Tag: Garrett Riley

Garrett Riley on Clemson’s offense not staying ‘on the gas’ in recent games

Riley on Clemson’s recent offensive struggles, taking the foot off the gas.

Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley admitted he wishes he had taken a more aggressive approach late in the Tigers’ last two games.

One of those was the rivalry loss to South Carolina, where Clemson’s offense stalled late in the second half. Despite nearly 200 yards of offense in the final two quarters, back-to-back three-and-outs allowed the Gamecocks to stage a comeback, outscoring the Tigers 10-0 in the fourth quarter.

“We had some chances to really put them away in both games, honestly in the first half,” Riley said. “Didn’t make a play here and there.”

A similar situation unfolded against SMU, where Clemson let a 31-14 lead slip away as the Mustangs scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Even though the Tigers leaned heavily on the passing game late, Riley believes they still could have pushed harder.

“The way the games have gone, we probably didn’t stay on the gas as much as I would have liked to,” Riley said. “Hindsight is 20/20 coming off the game.”

With Clemson now preparing to face Texas in Austin, Riley is focused on applying lessons from the past two games to ensure better execution in high-pressure moments against one of the nation’s top defenses.

“Trying to draw off the last two weeks for sure, on how we can hopefully close a little bit better,” Riley said. “Or keep the momentum going a little bit longer with what we’ve had offensively the last couple of games.”

Garrett Riley on Phil Mafah dominating Clemson’s running back touches

Mafah has been a workhorse.

Clemson star running back Phil Mafah has taken on a significant role as the Tigers’ offensive workhorse, drawing praise for his durability and resilience. Offensive coordinator Garrett Riley highlighted Mafah’s physical and mental toughness, calling him a “machine” and emphasizing his ability to consistently deliver when the team needs him most.

While Riley expressed confidence in Mafah, he acknowledged that backups Jay Haynes, Keith Adams Jr., and freshman David Eziomume have seen limited action recently. “It’s not a trust issue,” Riley said, explaining that game situations have dictated Mafah’s extended workload.

With The Citadel coming up this Saturday, Clemson plans to shift some carries to the reserves, giving Mafah some rest while integrating others into the rotation. Riley expressed particular enthusiasm about Eziomume, who is redshirting this season. “EZ is going to play,” Riley noted. “He’s physical, loves contact, and has gotten better as the season has gone on.”

The matchup offers an opportunity to not only lighten Mafah’s load but also provide valuable game experience for the depth chart.

Dabo Swinney loves the work offensive coordinator Garrett Riley has done at Clemson

Swinney loves what he’s seen from Riley.

Clemson football’s offense has come a long way from where it started the season, and while it’s not yet perfect, head coach Dabo Swinney is encouraged by the progress as the Tigers prepare for The Citadel. The unit has been steadily climbing the national rankings, now sitting 10th in total offense at 460.7 yards per game and 14th in scoring offense 36.3 points per game.

“There’s a lot we can still clean up, but Garrett Riley has done a heck of a job,” Swinney said of his offensive coordinator. Swinney praised Riley’s understanding of Clemson’s system and personnel, calling the offensive staff’s efforts “really good.”

Quarterback Cade Klubnik has been a key beneficiary of Riley’s work, tallying 31 total touchdowns this season—ranking among the best in the country—and throwing for 2,563 yards, which places him 20th nationally. His 26 passing touchdowns have him tied for fourth in the nation and second in the ACC behind Miami’s Cam Ward.

While Swinney acknowledges some missed opportunities, particularly in a few slow starts, he believes the offensive strides are clear. “We’re much improved from last year, but we’re not done yet,” Swinney noted. “We have an opportunity to finish strong, and we’ll have a lot coming back next year.”

With an 8-2 record, Clemson will host The Citadel this Saturday before facing No. 18 South Carolina on November 30 in a regular-season finale that could be pivotal for building momentum heading into the postseason.

Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley on being linked to the ECU head coach job

Riley responds to ECU rumors.

Following the recent firing of East Carolina’s head coach Mike Houston, Clemson football’s offensive coordinator Garrett Riley has surfaced as a potential candidate for the position. Riley previously spent three seasons at ECU, starting as a graduate assistant in 2013 and 2014 before becoming the outside receivers coach in 2015 under former head coach Ruffin McNeil.

Given his ties to the program, it’s no surprise his name has been linked to the opening. However, when asked about the rumors on Wednesday, Riley brushed them aside. “I know chatter will happen at times,” Riley said. “But I am where my feet are.”

Riley emphasized that his focus remains fully on preparing Clemson for their upcoming game against Louisville, to the point where he was a few minutes late to his press conference due to game prep. “I was in a rabbit hole, and that is why I was a couple of minutes late here,” Riley explained. “Doing some red-zone and goal line.”

Now, in his second season as Clemson’s offensive coordinator, Riley had previously held the same role at TCU for one year. Could Riley make the jump after this season?

It’s possible, but it’s difficult to say how likely it is as college football is ever-changing. If the Tigers were to make a serious playoff run, bigger jobs could come calling.

Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley is a top candidate for the ECU head coach job

Riley could be a popular name for open head coaching positions.

With Clemson football’s offense ranked among the nation’s best this season, offensive coordinator Garrett Riley is being floated in discussions for head coaching jobs. One such opportunity opened up at East Carolina University (ECU) after the Pirates fired Mike Houston, who was in his fifth season at ECU. CBS Sports named Riley as a possible candidate for the job, along with LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson.

Riley’s connection to ECU runs deep. He began his FBS coaching career there as a graduate assistant, working alongside his brother, Lincoln Riley, and later served as ECU’s wide receivers coach through 2015 before moving on to Kansas.

Dawson, one of Riley’s fellow candidates, has a background at North Carolina’s Wingate University, while Sloan is an ECU alum who also coached at Louisiana Tech.

ECU’s coaching salary budget may be limited, as CBS Sports notes that the school might focus on adjusting its budget to balance coaching salaries with athlete compensation. Riley, who made $2.05 million last year at Clemson, may need to weigh the financial landscape and the opportunities that ECU can offer. Houston, who had a strong run at James Madison, struggled to find similar success with the Pirates, concluding his ECU tenure with a 27-38 overall record and a 3-4 start to the 2024 season.

As ECU’s athletic director Jon Gilbert put it, “We are confident we will identify the right leader for our football program…My hope is Pirate Nation will rally around our student-athletes.”

Garrett Riley ‘worth keeping an eye on’ for head coaching job

Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley made ESPN’s list of names to keep an eye on for potential head coaching jobs after the 2024 season.

The Clemson Tigers have had no trouble finding the end-zone in their last two games. The offense erupted for 66 points in Clemson’s Week 2 victory over Appalachian State, while 52 of the 59 points in the Tigers’ win over NC State last Saturday came from the offense.

Against App State in Week 2, Clemson amassed an eye-popping 712 yards of offense in a 66-20 win. Against NC State, the offense tallied 523 yards in a 59-35 drubbing of the rival Wolfpack.

Those numbers led ESPN college football writer Adam Rittenberg to add offensive coordinator Garrett Riley to his list (subscription required) of Power Four coordinators “worth keeping an eye on” as a potential head coach in waiting at another school.

Rittenberg said of Riley:

“Name recognition isn’t a problem for Riley, and not just because of his older brother, Lincoln. Garrett Riley won the Broyles Award in 2022 as the nation’s top assistant, helping TCU reach the national title game as the Horned Frogs’ playcaller. His first season at Clemson was bumpy, as the offense ranked 50th in scoring and 98th in yards per play. A 3-point opener against Georgia to begin the season didn’t ease concerns, but Clemson has scored 125 points (118 on offense) in its past two games, as quarterback Cade Klubnik is surging. If Clemson can maintain its trajectory and return to the College Football Playoff, Riley, only 35, could be on the radar for certain head-coaching jobs.”

Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann and Penn State Nittany Lions offense coordinator Andy Kotelnicki were listed as the top names to watch among Power Four coordinators.

At the Group of Five level, UNLV head coach and former Missouri Tigers coach Barry Odom, South Florida’s Alex Golesh, Liberty’s Jamey Chadwell and Tulane’s Jon Sumrall were listed as some of the biggest names available for Power Four jobs.

Clemson, which rose four spots to No. 15 in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll, hosts the Stanford Cardinal this Saturday in Death Valley. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on ESPN.

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Garrett Riley on what Cade Klubnik needs to take the next step as a quarterback

Riley shares what’s next for Klubnik.

Clemson football quarterback Cade Klubnik has found his groove in recent games, turning things around after a tough start. Following a difficult outing against Georgia’s defense in the season opener, where he completed 18 of 29 passes for just 142 yards with an interception, Klubnik has shown major improvement. He’s now delivered standout performances in back-to-back wins against App State and NC State, completing 80% of his passes for 587 yards and accounting for 11 total touchdowns (eight through the air and three on the ground).

On Wednesday, offensive coordinator Garrett Riley highlighted the strides Klubnik has made, crediting both the quarterback’s individual efforts and the team’s overall progress. “He’s definitely grown,” Riley said, noting how everyone around Klubnik has stepped up, which has helped foster his development. “If we’re not all operating at a higher level, it’s hard for the quarterback to make such noticeable improvements.”

Klubnik, a former five-star recruit, showed flashes of his potential last season, completing 64% of his passes for nearly 2,850 yards with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also contributed four rushing scores. Now, after a strong start to this season, Riley acknowledged there’s still work to do. Reflecting on the recent NC State game, Riley said, “We left a few plays on the field, and there’s always more room to grow, but Cade’s been playing really well.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game against Stanford, Klubnik has been efficient, completing over 73% of his passes for 729 yards, adding eight passing touchdowns and three on the ground, with just one interception so far this season.

Jake Briningstool on Clemson football getting better every day under Garrett Riley

The Tigers get better by the day under Riley.

Clemson’s dominant win over Appalachian State last Saturday showed just how well the team could recover after a tough start to the season.

The Tigers scored a record-setting 56 points in the first half, making ACC history and moving past their Week 1 loss to Georgia. The team’s resilience and determination were on full display, and tight end Jake Briningstool credited their ability to stay focused on constant growth. “Our biggest thing is just trying to get better every single day,” Briningstool said, pointing to the influence of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. The philosophy instilled by Riley, which began during his arrival two springs ago, is starting to bear fruit as the offense finds its rhythm.

Briningstool played a significant role in the win, leading the tight ends with seven receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He highlighted the competition within the tight end room, saying, “I think we’ve got a really good tight end room… Just being able to come here, have competition, go to work every single day, and make each other better.” The tight ends combined for 130 yards off nine catches, contributing significantly to Clemson’s offensive dominance. Alongside Briningstool’s stellar showing, quarterback Cade Klubnik shined with seven total touchdowns and 378 passing yards, further demonstrating the potential this offense has. With confidence building, Briningstool believes there’s no limit to what the Tigers can achieve moving forward. “There’s no telling where we can go,” he said.

Fans have patiently waited for Riley’s stamp to be felt on this team and it was definitely felt on Saturday.

Garrett Riley on potential future head coach offers

With a big year, Riley could be a top head coach target.

Even if the 2023 college football season wasn’t what the Clemson football program was hoping for on offense, they have one of the brightest young minds as their offensive coordinator.

Garrett Riley was an incredibly hot name when he joined the Tigers as a young, up-and-coming coach. Helping lead TCU to the national championship in 2022, Riley also won the 2022 Broyles Award for the top coordinator in college football. While he didn’t reach expectations in 2023, the upcoming season could be very different.

During Dabo Swinney’s Media Outing at the Allen Reeves Football Complex on Tuesday, Riley addressed the possible head coaching offers down the road. While they are a real possibility, he’s focused on right now with the Tigers.

“You have long-term goals and try to set out some things for yourself in your professional career and life,” Riley said. “But I definitely am one of those that man, wherever I’m at, I’m there. If something happens, we’ll see. But I’m certainly happy with where I’m at.”

Clemson’s offense didn’t meet high expectations last season, but they still had notable achievements. Under Riley, the team ranked No. 15 nationally in first downs per game with an average of 23.4, the ninth-best in school history. They also averaged 76.8 plays per game, their highest since 2016. These stats show Riley’s strategy was effective despite the team’s overall performance.

“Just a lot of organizational things, and obviously the program and just the way he carries himself and how consistent he is every single day. Those are things that certainly stick out,” Riley said. “It’s definitely been a joy to just be a sponge and be around him, as well as a lot of the other staff that have been here a long time. It’s been great.”

Clemson’s ceiling on offense in 2024 is one of the best in the country.

Garrett Riley outlines expectations for Cade Klubnik in 2024

Garrett Riley talks about his expectations for Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik ahead of the 2024 college football season.

Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley met with reporters during Dabo Swinney’s 2024 media gathering at the Allen N. Reeves Football Complex Tuesday. Not surprisingly, quarterback Cade Klubnik’s name came up a lot.

One of the questions asked was about Riley’s expectations for Klubnik in 2024. Klubnik will be in his second full season as the Tigers’ starting quarterback after starting all 13 games a year ago.

“A guy that’s not going to panic, a guy that’s going to understand what we’re trying to do,” Riley said. “Minimizing some of the bad plays. Those are some of the things off the top of my head that we should be able to see this fall.”

Klubnik’s first full season was far from perfect as the Tigers began the year 4-4 with losses to Duke, Florida State, Miami and NC State. But Klubnik showed signs of improvement down the stretch, leading Clemson to five straight wins to close the year on a positive note.

In the Tigers’ 38-35 Gator Bowl win over Kentucky, Klubnik helped rally the team for 28 points in the fourth quarter to escape with a thrilling victory and hopefully give the former five-star quarterback from Austin, Texas, some momentum going forward.

“With all the things that kind of went on in our season, a good problem to have with a guy like Cade is at times he’s one of those that really believes in himself,” Riley said. “Which is awesome, but at times you can try to do a little bit too much.”

Riley pointed to injuries and depth issues that he believes resulted in Klubnik feeling added pressure a season ago.

“When certain guys were missing or maybe a little thin in certain spots, maybe the added pressure (of feeling) like he had to do a little bit too much probably crept in at times,” Riley said. “But as the season went on, I think he learned (from) that. I think he understood that a little bit better, and really I think the game kind of slowed down for him each and every week. That’s really what I saw as you look through it chronologically.”

Klubnik and the Tigers will open the 2024 season as underdogs against probable preseason No. 1 Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is set for noon EDT. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.

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