the division last year before going on to lose to Pittsburgh in the ACC Championship Game.

While the Tigers may be the favorite to reclaim the Atlantic Division crown in 2022, behind a defensive line and overall defensive unit that projects to be among the best in the country, this ACC analyst doesn’t think winning the division will be a cakewalk for Clemson.

With the teams that finished first and second in the Atlantic a year ago (Wake Forest and NC State) returning a bunch of key players, including quarterbacks Sam Hartman and Devin Leary, respectively – and the question marks surrounding Clemson’s quarterback situation and what the Tigers will get out of D.J. Uiagalelei coming off his down season in 2021 – Eric Mac Lain expects the division to be a battle this fall.

The former Clemson offensive lineman and current ACC Network analyst was asked on Packer and Durham with Mark Packer and Wes Durham recently if he senses a fistfight in the Atlantic this season.

“I think until proven otherwise, yeah,” Mac Lain said. “I mean, what is D.J. going to be, what is this offense going to be from Clemson? We have to see it. It’s not so much as it just totally has fallen apart. But you saw the spring game, there wasn’t much glimpse of it — it was vanilla and you can’t hit the quarterback, so we don’t know how mobile he’s going to be. But until proven otherwise, that Clemson offense has to regain some trust.

“Now, defensively, I think they’re going to be one of the best, if not the best in the country. But it also speaks to what NC State has done and who they have coming back and the team that they’ll have, as well as Wake Forest.”

Mac Lain wonders what Clemson’s offensive identity will be in 2022 and believes the Tigers should lean on the running game that helped them reel off six consecutive victories last season to reach the 10-win mark for the 11th straight year.

He also thinks the Tigers will benefit from the fact that rising sophomore running back Phil Mafah got the majority of first-team reps this spring, with rising junior Kobe Pace (toe) being held out of practices and rising sophomore Will Shipley (leg) missing most of the spring recovering from his injury.

“It’s going to be interesting, what is that going to be?” Mac Lain said of Clemson’s offensive identity. “Because we saw at the end of the season, when they went on that run to win 10 games, they ran the football – a lot. They used those three running backs, and this spring, Shipley was hurt, Pace was hurt. Mafah was the guy, and I think that without that happening — which you never want anybody injured — but without that happening, the silver lining is Mafah has emerged. Now, it’s a three-headed monster. I mean, give those guys the rock. …

“So, you have to use those guys. But in the same breath, quarterback play is how you win. That’s how you win in college football, that’s how you win in the NFL. And so at the end of the day, D.J. has to take the necessary steps, be more accurate, be more on time, and his wide receivers have to help him. They have to catch the ball. They had a drop rate last year that was the most we’ve seen in a long time from Clemson. So, offensively, got to get it going, got to figure it out. I’m sure they will, but until they show that, you’ve got to think it (the Atlantic Division) is going to be a battle.”

Analyst, former Tiger discusses if Clemson, Uiagalelei will bounce back this season

Based on what he witnessed from Clemson during spring ball, a former Tiger standout believes Dabo Swinney’s team is poised to have a bounce-back season this year. Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman/ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain …

Based on what he witnessed from Clemson during spring ball, a former Tiger standout believes Dabo Swinney’s team is poised to have a bounce-back season this year.

Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman/ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain recently joined McElroy & Cubelic in the Morning with former Alabama quarterback/ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy and former Auburn offensive lineman/ESPN and SEC Network college football analyst Cole Cubelic on Jox 94.5/WJOX-FM.

Mac Lain talked about his expectations for Clemson this season coming off its 2021 campaign, during which the Tigers (10-3, 6-2 ACC) extended their streak of seasons with at least 10 wins to a school-record 11 but saw their streak of six straight ACC Championships come to an end, with Pittsburgh claiming the conference crown thanks to its 45-21 victory over Wake Forest in the conference title game last December.

“Just what I’ve seen from spring, I think that this is going to be a big bounce-back year,” Mac Lain said of the Tigers. “So when you say plateaued, I’m not sure if that’s quite the case. I think that certainly folks around them are getting better. I mean, my goodness, Pittsburgh looked fantastic last year. Wake, as good as they were, still got beaten pretty well. NC State playing very, very well. Who knows what Miami is going to look like this year, but expect them to drastically improve.

“So, with that, I do think Clemson was this water that made all ships rise, right – it made everyone better, it made everyone get better.”

As for D.J. Uiagalelei, who struggled in his first full season as Clemson’s starting quarterback in 2021, Mac Lain has been very impressed by the slimmed-down signal-caller’s physical transformation this offseason but still has questions about how his new physique will translate to his performance on the field during the season.

“Certainly when you have a quarterback that couldn’t move out of the pocket, that couldn’t extend plays, that couldn’t read Man 2 (coverage) and get out of it, against Georgia specifically… there was some problems, and we saw that on the field quite evidently,” Mac Lain said. “So now that we’ve seen D.J. Uiagalelei really change his body, his composition, he looks fantastic. He looks like a totally different football player. But what does that mean in the spring game? Greg, as you well know, you QBs aren’t touched, you’re not hit. And so whether he would’ve gotten out of a play, can he extend a play, how well is this new body going to really work? It’s still yet to be determined.”

On the other side of the ball, Mac Lain has no concerns about Clemson’s defense, which ranked second nationally last season in scoring defense (14.8 points per game allowed) behind only national champion Georgia (10.2).

The Tigers’ defensive unit features no shortage of talent and depth up front with linemen like Myles Murphy, Xavier Thomas, K.J. Henry, Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis, to name some.

“I’m not worried about the defense at all,” Mac Lain said. “I think they’re going to be one of the best in the country. I think that defensive line is the best in the country when you look at depth and star power. But the biggest question until proven otherwise is going to be quarterback play, and just what can he do?”

Although Uiagalelei completed only 55.6 percent of his passes while throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine) as a sophomore last season, Mac Lain knows what he is capable of – Uiagalelei threw for 781 yards and four touchdowns with no picks in two starts vs. Boston College and Notre Dame as a true freshman in 2020 – and Mac Lain isn’t ready to write off the former five-star prospect just yet heading into his junior season.

Speaking of five-star prospects, Mac Lain thinks the competition that Cade Klubnik has brought to the quarterback position after enrolling early in January could potentially prove very beneficial to Uiagalelei this season.

“I honestly think the best thing that has happened to Clemson in this offseason is the fact that Cade Klubnik, one of the best players in the country last year from high school, enrolled early and has really pushed D.J.,” Mac Lain said. “And I think as you know, competition makes everyone better, and it’s going to be one of those things… Is this another situation that at four games, we see a change, or did that pressure, did that competitiveness, push D.J. to be the best version of himself?

“We’ve seen flashes, we know he can do it. It’s unbelievable to see the drastic disparity in performance, yet I think he can take that step. So, I’m not writing him off at any means of the imagination yet for being one of the better quarterbacks in the conference. I think he can certainly get there. But as I said, until proven otherwise, Greg, they have a way to go offensively.”

Congratulations! You did it! You graduated! Now is the time to preserve your diploma in a custom frame. Here at Clemson Variety & Frame, we build all our frames in-house – from the frame to the mats and etchings to the installation – to guarantee the quality. You worked hard for your degree. Trust us to show your diploma in the best light possible.

ACC analyst asked if it’s Clemson and everybody chasing in the Atlantic Division

Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain, now an analyst for the ACC Network, was a co-host on Packer and Durham with Mark Packer on ACCN this week and gave his thoughts on the ACC’s Atlantic Division entering the 2022 season. …

Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain, now an analyst for the ACC Network, was a co-host on Packer and Durham with Mark Packer on ACCN this week and gave his thoughts on the ACC’s Atlantic Division entering the 2022 season.

Packer — who believes the Atlantic is “loaded,” will be “very intriguing” and “the most underrated division in the country” — asked Mac Lain if he thinks it’s Clemson and everybody else in the division chasing the Tigers.

“I don’t think so this year,” Mac Lain said. “I think it is Clemson up front, but I think NC State and Wake are right there, right behind them, pulling on that cape saying hey, last year wasn’t a mistake, last year wasn’t a one-year wonder, and they’re going to have a great chance to prove that.”

Clemson (10-3, 6-2 ACC in 2021) didn’t win the Atlantic Division last season for the first time since 2014.

Instead, it was Wake Forest (11-3, 7-1) that claimed the division crown, though the Tigers dominated the Demon Deacons en route to a 48-27 victory at Death Valley last November.

Wake Forest will look to avenge that loss when it plays Clemson this season in Winston-Salem on Sept. 24.

“Obviously, Clemson going to Wake Forest this year,” Mac Lain said. “Wake has been as good as they’ve ever been, they get smacked by Clemson. You have to be able to take that next step if you want to be legitimate, if you want to be a year-in and year-out power, and some of that comes with schematics. I mean, you keep doing that long zone read against those werewolves, look out. You’re going to have to change something there for Wake Forest.”

Following its trip to Wake Forest, Clemson will return home to host NC State a week later on Oct. 1.

NC State (9-3, 6-2 in 2021) finished second in the Atlantic Division last season and defeated Clemson in double-overtime, 27-21, last September in Raleigh.

Mac Lain called NC State’s game against Clemson this season its “Super Bowl” but pointed out that it won’t be easy for the Wolfpack to earn another win over the Tigers, who are riding a 34-game home winning streak going into the 2022 season — the nation’s longest active home winning streak.

“NC State… they have the Super Bowl, October 1, go do it in Death Valley,” Mac Lain said. “Great you did it at home. Clemson’s won a hundred straight at home. They don’t lose there. You have to go and take it from them if you want to be great, if you all came back for those reasons, and they certainly might be able to. But I think Clemson is gonna feel that disrespect. They’re going to create and create that chip. That’s where they thrive.”

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

Analyst believes a former Tiger is one of ACC’s biggest sleepers in NFL Draft

On ACC Network this week, a few ACCN analysts weighed in on who they think are the biggest sleepers from the ACC in the 2022 NFL Draft. Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain sees former Tiger safety Nolan Turner as a big …

On ACC Network this week, a few ACCN analysts weighed in on who they think are the biggest sleepers from the ACC in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain sees former Tiger safety Nolan Turner as a big sleeper.

Mac Lain was part of ACCN’s coverage of Clemson’s Pro Day on March 17, when Turner stole the show with the highest vertical jump among the participants at 37 ½ inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 2 inches that tied for the longest of the day. Additionally, he wowed while running his first 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds before besting that a few minutes later with a 4.46 on his second attempt.

“When you look at Nolan Turner from Clemson… We were there, we saw him up close and personal, the things that he was able to do at Pro Day,” Mac Lain said. “A lot of scouts had him at a 4.3, some in the 4.4s. Jumping out of the gym on vertical and the broad jump. And then his tape — this guy was an All-American his junior year, and the things that he was able to do from the safety position… Obviously a very smart player, a locker-room guy, is a sure tackler. Had a ton of interceptions his sophomore and junior year.”

Turner was named third-team all-ACC by Phil Steele last season, when he finished fourth on the team with 69 tackles despite battling hamstring and toe injuries. He also recorded three pass breakups, two tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble in 10 games (all starts).

The Vestavia Hills, Ala., native finished his six-year Clemson career (2016-21) credited with 259 tackles (13.5 for loss), 20 passes broken up, seven interceptions returned 78 yards, 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles over 65 career games (25 starts). He was an AFCA second-team All-American and also earned a second-team nod from USA Today in 2020 after tallying 66 tackles (6.0 for loss), a team-high three interceptions and three pass breakups over 12 games (11 starts).

“I think that he is truly one of those sleepers, one of those diamonds in the rough that at the next level, he’s going to find a great fit and a great home,” Mac Lain said.

Former Georgia and Miami head coach and current ACCN analyst Mark Richt believes Turner could be a great value pick for an NFL team as well.

“The safety position at all levels of ball has to be a great communicator back there on the back end,” he said. “But when you get into the NFL and you get all the shifts and motions and all the checks that they expect you to take care of, you’ve got to have somebody back there that really can understand it and communicate it, and I know Nolan’s that kind of guy. So, he’s going to have great value not only from his skill set, but because of his ability to process information and communicate.”

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

Former Tiger gets on his ‘soapbox’ talking about Booth ahead of draft

A former Clemson standout got on his soapbox this week when talking about Andrew Booth Jr. Former Tiger and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain is a big fan of Booth, who is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft that gets …

A former Clemson standout got on his soapbox this week when talking about Andrew Booth Jr.

Former Tiger and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain is a big fan of Booth, who is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft that gets underway Thursday in Las Vegas.

“I’m going to get on a little soapbox here,” Mac Lain said on Packer and Durham on ACC Network this week. “I think if you look at the film, if you watch him play football, he’s the first- or second-best corner in the draft.”

Mac Lain believes Booth — a first-team All-ACC selection as a junior in 2021, when he had 39 tackles (3.0 for loss), five pass breakups and a team-high three interceptions in 11 games — has everything NFL teams are looking for in a defensive back.

“He does everything,” Mac Lain said. “He’s a ballhawk. He has ball skills. He’s making one-handed catches over 6-8 wide receivers. He comes up in run suppport and is not afraid to put his face in the fire. He has the picks.”

Booth recently underwent surgery for a sports hernia and was unable to participate in Clemson’s Pro Day and the NFL Combine while recovering from the surgery, though he is currently expected to be ready for training camp.

Mac Lain says there’s a “weird cloud” hanging over Booth because of his lack of testing during the pre-draft process. But Booth’s tape and performance on the field over the past three seasons at Clemson shows Mac Lain all he needs to see from the star corner, who recorded 75 tackles (5.5 for loss), 10 pass breakups, five interceptions, a sack and a fumble recovery (which he returned 21 yards for a touchdown) over 35 career games from 2019-21.

“I think when you look at the postseason — and he wasn’t able to do the combine because of injury, he wasn’t able to do the Pro Day because of injury — the ‘Underwear Olympics’ have put this weird cloud over Andrew Booth for whatever reason,” Mac Lain said. “I don’t have to sit here and make him jump and touch a stick. I’ve seen him fly through the air and intercept the ball from (former Pittsburgh quarterback) Kenny Pickett. I’ve seen him jump over a receiver. I don’t need to see he’s fast. I’ve seen him hawk down guys all the time.”

ESPN’s latest seven-round mock draft (subscription required) projects Booth to be selected by the New England Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the first round.

But regardless of where Booth lands or whichever team grabs him in the draft, Mac Lain believes that team will not regret the pick and will be getting a great return on investment.

“For me, man, he’s a guy that whoever drafts him — maybe the Bills, maybe the Patriots around the 20 area — they’re getting a ton of value out of that pick,” he said.

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

Clemson tops former Tiger’s ranking of the ACC’s best defenses

This former Clemson standout is bullish on the Tigers’ defense heading into the 2022 season. Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain, now an analyst for the ACC Network, co-hosted Packer and Durham with Mark Packer on ACCN on …

This former Clemson standout is bullish on the Tigers’ defense heading into the 2022 season.

Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain, now an analyst for the ACC Network, co-hosted Packer and Durham with Mark Packer on ACCN on Tuesday and gave his ranking of the ACC’s best defenses.

Clemson’s defense, anchored by a loaded defensive line and led by new defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Wes Goodwin, tops Mac Lain’s list.

“Number one, until proven otherwise, is gonna be Clemson,” Mac Lain said.

“This is going to be the best defensive line in the country. The Avengers, not the Power Rangers, because there’s a million of them on the defensive line. You and I have spoke a million times – this linebacking corps is going to be better. They’re faster, they’re more athletic, they’re more aggressive. And then the secondary is going to be some young bucks that we don’t quite know just yet nationally, but we will, and they have some ballhawks, they have some playmakers. And Wes Goodwin, he’s a mad scientist. He was drawing stuff up in the spring game… So, he’s going to dial it up. He’s going to have unbelievable things, and I just think Clemson’s the standard.”

Last season under then-defensive coordinator and current Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, Clemson’s defense led the ACC in points per game allowed (14.8) and yards per game allowed (305.5) while ranking second in the conference behind defending ACC champion Pittsburgh in sacks (42.0), third in turnovers gained (20) and fourth in tackles for loss (92.0).

Behind Clemson in Mac Lain’s ranking of the ACC’s best defenses is NC State at No. 2, followed by Pittsburgh at No. 3, Miami at No. 4 and Boston College at No. 5.

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

Big news from Mr. Clemson

Mr. Clemson had a huge announcement Saturday. Former Tiger and current ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain took to Twitter to share the news that he and his wife Kaki will be having a daughter. Mac Lain is very fired up to be a girl dad as you can …

Mr. Clemson had a huge announcement Saturday.

Former Tiger and current ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain took to Twitter to share the news that he and his wife Kaki will be having a daughter.  Mac Lain is very fired up to be a girl dad as you can see.

Mac Lain already made it very clear where his daughter will be attending college.  Where else would the daughter of Mr. Clemson go?

We want to send our congratulations to Eric and Kaki.

Former Tiger says Clemson fans ‘have to feel better’ about Uiagalelei after spring game

Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain joined Packer and Durham on ACC Network this week and gave his thoughts on the Tigers’ Orange & White Spring Game last Saturday at Death Valley. Mac Lain, who was one of the announcers for …

Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain joined Packer and Durham on ACC Network this week and gave his thoughts on the Tigers’ Orange & White Spring Game last Saturday at Death Valley.

Mac Lain, who was one of the announcers for Clemson’s spring game on ACCN, was asked what he saw from the Tigers and if anything in particular stood out to him.

“That we know nothing,” Mac Lain said. “The defense is going to be really good, that’s for sure. But having 20 guys out (20 scholarship players unavailable to participate), it really hurt them. I mean, I’m looking out at wide receiver, and 5-8, 160 – they all look just the same, and that’s not going to be out there on Saturdays (during the season).

“So, it was kind of a hard tell, if you will. Offensive line, same thing. I looked at D.J. (Uiagalelei)’s offensive line. He had Will Putnam at center, never played center before, he had two freshmen and two walk-ons. So, good luck blocking Xavier Thomas, Myles Murphy, K.J. Henry and the boys (on the defensive line). So, you have to take things with a grain of salt and you have to really look at OK, what can I learn from this?”

Speaking of Uiagalelei, Mac Lain is “very impressed” by the slimmed-down quarterback’s physical transformation this offseason and thinks Clemson fans should be encouraged by what Uiagalelei displayed during the spring game, despite the fact his stats from the game don’t jump off the page (17-of-36 passing for 175 yards with an interception).

“When I look at D.J. specifically, number one, body looks unbelievable. … It’s very impressive what D.J. has been able to do,” Mac Lain said. “Very impressed with that, his dedication to that off-the-field type of stuff, his mobility, his ability to extend the pocket. And when I say that, a lot of people, they think dual-threat, they think scrambling around, and that’s not what D.J.’s going to be. But if he can manipulate that pocket just a bit and maybe avoid a guy and just get right outside into that passing lane… I saw that, and then just the comfort of the offense. Those things really stood out to me.

“Now, obviously result wise it’s not what you want to see and you need to see more. But those little things, if you dive into the film, you see that, Clemson fans have to feel OK, have to feel better, than what they saw all along in 2021.”

Clemson’s spring game, though, was a defensive showdown with the Orange and White squads combining for nine sacks in the first half alone.

K.J. Henry led the White team with 3.5 sacks among his six tackles in the first two quarters, while defensive end counterpart Myles Murphy posted three sacks for the Orange team in the first half.

“That defense is going to be lights out,” Mac Lain said. “When you look at the defensive line specifically, I truly think there are eight guys there deep where they could play anywhere in the country, and start. That’s how effective and efficient those guys are up front.”

Mac Lain added that he believes the Tigers look like an improved unit at linebacker right now despite the losses of veterans James Skalski and Baylon Spector, the tandem that Dabo Swinney called “The Bruise Brothers.”

“The athleticism, the speed… And as you mentioned, those two guys in Spector and Skalski gone, I’m like, ‘Man, this is going to be a big step back for these guys,’ just because so much experience, so much talent that has been there forever. I mean, those two were coaches on the field,” Mac Lain said.

“What do they replace them with? I mean, savages. These guys are out there sprinting around. They look so fast. They love this new (defensive coordinator) Wes Goodwin defense and the things that they are going to try to do. … As crazy as it is to say, right now in spring ball, I think it’s an upgrade from where they were last year in regards to speed, instincts, athleticism.”

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

ACC analyst discusses biggest question marks for Clemson

An ACC analyst recently discussed what he sees as the biggest question marks for Clemson – not necessarily problems, but rather simply areas of uncertainty – heading into the 2022 season. Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain, …

An ACC analyst recently discussed what he sees as the biggest question marks for Clemson — not necessarily problems, but rather simply areas of uncertainty — heading into the 2022 season.

Former Clemson and All-ACC offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain, now an analyst for ACC Network, mentioned the quarterback position first — as you might expect — as the biggest question mark for the Tigers right now.

Of course, rising junior D.J. Uiagalelei was inconsistent in his first full season as Clemson’s starting signal-caller in 2021, completing just 55.6 percent of his passes and throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdown passes (9).

While first-year offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter made it clear last week that the job is still D.J. Uiagalelei’s to lose, five-star signee Cade Klubnik has certainly added competition at QB this spring.

“I think there’s no doubt, quarterback,” Mac Lain said on ACCN recently when asked about the Tigers’ biggest question marks going into the 2022 campaign.

“When you have the expectations that you do from a program like Clemson, there is a very, very high expectation at that position, and D.J. will be the first to tell you they did not meet that standard last year. Now, it wasn’t all on him. It was not all his fault. His wide receivers dropped a ton of passes, offensive line not giving him time that he needed. But to see that development, to see that next step is going to be extremely important.”

Mac Lain, who played at Clemson from 2011-15, when the Tigers captured two conference championships and made a national championship appearance, also cited the offensive line as another big question mark for the team.

“I will always, always say that because of the position that I played, having the relationship with the players, the coaches that I do,” Mac Lain said. “So, that’s something that certainly Clemson is going to have to focus in on and continue to get better, the offensive line position.”

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

A ‘bittersweet’ day for Swinney

When Clemson held its Pro Day on Thursday in the Poe Indoor Facility, it marked the final time that Dabo Swinney was able to see some of his players work out there. It was a “bittersweet” day for Clemson’s head coach as he watched guys from his …

When Clemson held its Pro Day on Thursday in the Poe Indoor Facility, it marked the final time that Dabo Swinney was able to see some of his players work out there.

It was a “bittersweet” day for Clemson’s head coach as he watched guys from his senior class like James Skalski, Nolan Turner, Darien Rencher and Will Spiers, all of whom joined the program in 2016 and were a part of teams that won two national championships, appeared in five College Football Playoffs and earned five ACC Championship rings.

“It’s bittersweet a little bit, because you know this is the last time you’re going to see them really compete in here,” Swinney said in an interview with former Clemson offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain during ACC Network’s coverage of Clemson’s Pro Day. “But you also know they’re prepared. This is a great group of men that are going to be awesome in life without football, and they know that. They all know that, so this frees them up to just go play, go compete. This is a game with a very short shelf life.

“So, I’m just proud of them – who they are as men, how they’ve transformed their lives over their PAW Journey, as we like to say, and know that they’re all finishers, they’ll do their best today, and I think a lot of these guys are going to have a chance to make it. But we’ve had a hundred percent job placement the last four years. So, they’re either going to work in the NFL or somewhere else, and wherever they go, they’re going to be ready.”

You can watch Swinney talk about the Tigers’ senior class and more during his interview with Mac Lain on ACCN below:

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