Tag: fall camp

Clemson returned to the practice fields behind the Allen Reeves Football Complex late Saturday afternoon for the second day of fall camp. Here’s what The Clemson Insider observed on the defensive side of the ball during the two-and-a-half hour practice, which was open to the media.

• Cornerback Fred Davis practiced for the second straight day. It doesn’t appear the punishment for his reckless driving charge will include any missed practice time.
• Clemson continued to heavily rotate along the defensive line, particularly on the edges. Justin Mascoll and Xavier Thomas got many of the reps at first-team defensive end. Myles Murphy and K.J. Henry repped at second team there. The Tigers have the kind of depth at that position any team would envy.
• A possible wrinkle for Thomas and the defense: The senior was being used as a stand-up end in certain packages.
• Senior Tyler Davis and sophomore Bryan Bresee got most of the reps with the ones at defensive tackle. Ruke Orhorhoro rotated in there at times. Tre Williams and Darnell Jeffries repped with the second team on the interior of the defensive line.
• Mascoll showed off some of his athleticism at one point during team periods. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder dropped into coverage and extended to break up a pass along the sideline.
• At one point during team periods, cornerback Andrew Booth collided with receiver E.J. Williams after Williams caught a pass, which drew the ire of head coach Dabo Swinney once Williams began limping. Swinney used some choice words in telling Booth to get off the field, telling him that Williams needed to worry about catching passes and getting upfield rather than potential injuries from collisions. Williams took more reps later, so his injury didn’t appear serious.
• Malcolm Green repped some at nickel during individual drills and team periods. Tyler Venables also got some nickel reps. Mario Goodrich, another player Swinney mentioned that will cross-train at nickel and corner during camp, repped exclusively on the outside.
• Freshman Andrew Mukuba appears to be a player the Tigers are cross-training on the back end. He’s listed on the roster as a safety but also repped some at corner.
• Linebacker Jake Venables and Orhorhoro wore non-contact jerseys. So did freshman defensive lineman Payton Page.
• Linebacker Sergio Allen intercepted Hunter Helms during skelly period.
• As a way to simulate game pressure for his kicker, Swinney ended the practice by putting 2 seconds on the clock and having B.T. Potter attempt a 41-yard field goal. Potter pulled the first kick left, so the rest of the team had to run. Potter then split the uprights with his second kick and had to run while the rest of the team watched.

Football season officially arrived for Clemson on Friday with the Tigers holding their first practice of fall camp at the practice fields behind the Allen Reeves Football Complex. The practice lasted nearly three hours and was open to the media in its entirety.

Here’s what The Clemson Insider observed on the offensive side of the ball:

*Backup QB Taisun Phommachanh (Achilles) practiced without a boot on his left foot and showed no signs of favoring an injury, though Phommachanh was still a limited participant. He went through team and individual drills consisting mostly of straight dropbacks but watched when rollouts or any sort of lateral movement were involved.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney reiterated Phommachanh is expected to be back to full health sooner rather than later.

*When Phommachanh wasn’t participating in drills or team periods, sophomore walk-on Hunter Helms took reps with the second-team offense. Another walk-on, freshman Billy Wiles, took most of the third-team reps at quarterback.

*With Justyn Ross not available as he goes through COVID-19 protocol, the receivers getting most of the first-team reps were Ladson, Joseph Ngata and E.J. Williams. Ajou Ajou and freshman Troy Stellato also rotated in.

*Left guard Matt Bockhorst was in a no-contact jersey and bounced in and out with the starting offensive line. Paul Tchio took most of the first-team reps when Bockhorst was held out. The rest of the first-team offensive line consisted of Jordan McFadden at left tackle, Mason Trotter at center, Will Putnam at right guard and Walker Parks at right tackle.

*There was a lot of rotating in the backfield, but Kobe Pace got most of the first-team reps at running back.

*Freshman running back Will Shipley frequently got second-team reps and showed impressive speed, which continued to impress his teammates. In fact, McFadden opined Shipley may be the fastest player on the Tigers’ roster.

“I would probably say so,” McFadden said. “Him, (receiver) Frank Ladson and some of the (defensive backs).”

*Junior receiver Max May produced one of the highlights for the offense when he went up over freshman safety Andrew Mukuba in the end zone to haul in a contested touchdown catch.

*Tight end Jaelyn Lae made an impressive catch during skelly drill, extending his 6-foot-6, 270-pound frame to make a grab along the sideline.

*Swinney lit into tight end Jake Briningstool at one point during skelly drill. Swinney wasn’t particularly pleased with the freshman for not recognizing and adjusting to a certain coverage after the snap.

*Freshman receiver Beaux Collins wore a no-contact jersey and was seen on the sideline icing his left shoulder at one point.

*Freshman Will Taylor, who’s listed as a quarterback and receiver on the roster, took all of his reps at quarterback in his first collegiate practice.