Tag: fall camp

WATCH: Freshman Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen’s dominant run at practice

The true freshman running back is already making huge plays for the Badgers in fall camp:

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On Wednesday afternoon, Wisconsin football posted a video on their Twitter of true freshman running back Braelon Allen making a huge play in fall camp.

Related: WATCH: Wisconsin coaches mic’d up for the start of training camp

Allen was able to spin out of a tackle from outside linebacker Kaden Johnson at the line of scrimmage and proceeded to level cornerback Amaun Williams with a stiff arm 10 yards downfield. The Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, native reportedly also had some reps with the Badgers’ first team in the red zone on Wednesday per Zach Heilprin.

It is great to see Braelon Allen doing so well at the start of fall camp, and if this play is any indication of what is to come, Badgers fans will be seeing more a lot more of him this upcoming season.

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Taisun Phommachanh continues upward trend with recovery

Clemson’s backup quarterback continues to make progress. While Dabo Swinney and the rest of the Tigers’ coaches don’t want to do much speculating as to when he may be all the way back, Taisun Phommachanh is still trending toward being back to full …

Clemson’s backup quarterback continues to make progress.

While Dabo Swinney and the rest of the Tigers’ coaches don’t want to do much speculating as to when he may be all the way back, Taisun Phommachanh is still trending toward being back to full health sooner rather than later.

“We are excited with his progress, and we anticipate that we will get him back at some point this season,” offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “We feel like he may be ahead of schedule, but it is still too early to tell.”

It’s been less than four months since Phommachanh tore his Achilles during Clemson’s spring game, which, at the time, seemed to be a major hit to the Tigers’ depth at the most important position on the field. But the Tigers are four practices into fall camp, and Phommachanh hasn’t missed one.

Outside of some heavy taping, he’s even gone without any sort of equipment that might help stabilize his left foot. Phommachanh hasn’t participated in every part of practice that’s been open to the media for viewing, namely the tempo periods as Clemson errs on the side of caution when it comes to unnecessary movement.

“Any time you are dealing with injuries, there is more than just healing,” Elliott said. “There is the strengthening of muscles, ligaments and all of that kind of stuff around there. I don’t have all the background in that, but I know there is more to it than just healing.”

Sprinting and lateral movement have been kept to a minimum for Phommachanh so far, but he has felt good enough to roll out and make some throws on the run during individual drills. The fact that Phommachanh is as far along as he is just a handful of months removed from a serious injury has pleasantly surprised and impressed his coaches and teammates.

Swinney referred to Phommachanh’s progress as a miracle.

“I think everybody counted him out except for him,” said D.J. Uiagalelei, who gets to see Phommachanh up close and personal every day in the same position group. “I think it’s been four months since the injury happened, and he’s out here doing seven-on-(seven) and doing almost everything out here. I’m just super proud of him.”

When Phommachanh is held out of certain practice periods, sophomore walk-on Hunter Helms fills in as the second-team quarterback. But the Tigers continue to be cautiously optimistic that Phommachanh will soon get the green light to be available on a full-time basis.

“So far, he has done everything he has needed to do,” Elliott said. “He looks good, but obviously you have to let those medical folks make those evaluations.”

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Clemson pushing freshmen offensive linemen to be ready

Clemson brought in some shiny new reinforcements along the offensive line with its 2021 recruiting class, and the Tigers may need some of them to contribute immediately. Tristan Leigh, Marcus Tate, Dietrick Pennington and Ryan Linthicum were part of …

Clemson brought in some shiny new reinforcements along the offensive line with its 2021 recruiting class, and the Tigers may need some of them to contribute immediately.

Tristan Leigh, Marcus Tate, Dietrick Pennington and Ryan Linthicum were part of the nation’s fifth-ranked signing class, according to the 247Sports Composite. While some of them will need more time than others to get caught up mentally in their first fall camp, they already look the part.

Start with Leigh and Tate, the two highest-ranked offensive linemen in the class. Tate is a 6-foot-5, 290-pound swingman that can play inside or out. Meanwhile, Leigh, a consensus five-star prospect ranked in the 247Sports Composite as the nation’s No. 14 overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting cycle, is a 6-6, 290-pound tackle.

“Oh my goodness. Two great looking young prospects,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Let’s see where they are in pads, but as far as just prospects and what you would hope they’d look like walking in out of high school, they’re two great looking young players.”

The other signees up front aren’t exactly small. Pennington, a four-star recruit, goes 6-5 and 310 pounds while Linthicum is a 6-4, 280-pound center. 

Are Swinney and the rest of his staff expecting at least some of them to help out right away? Elliott said Bryn Tucker, a freshman who redshirted last season, should also be included in that mix.

“The impression is the future is very bright with those guys,” offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “Still a lot to learn, but we’re pushing them and we’re trying to get those guys to step up.”

Getting playing time as a true freshman on the offensive line is always a tough chore since the physical and mental demands make the position developmental in nature. Tate and Linthicum got a head start on the playbook by going through spring practice as early enrollees.

For Leigh, working to get his body right is the priority. Leigh played his senior season at Robinson (Virginia) High during the spring, so he’s jumping into his second football season of the calendar year without much of a break.

“He just played high school football, so his body is in a different place than the rest of the guys,” Elliott said. “He played a full season and didn’t have an offseason. Now he’s coming out here and he’s banging again.”

But the Tigers have bigger needs at some positions up front, which could play a role in how soon some of the youngsters find themselves part of the rotation. With sophomores Mason Trotter and Hunter Rayburn competing to replace the departed Cade Stewart at center — guard Matt Bockhorst could also play there — Linthicum has spent most of camp getting third-team reps at the position.

Things are more fluid at some of the other spots. The Tigers are already short one guard following Tayquon Johnson’s recent surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle, and if Bockhorst ends up being the best option at center, that position could thin out even more.

Tate has taken some second-team reps at guard. Walker Parks might be the favorite to take over at right tackle, though Leigh could have something to say about that. It may be a lot to ask of Leigh to be ready to start the Tigers’ opener against Georgia on Sept. 4 — not since Mitch Hyatt in 2015 has a freshman offensive lineman started his first game at Clemson — but he may have enough raw talent to at least make things interesting.

Elliott said he’s been encouraged by what he’s seen out of the freshmen linemen after four practices, but there’s still a lot of learning and developing that needs to be done over the next three weeks.

“We’ll see as we continue to go through camp, can they maintain and continue to make the progress we need?” Elliott said.

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Mascoll poised for breakout year

After Day 3 of fall camp on Monday at the practice fields behind the Allen Reeves Football complex defensive tackle Bryan Bresee noted that in his view Justin Mascoll was ready for a breakout year this season. “I’m going to go with Justin Mascoll he …

After Day 3 of fall camp on Monday at the practice fields behind the Allen Reeves Football complex defensive tackle Bryan Bresee noted that in his view Justin Mascoll was ready for a breakout year this season.

“I’m going to go with Justin Mascoll he was really good all spring and even now and this he’s worked hard in the weight room and running this offseason so I think he’ll have a breakout year,” Bresee said.

“He was really good last year but just brought things to a different level this year. Everything leveled up in his game and off the field stuff just looks really good to me.”

Mascoll played in all 12 games last season and started in nine at defensive end. The junior defensive tackle recorded 29 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery in 2020.

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables also noticed the next level play of Mascoll through the first four days of camp and is excited to see what he bring to the field in full pads later this week.

“The thing about Justin is that he always plays so hard, he’s physical and he loves to compete,” Venables said after Tuesday’s practice. “Justin has done a lot of nice things and I expect a good year from him. He loves to come to practice so he brings the best out of other guys.”

Venables noted the qualities that make Mascoll a great competitor on the practice field.

“Justin has a great work ethic, loves to practice, loves to compete,” Venables said. “He’s a great example of what development looks like and he’s put in the work and got length and size, toughness, effort, he’s explosive, a very physical player and he’s a humble guy. He’s always ready for his opportunity.”

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Clemson’s young ‘freak of nature’ drawing physical comparisons to former Tiger great

Tony Elliott isn’t quite ready to call Ajou Ajou the second coming of DeAndre Hopkins at Clemson. But there is one facet to the young wideout’s game that reminds Elliott of the former Tiger All-American. “If I had to say a person he reminds me of, …

Tony Elliott isn’t quite ready to call Ajou Ajou the second coming of DeAndre Hopkins at Clemson.

But there is one facet to the young wideout’s game that reminds Elliott of the former Tiger All-American.

“If I had to say a person he reminds me of, his movements remind me of Nuke,” Clemson’s offensive coordinator said. “But he’s bigger. Might be a little bit faster. He’s not there yet from a mental aspect. Nuke, if you threw it in his zip code, it was being caught, which I think Ajou has that potential.”

Word of that comparison got back to Ajou, who was flattered.

“Wow. Nuke? C’mon. He was like the greatest,” Ajou said with a smile. “But if he compares me to that, that only pushes me to be better.”

Ajou certainly looks like a prototypical receiver from a physical standpoint. Part of a wideout room that includes Justyn Ross (6-foot-4), Joseph Ngata (6-3) and Frank Ladson Jr. (6-3) among others, Ajou stands 6-3 and is listed on the team’s roster at 215 pounds, though Elliott said Ajou currently tips the scales at north of 220 pounds.

Of course, there’s a long way for Ajou to go before reaching the level of production Hopkins had in college. Hopkins had 206 catches and 27 touchdown receptions in just three seasons at Clemson. Eighteen of those scores came in his final season with the Tigers in 2012 before leaving for the NFL, where he’s now a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

Elliott said he wants to see how Ajou handles being able to stay locked in mentally as camp wears on, adding that’s how the sophomore will earn the full trust of the coaching staff.

But Ajou is expected to take on a larger role in the Tigers’ offense this fall. The Canadian played in 10 games last season and caught two passes for 41 yards. One of those was a 35-yard catch-and-run touchdown against Georgia Tech.

Ajou has been getting most of his reps with the second-team offense early in camp, and Elliott said he’s trending in the right direction. Ajou certainly has the physical tools.

“He’s a freak of nature,” Elliott said. “Now it’s just our job as coaches to just help polish that diamond in the rough. We’ve got to cut it, and we’ve got to polish it. Just so when the light hits it, it shines. And it shines bright.”

Freshman LB Barrett Carter turning heads early in fall camp

It didn’t take long for Barrett Carter to turn the heads of his new coaches and teammates. During Clemson’s first practice of fall camp, the freshman linebacker followed the quarterback’s eyes during a team period and broke on a ball near the …

It didn’t take long for Barrett Carter to turn the heads of his new coaches and teammates.

During Clemson’s first practice of fall camp, the freshman linebacker followed the quarterback’s eyes during a team period and broke on a ball near the sideline. The only problem was it looked like the pass might be too tall for the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder and simply sail out of bounds.

But Carter showed off some of the natural athleticism that made him one of the gems of the Tigers’ 2021 recruiting class when he extended his body, reached back and snagged the ball with one hand. To make the highlight-reel interception official, Carter got a foot down inbounds before his momentum took him out.

“Great play,” fellow linebacker Baylon Spector said.

Like many of the blue-chip prospects Clemson brings into its program, expectations are high for Carter. He was a five-star recruit ranked as the No. 33 overall prospect for the 2021 recruiting cycle in the 247Sports Composite, which also rated him as the nation’s No. 3 linebacker.

The Tigers haven’t donned full pads yet, so Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and some of Carter’s teammates want to wait until that happens before fully assessing what kind of impact Carter might be able to make for the Tigers as a true freshman. But the speed, athleticism and instincts are obvious.

“From the first day, you can tell just the physical presence is there,” senior safety Nolan Turner said. “Dude’s built. Dude looks like a stud. I think he has great coverages skills. Good hips. Moves well. Excited to see him strap the pads on and play some football.”

Carter has been getting most of his reps at outside linebacker, but he has the type of skill set that lends itself to versatility in coordinator Brent Venables’ defense. He could also line up at safety or nickel.

“Barrett is what we thought he was,” said Swinney, who recruited Carter out of North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia. “Great athlete. Smooth. Fast. Going to be a really good player.”

Yet it’s not just the physical tools that have the Tigers excited about Carter’s potential. Swinney said Carter appears to be “picking things up very well” when it comes to grasping Clemson’s defensive schemes and concepts, and some of his teammates have echoed that sentiment.

Spector said Carter also seems to have an even temperament about him, a good trait to have for a newcomer who’s still working to get caught up on the nuances of the college game.

“If he messes up, he’s OK,” Spector said. “He’s not one to cave down. So he’s got a good head on him. Really smart. Just a talented player.”

Turner said Carter has been a sponge trying to soak up as much knowledge as he can as he prepares to have a some sort of role on Clemson’s defense from Day 1.

“It’s exciting to see that out of the young guys, wanting to learn,” Turner said. “Wanting to get in and get with some older guys to pick things up quicker. He’s going to have a bright future.”

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Roschon Johnson names freshman WR Xavier Worthy as a camp standout

One of the most under-the-radar recruiting wins was Texas picking up Xavier Worthy. Roschon Johnson has already noticed the four-star WR.

One of the most under-the-radar wins late in the 2021 recruiting cycle was Texas picking up Xavier Worthy. After some problems getting enrolled early at Michigan, the four-star wide receiver switched his commitment and headed down to Austin for spring camp.

On the 247Sports composite, Worthy was the No. 62 prospect and No. 8 wide receiver in the country. He slid in as the second-highest-rated player in the Longhorns’ class, just behind Ja’Tavion Sanders.

Speed is the main reason Steve Sarkisian brought the wide receiver in. Texas was lacking what most people would consider real SEC speed. Worthy instantly brings that to the locker room and it’s already caught the eye of teammates.

One of the main leaders on the team, Roschon Johnson, says the first thing he noticed with Worthy was his quickness. He thinks Sarkisian’s offense can be even more explosive with him in the lineup.

As things stand, Jordan Whittington, Troy Omeire, and Joshua Moore are expected to be the starting wide receivers. If Worthy wants to get on the field, he is going to have to earn his playing time. Different than Tom Herman’s philosophy of rotating players in and out.

“You earn the right to play and the best players ultimately play,” Sarkisian said after practice.

Hardly do true freshman wide receivers ever make an impact in offenses. However, Worthy will get his opportunity to play if he continues to show out in practice.

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Clemson heavy on installation, light on assessments early in fall camp

Clemson’s coaching staff will soon get a much more accurate assessment of where the Tigers stand on both sides of the ball. Through three practices, which have essentially been an acclimatization period for players before jumping into the grind of …

Clemson’s coaching staff will soon get a much more accurate assessment of where the Tigers stand on both sides of the ball.

Through three practices, which have essentially been an acclimatization period for players before jumping into the grind of fall camp, the emphasis has been on installation. Players have only sported what head coach Dabo Swinney referred to as “vests” — shorts and light padding — so far.

Swinney said it’s too early to gauge which side of the ball has performed better.

“When you’re in shorts, it’s just really hard to see a lot of stuff up front (along the offensive and defensive lines) because you just really can’t have the type of collisions that you do when you’ve got pads on,” Swinney said following Monday’s practice. “But as far as getting our stuff in, I’m pleased with that.

“It’s been a lot about installation. It’s been a lot about building our team. It’s about getting to back to some fundamentals, basics and making sure we’ve got a good foundation from an individual position standpoint and figuring some of these people out. But we’re in a good spot. I don’t think anybody’s ahead. I just think we’re kind of right on track with our plan to get them ready.”

One thing the light start to camp hasn’t kept Swinney and his staff from doing is getting sophomore quarterback D.j. Uiagalelei prepared for his first season as a full-time starter. Clemson returns all 11 starters on defense as well as seven defensive linemen who’ve started a game, so getting a variety of looks from his own defense every practice, Swinney said, gives the youngster an idea of what he’s going to see from opposing teams this season.

“All I’ve got to do is put O versus D, and that’s trying to rattle him,” Swinney said. “We’ve got about 10 (different) fronts and about 30 blitzes in.”

Clemson will start ratcheting up the physicality Tuesday when the Tigers transition into shells (helmets and shoulder pads). Full-padded practices will soon follow as the Tigers continue to work toward their marquee season opener against Georgia on Sept. 4.

Swinney said he’s liked his team’s focus so far in camp.

“I told them that it’s very business-like out here,” he said. “So off to a good start.”

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Baylon Spector ‘having fun’ with family, friends back home ahead of Clemson’s opener

The trash talk has already started for Baylon Spector, though Clemson’s senior linebacker wouldn’t exactly classify it as that. Like many players on the Tigers’ roster, Spector hails from Georgia. In less than a month, Clemson will begin its season …

The trash talk has already started for Baylon Spector, though Clemson’s senior linebacker wouldn’t exactly classify it as that.

Like many players on the Tigers’ roster, Spector hails from Georgia. In less than a month, Clemson will begin its season against the SEC school from Spector’s home state in what will almost certainly be a top-5 matchup in Week 1.

Spector, who’s from Calhoun, Georgia, has a lot of friends who attend Georgia. He has family members who root for Georgia. Even one of his cousins, he said, played for the Bulldogs.

Spector said Clemson’s Sept. 4 opener against Georgia is a topic of conversation between family and friends “here and there,” and one could only imagine what that banter has been like. Spector preferred to describe it as good-natured ribbing.

“It’s exciting. A jab here. A jab there. It is what it is,” Spector said. “Just between me and my buddies. Nothing personal. Just having fun with it.”

But Clemson is all business when it comes to what it’s trying to get done on the field against the Bulldogs, who have finished in the top 7 of the Associated Press Top 25 each of the last four seasons.

In a season full of them, players and coaches have reiterated that their initial goal is to win the opener. Being able to do that against a Georgia team that’s once again expected to compete for the SEC crown would be a gold star on Clemson’s College Football Playoff resume.

Spector and the rest of the Tigers’ defense also want to rinse the sour taste out of their collective mouth from a poor Sugar Bowl performance their last time out. Clemson yielded more than 600 yards in that CFP semifinal loss to Ohio State.

But Spector, a second-team all-ACC performer last season, is back at weakside linebacker for a Tiger defense that returns all 11 starters from last season and has its share of depth behind them, particularly along the defensive line. Spector said that’s helped the unit’s belief in what it’s doing ahead of an important game right off the bat.

“We’re excited,” Spector said. “We know they’re a tough opponent. They’re going to be great. They’re going to be ready, but it gives us confidence and it gives us knowledge. Dudes are coming back hungry.”

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Availability the most important ability for Clemson’s primary receivers, corner

There’s little doubt in Dabo Swinney’s mind that Andrew Booth Jr., Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson Jr. are all stars in the making for Clemson’s football program. That is, if they can stay on the field. In Swinney’s opinion, the key to maximizing the …

There’s little doubt in Dabo Swinney’s mind that Andrew Booth Jr., Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson Jr. are all stars in the making for Clemson’s football program.

That is, if they can stay on the field. In Swinney’s opinion, the key to maximizing the trio’s potential comes down to one word: Availability.

“You can put Ngata, Ladson and Booth all in the same category,” Swinney said. “If they’re available, the rest will take care of itself. I promise you.”

Talent has never been much of a question when it comes to two of the Tigers’ top receivers and their emerging No. 1 cornerback. Booth, Ngata and Ladson have all been in the program for two years after arriving on campus as top-100 recruits.

Booth, who seems primed to take over for the departed Derion Kendrick as Clemson’s top corner, has teased coaches and fans alike with his raw athleticism and playmaking ability. Most notably, his highlight-reel interceptions last season against Virginia (a one-hander in the end zone) and Pittsburgh (a floating extension of a pick) made jaws drop.

Eyes popped again in Clemson’s spring game with another one-handed grab along the sideline while defending Ajou Ajou, though it didn’t go down as an official interception since he came down out of bounds. But, like Ladson and Ngata on the offensive side, the 6-foot, 195-pound Booth has dealt with various injuries that have kept him from dressing out at times.

“You see (Booth’s talent). We see it in practice, and you’ve seen it on game day,” Swinney said. “It’s a tough game, and he’s had some nagging injuries along the way that have limited his consistency. So that’s really it. Just availability week in and week out.”

One of the more physically imposing wideouts on the Tigers’ roster, Ngata also shown flashes of what he’s capable of when healthy. The 6-3, 220-pounder has caught 24 passes for 323 yards, but most of that — 17 receptions for 240 yards and all three of his touchdown catches — came during his freshman season in 2019. An abdominal injury limited Ngata to just seven games last season, three of which he started.

Another big-bodied receiver at 6-3 and 205 pounds, Ladson had his best season so far in a Clemson uniform last season with 18 catches for 281 yards and three scores despite getting just four starts. He bounced in and out of the lineup with a foot injury and also missed part of spring ball with an undisclosed injury.

But Ngata and Ladson are back healthy to start fall camp, though Ngata had a brief scare during the Tigers’ second practice Saturday. At one point during one-on-ones, Ngata fell to the ground and reached for his left foot. Trainers tended to Ngata for a few minutes on the sideline, but Ngata eventually hopped up and returned to practice.

He later caught a touchdown during team periods. E.J. Williams is also back after a productive freshman season (24 catches, 306 yards, two TDs), and once Justyn Ross returns from COVID-19 protocols — that’s expected to happen Friday, Swinney said — the Tigers will have their top four receivers available.

Their hope is it can stay that way for a while.

“These are really, really talented players,” Swinney said of Ngata, Ladson and Booth. “They’re knowledgeable, and they’re passionate about it. But they just need to catch a break and have the good Lord keep them healthy and be able to be out there every week. And they’re going to do great things.”

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