Garrett Riley – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Garrett Riley looking for leadership going into 2024 season

Clemson’s offensive coordinator mentioned Phil Mafah, Cade Klubnik and Jake Briningstool as leaders on the Tigers’ offense heading into the season.

Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley believes there’s a lot of potential for leadership on the offensive side of the ball heading into the 2024 season.

Riley and other coaches spoke to the media Tuesday at the Allen N. Reeves Football Complex. When asked about leadership, Riley highlighted quarterback Cade Klubnik, running back Phil Mafah and tight end Jake Briningstool in particular.

Mafah is unquestionably the leader at running back for the Tigers after Will Shipley declared for the NFL Draft following his junior season. Mafah rushed for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns on 179 carries a season ago.

Riley described Mafah as a quiet leader.

“He’s gonna do it by his actions and his play and is just always doing the right thing,” Riley said of the Tigers’ senior tailback. “He’s certainly a guy that our guys look to.”

Briningstool, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound tight end out of Brentwood, Tenn., is also entering his senior season. He emerged as a true threat in 2023, catching 50 passes for 498 yards and five touchdowns in his first year as a full-time starter.

“Jake Briningstool comes to mind as someone who’s really improved and kind of emerged in that (leadership) role,” Riley said. “I’m really proud of him and his maturity and what he’s done in kind of taking that thing by the horns a little bit through the spring and this summer.”

As for Klubnik, Riley said he believes that a year of experience as the Tigers’ quarterback will help going forward. Klubnik started all 13 games a season ago and threw for 2,844 yards with 19 touchdowns to nine interceptions.

“I know Cade has certainly improved on (leadership) as well now that he’s played and kind of has some credibility that (he’s) been the guy for a year,” Riley said.

When asked if he’d had a conversation with Klubnik on taking the reins, Riley said that it was always a topic of conversation in the team’s quarterback room.

“That whole quarterback room, that’s something you’re always trying to evolve and get better with, and it’s one of those things where there’s a little bit of a fine line,” Riley said. “You can’t be a fraud and try to overdo it. You can’t do too little. In my mind, there’s kind of a balance and a happy medium to it and he’s certainly finding his own with it.”

Riley also spoke of the Tigers’ leadership up front and mentioned offensive linemen Tristan Leigh and Blake Miller as “guys that bring a lot to the table from a leadership standpoint.”

Phil Mafah gets second-round grade by this NFL Draft analyst

Clemson running back Phil Mafah drew praise from college football and NFL Draft analyst Damian Parson.

Clemson running back Phil Mafah is one of the best running backs heading into the 2024 college football season.

That’s from Damian Parson, a college football analyst for The Draft network and co-host of the Locked On NFL Draft podcast. Parson recently gave the Tigers’ senior tailback a second-round grade for the 2025 NFL Draft.

“This is a grown man,” Parson said of Mafah, noting the tailback’s 6-foot-1, 230-pound frame. “Physical, downhill runner, what could be a kind of one-cut style. They run some zone, some gap stuff … One of the things I liked about him is that he worked on being a pass-catcher (this off-season) and he caught the ball effectively. He ran decent routes for a big-body guy. He runs with tempo and patience and follows his blocks. He gives his blockers time to set up.”

Playing alongside Will Shipley in the backfield a season ago, Mafah played in all 13 games in 2023, finishing just shy of a 1,000-yard rushing season. He totaled 965 yards and 13 touchdowns on 179 carries — all career-highs. The Loganville, Ga., native also caught 21 passes for 108 yards.

Mafah figures to play a star role in Garrett Riley’s offense this season, taking over the reins at tailback from Shipley, who declared for the 2024 NFL Draft and was a fourth-round selection by the Philadelphia Eagles.

“This is a guy who, if you are not prepared for what’s to come in the alley, this is going to be a fight that you’re not going to win,” Parson said of Mafah. “He’s one of those guys that falls forward, leans forward. He’s got a really good stiff-arm, but for 230 (pounds), he’s got a burst to him.”

Parson even compared Mafah to former LSU running back Leonard Fournette, who rushed for 3,830 yards in three seasons with the Bengal Tigers and ranks fourth on the school’s all-time rushing list.

Fournette was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick (4th overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft and had two 1,000-yard rushing seasons before winning a Super Bowl ring with the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“The last guy I’ve seen built this way that I recall that had a good burst that I was impressed with was Leonard Fournette,” Parson said. “So with Phil Mafah catching the ball, running the ball, (he’s) scheme-versatile. But it’s the patience… and this is a guy that to me, I think this year he’s going to be that lead back.

“Garrett Riley, as he calls it, the ‘Dirt Raid,’ he wants to run the ball and pound defenses into the turf. I see it, and I think with Phil Mafah, I see the full skill set.”

Clemson opens the 2024 season August 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta against the Georgia Bulldogs. Kickoff is set for noon EDT. The game will be televised nationally by ABC.

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Clemson offense could shape the College Football Playoff this season

Could Clemson’s offense turn it around in 2024?

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program have boasted some outstanding offenses during the Swinney era but things haven’t been the same since the departure of Trevor Lawrence for the NFL.

Things can be different in 2024. Starting quarterback Cade Klubnik heads into his second year as the starter under center, with improvement from the junior quarterback essential for the Tigers’ success. Offensive coordinator Garrett Riley enters year two with the Tigers with expectations that he can help Clemson’s offense the way he did for TCU when they made a historic run to the National Championship.

According to Saturday Down South, the Tigers’ offense could shape the CFP in 2024.

Clemson didn’t make Garrett Riley the highest-paid assistant coach in college football last season to get worse on offense, but that’s exactly what happened. The Tigers averaged just 5.25 yards per play, down from the 2022 season and continuing a trend of remarkably mediocre Tiger offenses.

2023: 5.25 (98th)

2022: 5.60 (72nd)

2021: 5.17 (103rd)

2020: 6.89 (15th)

2019: 7.38 (4th)

2018: 7.35 (3rd)

The Tigers gave up more negative plays in fewer games than they did the year prior to Riley’s arrival, were worse on third downs, and had just as many turnovers. The run game wasn’t a strength and the passing game didn’t improve the way fans hoped given the change from DJ Uiagalelei to Cade Klubnik.

Now, in Year 2 with Riley, Klubnik has to show something. The Tigers chose not to add to the quarterback room via the 2024 class (high school or transfer) and have pushed their chips all in on Klubnik being the guy to reverse the slide.

While the entire offense will need to perform, most eyes will be on Klubnik and Riley. If these two lead by example and show that they’ve taken the next step, the Tigers’ offense should return to form.

All eyes on Bryant Wesco at Clemson spring game

Freshman wide receiver Bryant Wesco, a five-star recruit from Texas, is generating some of the most buzz this spring.

Saturday will mark the 16th spring game of the Dabo Swinney era at Clemson, and as with every game before it, fans will have a lot to keep their eyes on.

Generating some of the most buzz this spring is highly touted freshman receiver Bryant Wesco, a five-star recruit from Midlothian, Texas. Wesco was ranked the No. 6 receiver in the nation in 247 Sports’ composite rankings for the class of 2024.

He has drawn no shortage of praise from teammates and coaches alike. Swinney has praised the 6’2, 170-pound athlete for his poise and maturity.

“Poise and maturity are rare for a young kid. He’s obviously very talented,” Swinney said of Wesco earlier this spring. “You see a lot of kids that are talented, but they don’t have the mindset or the maturity to go with it. He does. That’s encouraging because all the rest of this stuff, he’ll get better at.”

After Wesco fumbled a ball during one practice, Swinney quipped that he’d had to relish a rare opportunity to yell at the potential star. “Then he comes right back, makes a couple of great plays,” Swinney noted.

Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley praised Wesco for his ability to quickly adapt to his environment after enrolling at the school in January.

“Bryant’s done a nice job,” Riley told The Clemson Insider last week. “Anytime as a freshman, the whole thing is just: can you handle mentally? And then just the grind, the speed of the game, the transitioning at his position at receiver.

“He’s been able to mentally handle things, and I think he’s a guy that’s transitioned really well with the speed of the game. The moment’s not too big for him. He just feels like that type of player to me. I’m very pleased with his start.”

Wesco will be paired with starting quarterback Cade Klubnik and fellow receivers Adam Randall and Antonio Williams (among others), as well as tight end Jake Briningstool on the Orange team at Saturday’s spring game.

Wesco’s development is especially important for a Clemson program that has struggled to develop receivers since the team’s run of six straight College Football Playoff appearances. The Tigers haven’t had a player finish with 1,000 receiving yards in a season since Amari Rodgers in 2020.

That’s a long drought for a school that prided itself on being “Wide Receiver U” after such stars as DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, Tee Higgins, Mike Williams, Justyn Ross, and Hunter Renfrow — all Swinney players.

The Tigers are hoping that Wesco will join that set of decorated players.

“He’ll get bigger, he’ll get stronger, he’ll work at it. He’ll learn some other positions. All that stuff will come in the bigger picture of things, but he’s just a poised kid that’s tough and likes to play, likes to be coached. He’s just got the maturity to match the talent,” Swinney said.

Saturday’s Orange vs. White game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. EDT from Memorial Stadium. The game will be broadcast/streamed on ACC Network Extra and ESPN+.

Clemson’s Bryant Wesco on list of players turning heads in spring practice

Clemson Tigers Football: The hype continues to build for freshman receiver Bryant Wesco.

The hype continues to build for Clemson’s Bryant Wesco.

The 6’2″, 170-pound receiver, a five-star recruit out of Midlothian (Texas) High School, chose Clemson over LSU, Tennessee, USC and others in 2023.

247Sports ranked Wesco as the sixth-best receiver nationally in the class of 2024, as well as the fifth-best player from the Lone Star State.

Noting that Wesco chose to play with another Texas native in quarterback Cade Klubnik when he committed to Clemson, B/R Sports listed Wesco on its list of 10 college football players that were turning heads in spring practice.

Per B/R’s story:

“Simply put: The Tigers haven’t had many talented weapons at wideout like him in the past couple of seasons, so he could team with Antonio Williams to give them a major threat on the outside who can stretch the field and make huge plays downfield.

“Transforming the offense to one that instills fear in folks is why Riley was brought onboard, and coach Dabo Swinney certainly won’t outfit his roster with portal talent, so incoming youngsters like Wesco have to.”

Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley recently told The Clemson Insider that he likes what he’s seen from Wesco so far in spring camp.

“Bryant’s done a nice job,” Riley told TCI. “Anytime as a freshman, the whole thing is just, can you handle mentally? And then just the grind, the speed of the game, transitioning at his position at receiver and once you transition to the college speed. He’s been able to mentally handle things, and I think he’s a guy that’s transitioned really well with the speed of the game.”

Wesco caught 109 passes for 1,903 yards and 29 touchdowns during his prep career.

Clemson Football Officially in EA Sports College Football 25

Clemson has opted into the EA Sports College Football 25 game!

Football fans and gaming enthusiasts have reason to celebrate as EA Sports makes a comeback in the college sports arena after over a decade. Through a Twitter/X announcement on Thursday, the gaming giant revealed plans to launch a new college football video game in the summer, set for the 2024 season.

The return of the game to Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox consoles opens doors for gamers to immerse themselves in college football rivalries and matchups once again, a privilege absent since 2013. Formerly titled ‘NCAA Football,’ the series was discontinued in 2013 amidst legal disputes revolving around name, image, and likeness concerns.

It’s now back and not only is it back, it’s back with the Clemson Tigers football program! The program announced Thursday morning that the Tigers are officially in, something fans can celebrate.

Here’s what the Athletic’s Chris Vannini had to say about player compensation for the game.

An EA Sports spokesperson told The Athletic that every player who opts in and is selected for the game will receive $600 and a copy of the game (a $70 value). Up to 85 players per school will appear on the initial rosters. A number of college athletes, both within football and outside of it, will also become ambassadors for the game and receive additional NIL compensation.

For some, this isn’t huge news, and that’s understandable… video games aren’t for everyone. For others, however, this is massive news. One of the best games of all time is returning, and Clemson will be a part of it.

Clemson moves up one spot in PFF’s updated way-too-early Top 25

Clemson moved up a spot in PFF’s latest update to their way-too-early Top 25 rankings.

Clemson’s football season in 2023 had its moments, including a thrilling 38-35 win over Kentucky in the Gator Bowl. But despite finishing with a 9-4 record and going 4-4 in the ACC, both the team and its fans wanted more. As the season ended, everyone started talking about what changes might come in 2024, wondering how Clemson’s lineup and performance might shape up.

Opinions are varying drastically on how the Tigers will perform in 2024, with some seeing the Tigers as the top contender in the ACC while others expect another down year for the program. PFF recently updated their way-too-early 2024 rankings, with Clemson moving up one spot to No. 12. One of the higher rankings we’ve seen for the Tigers.

Clemson’s defense carried them in 2023, tying for second in the nation in overall grade and placing third in expected points allowed per play. That side of the ball should remain elite next year. Four true freshmen on the Tigers’ defense earned 75-plus grades this year on at least 300 snaps: interior defensive lineman Peter Woods, safety Khalil Barnes, cornerback Avieon Terrell and edge defender T.J. Parker. Barrett Carter also announced his return for his senior season despite being projected as one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The question is whether the offense can keep up. Despite the hype on that side of the ball with the partnership of Broyles Award-winning offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and five-star quarterback Cade Klubnik, Clemson still tied for 89th in the FBS in offensive grade. They’ll need to make serious strides in Year 2 to win the ACC and secure a spot in the 12-team playoff.

As with almost everyone’s assessment, this season comes down to offense. Garrett Riley and Cade Klubnik have all eyes on them and if they can recover from a tough first year for both of them, Clemson will be in a good spot.

The Tigers’ potential is there, but execution also needs to be.

ESPN’s biggest spring question for Clemson is all about offense

Clemson’s offense has the most questions heading into the 2024 college football season.

The Clemson football program has underperformed compared to expectations over the past few seasons, with most of the issues revolving around the Tigers’ decline on offense.

Since college football legend Trevor Lawrence was the Tigers’ starting quarterback, the Tigers have had two starting quarterbacks. DJ Uiagalelei, who is now rival Florida State’s new starter under center, and Cade Klubnik, the Tigers’ current starter. The offenses haven’t been the same since Lawrence for a few reasons.

ESPN recently discussed the biggest questions for their college football top 25 teams, with Clemson’s being, “What’s going on with the offense?”

Is it painting with too broad a brush to just say, “the offense?” Cade Klubnik enters a make-or-break year. Garrett Riley’s scheme was often ineffective in 2023 but should be a better fit this year. The O-line struggled badly at times last year, but new position coach Matt Luke figures to have the unit improved. The receiving corps has been woefully thin in recent years, but Dabo Swinney likes his personnel. There’s upside everywhere on offense, but getting each group to take a step forward at the same time has been an issue. — Hale

There’s no denying that the Tigers’ offense is where improvements need to be made. It’s definitely possible, considering all of the pieces this offense has in place and the amount of talent they have returning in 2024.

While a lot of the expectation goes on Klubnik, I believe it all starts with Riley and how he handles his second season with the Tigers after a first-year letdown. Clemson’s offense wasn’t bad; it just wasn’t explosive and ran toward the middle of the pack in 2023.

For Klubnik, I feel a lot of his development needs to come in the weight room and in his decision-making. Klubnik needs to bulk up a bit more, which shouldn’t be a huge problem as he’ll naturally get bigger throughout an offseason at a top-tier college football program.

In 2023, Klubnik completed 64 percent of his passes for 2,844 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He flashed the potential of a great quarterback but didn’t prove to be one. It truly is a make-or-break year for him in 2024.

247Sports projects Cade Klubnik and Garrett Riley to become household names in 2024

Will Cade Klubnik and Garrett Riley take college football by storm in 2024?

The 2024 college football season could be a huge one for the Clemson football program, but for that to happen, the Tigers offense will need to take the next step and return to its former standing as one of the best offensive units in the country.

Clemson has the tools to make it happen. These pieces have to put it all together, show that the talent is there, and execute on the field. As we’ve seen of late with the Tigers’ offense, this is easier said than done.

Two people in the program, in particular, will make or break Clemson’s season on the offensive side of the ball. That is starting quarterback Cade Klubnik and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. According to 247Sports, these are two people in the world of college football that will become household names in 2024.

You’ve got a question lingering right now in both the ACC collectively and Clemson specifically about whether this is FSU’s conference now, or whether last year was sort of a blip on the radar screen but maybe Clemson can still restore order… If Garrett Riley in year two doesn’t continue to have a significant uptick in offensive production, ifCade Klubnik cannot play up to what we believe is his full potential and Clemson is again hitting that under… it’s probably due in large part to them not separating enough and not being able to pull away in games against teams that are inferior roster-wise.

If Clemson’s offense begins to click once again, these two will be at the forefront of that return to glory. We’ve spoken a lot about potential over the last few seasons, which will again be a big discussion point over this offseason.

Look out for this Clemson offense in 2024 with many doubters. The Tigers have historically been great as underdogs during the Dabo Swinney era.

Clemson Ranks Low in ESPN’s 2024 Updated Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Rankings

ESPN does not see Clemson as a top contender in the 2024 season.

As the 2023 college football season concludes, attention shifts to 2024 with media outlets unveiling their premature top 25 rankings. Clemson garners significant recognition across these rankings, though opinions vary.

Some of these rankings however, are lower than others. ESPN places the Tigers at No. 19 for the upcoming season, the lowest we’ve seen this offseason. Mark Schlabach provides insight into their placement.

If you believe quarterback Cade Klubnik is going to continue to grow in offensive coordinator Garrett Riley’s system, the Tigers might be poised to catch Florida State and take another ACC title. If you believe coach Dabo Swinney hasn’t done enough to reload his roster after losing star tailback Will Shipley and a handful of defensive stars to the NFL draft, then it might be another subpar season by Clemson standards. Hiring former Ole Miss coach Matt Luke to coach the offensive line should help, but the Tigers might still be short-handed in terms of talent up front. The Tigers are also going to have to develop some big-play weapons at receiver. Getting Cole Turner and Antonio Williams back from injuries might help.

Clemson anticipates a stronger 2024 season with a wealth of returning talent. The Tigers boast odds ranging between the 10th and 13th spots for the National Championship.

While recent years haven’t seen Clemson’s elite status, the No. 19 rank seems unjustified, especially with teams ahead. Nonetheless, Clemson’s poised to defy these expectations in 2024.