Tag: James Skalski

Skalski on Goodwin’s parody account, players nickname for new DC

“Jimmy Greenbeans” – the alter ego of Brent Venables, which he introduced himself to the media as several years back, after serving as a scout-team quarterback – has moved on from Clemson. However, the Tigers now have “Johnny Carrots.” That’s the …

“Jimmy Greenbeans” – the alter ego of Brent Venables, which he introduced himself to the media as several years back, after serving as a scout-team quarterback – has moved on from Clemson.

However, the Tigers now have “Johnny Carrots.”

That’s the username for the Twitter profile page of a fake Wes Goodwin account, which Clemson super senior linebacker James Skalski was asked about Sunday during the Tigers’ Cheez-It Bowl player-coordinator press conference.

“We don’t know who it is exactly. I mean, it’s obviously some Twitter account,” Skalski said.

“But no, they are doing a good job with the humor side of all the (staff) changes that’s going on. So, we just think it’s entertaining. But, yeah, so I don’t know who you are, Johnny Carrots.”

Skalski was asked if he has a nickname for Goodwin, who was recently promoted from senior defensive assistant to defensive coordinator/linebackers coach for the Tigers.

“Nothing crazy. Just good ‘ole Wes for right now,” Skalski said.

“I mean, he’ll, you know, earn one, I guess as time goes by. But, there’s definitely a lot of people with Johnny Carrots or all these other things, but it will come naturally.”

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Skalski explains why opt-outs are ‘not a thing’ at Clemson

Players opting out of bowl games, particularly when their isn’t a championship at stake, has become more frequent over the years. That includes some notable names in college football this season. Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett won’t suit up in …

Players opting out of bowl games, particularly when their isn’t a championship at stake, has become more frequent over the years.

That includes some notable names in college football this season. Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett won’t suit up in the Peach Bowl against Michigan State. Iowa State running back Breece Hall, the Big 12’s leading rusher, won’t play against Clemson in the Cheez-It Bowl on Wednesday, opting instead to focus on his preparation for next year’s NFL Draft.

But opt-outs haven’t been an issue for Clemson. While some players, including star wideout Justyn Ross, won’t be available because of injuries, no one on the Tigers’ roster has voluntary chosen to skip out on the bowl game.

Veteran linebacker James Skalski credit that to the culture of the team when asked about that Sunday morning in Orlando.

“We get to play football,” Skalski said. “Yeah, we’ve been to the playoffs and on bigger stages, but to us, we get to go play a game again. We get a chance to go represent Clemson and show everyone what we can do, including ourselves. I think we all just love playing ball, and we love being together.”

Skalski said, as far as he knew, opting out wasn’t even a consideration for any players.

“Opt out? Like, what?” he said. “It’s not a thing.”

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Taking inventory: Linebacker

Clemson still has a bowl game left to play this season, but it’s never too early to look ahead. With the regular season in the books, TCI is taking some time to analyze how the Tigers performed at each position this fall and where the Tigers stand …

Clemson still has a bowl game left to play this season, but it’s never too early to look ahead.

With the regular season in the books, TCI is taking some time to analyze how the Tigers performed at each position this fall and where the Tigers stand with each as the offseason quickly approaches. Quarterback, running back, tight end, receiver, center, guard, offensive tackle, defensive tackle and defensive end have already been assessed.

Next up is linebacker.

A quick note first: This is where things currently stand with Clemson’s personnel at linebacker. With the one-time transfer rule and recruiting still in full effect, things are always subject to change. This story will be updated as needed to reflect any future modifications at the position.

2021 in review

Clemson began the season with its Bruise Brothers still intact. Will it stay that way after the bowl game?

It will be the final game in a Clemson uniform for James Skalski, a sixth-year senior who’s roamed the middle of the Tigers’ defense as a starter for the last few seasons. His sidekicker, weak-side linebacker Baylon Spector, has been around for five seasons.

The duo ended the regular season as Clemson’s leading tacklers. Skalski is sitting on a team-best 97 tackles, including some timely goal-line stops late against Georgia Tech and Louisville. He also leads the Tigers with 14 quarterback hurries. Spector isn’t far off that pace with 85 tackles.

Throw in strong-side ‘backer Trenton Simpson, and Clemson’s three leading tacklers all reside at the second level of the defense. Perhaps the most athletic and versatile of the trio, Simpson has 72 tackles, six sacks and 12 tackles for loss (second-most on the team) in his first year as a full-time starter.

Simpson is a true sophomore, so he’s in line to return. The Tigers will need a new middle linebacker with Skalski out of eligibility, but does Spector, who recently underwent hand surgery and won’t play in the bowl, stay or go? He still has a COVID year to use if he chooses to do so.

Clemson has some depth at the position, though not as much as it did at the beginning of the season.

There weren’t many extra snaps to go around considering how much Skalski, Spector and Simpson have stayed on the field – none of them have logged fewer than 516 snaps this season – but sophomore LaVonta Bentley has gotten as much work as any of the backups (145 snaps). Bentley, who has already filled in for Spector once on the weak side, could be auditioning for a starting job next season in the bowl game.

True freshman Barrett Carter logged 147 snaps during the regular season as Simpson’s primary backup. Jake Venables, Kane Patterson, Keith McGuire, Sergio Allen and another freshman, Jeremiah Trotter, have gotten some reps here and there, but Patterson is transferring to Vanderbilt. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Venables, a junior, also won’t be returning to the program as a player next season.

The group will certainly look different next season. The question at his point is how much different?

Who’s leaving?

Skalski, Spector (maybe), Patterson, Venables

Who’s staying?

Simpson, Spector (maybe), Bentley, McGuire, Allen, Carter, Trotter

Who’s joining?

Jesuit (Florida) High three-star signee Wade Woodaz. Clemson’s other linebacker commitment for the 2022 recruiting cycle, Hays (Kansas) High standout Jaren Kanak, recently decommitted and has already enrolled at Oklahoma, where former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables is now the head coach.

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Skalski heading to the Rose Bowl

James Skalski is heading to the Rose Bowl. The Clemson super senior linebacker is set to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, which will take place January 29, 2022. The 10th edition of the game will once again be played at the historic Rose Bowl …

James Skalski is heading to the Rose Bowl.

The Clemson super senior linebacker is set to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, which will take place January 29, 2022. The 10th edition of the game will once again be played at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, and be televised on NFL Network.

Skalski was a first-team All-ACC selection this season after leading the Tigers with 97 total tackles. The Sharpsburg, Ga., native recorded 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, six pass breakups and 14 quarterback pressures.

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Best of James Skalski Photo Gallery

No Clemson Tiger left it all of the field like James Skalski this season. Skalski had an outstanding season for the Tigers. Take a look back at Skalski’s final season with Clemson in Bart Boatwright’s Best of Photo Gallery.

No Clemson Tiger left it all of the field like James Skalski this season.  Skalski had an outstanding season for the Tigers.

Take a look back at Skalski’s final season with Clemson in Bart Boatwright’s Best of Photo Gallery.

Skalski on why he hates South Carolina

During College GameDay this morning, ESPN aired a pre-recorded video of various players and coaches talking about what they like about rivalry weekend in college football and what they hate about their rivals. Clemson super senior linebacker James …

During College GameDay this morning, ESPN aired a pre-recorded video of various players and coaches talking about what they like about rivalry weekend in college football and what they hate about their rivals.

Clemson super senior linebacker James Skalski appeared on the video and made a brief but pointed statement regarding what he hates about the Gamecocks:

“Why do I hate them? Because they want to be us so bad and they can’t.”

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Clemson vying for piece of history in game that ‘means a lot to a lot of people’

In case you’re not familiar with just how much the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry means to both sides, the Tigers’ coaches and players provided some context this week. “You might be in the store and not many people are going to come up to you and …

In case you’re not familiar with just how much the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry means to both sides, the Tigers’ coaches and players provided some context this week.

“You might be in the store and not many people are going to come up to you and say, ‘Hey man, you lost that game to Pitt,'” Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “But if you lose that game to South Carolina, people are going to remind you every single day.”

Veteran linebacker James Skalski, who’s been around to witness it for six years as a player, understands exactly where Elliott is coming from.

“It means a lot to a lot of people, and (head) coach (Dabo) Swinney talks about it all the time,” he said. “You can go 10-1 and have a great year, but if you lose to these guys, you’re going to hear about it from our fans, from theirs and from people in the state.”

It’s been a while since Clemson has had to hear about it.

The Tigers (8-3) will take a four-game winning streak into the latest rendition Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium, but Clemson’s streak in the series is even longer. Not since 2013 has Clemson experienced a loss to its in-state rival.

Of course, the Tigers’ bid for a seventh straight win over Carolina (6-5) is coming a year later than expected after the game was called off last year amid the coronavirus pandemic. The SEC (of which Carolina is a member) decided to play conference-only schedules last season, breaking a streak of 111 consecutive years of the Clemson-Carolina game being played.

“The alliance — one side or the other — the loyalty, the hate, all of that is very real,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “We certainly missed it (last season). It’s as intense and emotional and means as much as any rivalry in college football. It’s a big deal.”

It also means Carolina will be hosting the game for the second time in as many meetings. But if the Tigers can get out of Columbia with yet another win Saturday, their seven-game winning streak in the series would match their longest ever.

The only other time Clemson has won that many consecutive games over Carolina? You have to go all the way back to the FDR administration when the Tigers won every matchup from 1934 to 1940.

With the nation’s No. 8 scoring defense and an offense coming off its best performance of the season against Wake Forest, Clemson enter Saturday’s matchup winners of six of its last seven games overall. But South Carolina has a some momentum, too, in Shane Beamer’s first season at the helm.

Even with their third-string quarterback, Jason Brown, at the offensive controls, the Gamecocks are bowl-eligible having won two of their last three games over Florida and Auburn. Both of those wins came at home.

“They’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “They’re playing physical, and they’re playing with a ton of effort. And I think that’s a reflection of what Shane has been able to do in a short time.”

The Tigers are a two-touchdown favorite in this year’s matchup, but Clemson isn’t expecting anything easy to come against the Gamecocks, particularly at a stadium that’s sure to be accompanied by a raucous atmosphere under the lights. Carolina is 5-1 at home this season and has yet allow more than 17 points in its own stadium.

“Going down to Williams-Brice at 7:30 at night, they’re not going to be too kind to us,” Elliott said.

An entire state will be watching to see what happens.

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At Clemson, Carolina game is a season all by itself

As Clemson was rolling along and destroying just about everyone in its way, on the way to six straight College Football Playoff appearances and two national championships the last six seasons, some wondered if the Tigers even consider South Carolina …

As Clemson was rolling along and destroying just about everyone in its way, on the way to six straight College Football Playoff appearances and two national championships the last six seasons, some wondered if the Tigers even consider South Carolina its rival.

During its current six-game winning streak in the series, Clemson has defeated the Gamecocks by an average margin of 25.3 points, including a 38-3 victory in Columbia in 2019, the last time the two met on the gridiron.

But the Tigers, who will visit USC (6-5) on Saturday to renew one of the oldest rivalries in the South, put those thoughts to rest when they explained what winning the State Championship means to the Clemson program.

Earlier this week, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was very open to a caller on his call-in show when asked if he still remembers the five-bombs Gamecock fans displayed in photos during Carolina’s five-game win streak. They did it when he took the time to take pictures with them. Swinney made it clear he will never forget those images and it still motivates him and his Tigers today.

Though he is from California and has not played in the Palmetto State’s biggest game, it has been made clear to quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei the importance of the South Carolina game and what it means to the Clemson Football Program.

Linebacker James Skalski, who will experience his sixth Clemson-Carolina game, even went as far to say that beating the Gamecocks is a different goal all together at Clemson.

“I don’t even group this game with a national championship. It is in its own category,” he said. “This game, this week, it is like its own thing. It is like, there is a season and then there is South Carolina. So that is kind of how we look at it here.”

That explains why the Tigers (8-3) have won the last six meetings over South Carolina, and why a win at Williams-Brice on Saturday will tie their own mark of seven straight in the series. Currently, the 1934-’40 Clemson teams hold the series record by either school with seven straight victories.

The Tigers hold an all-time lead in the series 71-42-4. The 71 wins mark the most victories over any opponent Clemson has faced throughout its history.

Swinney learned right away, when he came to Clemson in 2003 as its wide receivers coach, what the South Carolina rivalry means to Clemson.

“I learned really quick, this a great rivalry. It is an historic rivalry,” he said. “It means a lot, you know. It means a lot to the people in this state. It is one of those games where you might have a husband and wife—Clemson and South Carolina—and it is no big deal when they are playing Tennessee or Georgia or Missouri or whatever. But in this state, when Clemson-South Carolina play, it impacts everyone.

“They are going to talk about it at church. They are going to talk about it at dinner. They will talk about it at their Thanksgiving get-togethers. It is just a part of the DNA of South Carolina and I think it is just really fun to be a part of those things. It is better when you win, but it is fun to be a part of rivalry games and all that comes with it for sure.”

It is perhaps even more special considering last year’s game was cancelled by the SEC due to the pandemic. It ended a streak of 111 consecutive meetings between the two rivals, the second longest uninterrupted series in college football at the time.

“It was disappointing because it means a lot to the people in this state,” Swinney said. “But it is what is. It did not really affect us, but it was a disappointment for both sides. I am sure (South Carolina was) disappointed, too. It was an opportunity to (continue) a tradition that you look forward to every year, and then all of a sudden you can’t do it.”

But they will get to play it on Saturday when the 118th edition of the Clemson-Carolina game kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

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Skalski reminiscing on storybook rivalry with Gamecocks

With No. 23 Clemson’s regular season quickly coming to a close, the Tigers are looking ahead to the renewal of their historic in-state rivalry with the South Caroline Gamecocks on Saturday. Though he didn’t grow up with it, Georgia-native James …

With No. 23 Clemson’s regular season quickly coming to a close, the Tigers are looking ahead to the renewal of their historic in-state rivalry with the South Caroline Gamecocks on Saturday.

Though he didn’t grow up with it, Georgia-native James Skalski has grown to love the iconic rivalry that is the Clemson-South Carolina game and the high stakes that come along with it every year.

“I’m from Georgia, so I wasn’t really a fan of anyone in particular,” Skalski told the media on Tuesday. “I got recruited by them [South Carolina] pretty heavily… I’d be lying if I said to you that I wasn’t considering them when I was getting recruited. Now though being here, I’ve learned over the years that it’s a big deal and I’m not a big fan of them anymore now, but it means a lot to a lot of people. This game, Coach [Dabo] Swinney talks about it all the time, 10-1 and have a great year, but if you lose to these guys, you’re going to hear about it from our fans, from theirs, and the people in the state.”

The linebacker credits former teammates like Ben Boulware, who grew up in the heart of the rivalry, for giving him a warm welcome into the yearly tradition and emulating the kind of intensity needed to successfully face the Gamecocks.

“I remember Boulware always being charged up about,” the sixth year said. “He’s from here and he loves Clemson, so I remember listening to him and hearing his perspective on it. Everyone in this building understands the importance of the game and how much energy you have to put into it and bring to it.”

Though Skalski has had plenty of fond memories against the Gamecocks in his six years and six straight wins with the program, the linebacker will never forget his freshman year in 2017 when the Tiger’s dominated the Palmetto State rivalry in Death Valley and he dreamed of the moments to come when it was his turn to take the field and experience it firsthand.

“I remember freshman year we beat them 56-7 here at home,” Skalski said. “I remember, that was my first one and the stadium was rocking. I remember Mike Williams going crazy in that game. I remember Ben [Boulware], watching him and Kendall [Joseph] prepare that week and then just dominating. You could see Ben on the field that game calling out plays before they even happen… I vividly remember that.”

Clemson travels to Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. on Saturday, Nov. 27 for its final regular season game of the 2021 season to reignite their in-state rivalry with the South Carolina Gamecocks. With a win on Saturday, head coach Dabo Swinney would be the first coach in the rivalry’s history to win seven straight meetings. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

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Plenty at stake for Clemson in showdown with Wake Forest

The scenario for Clemson entering its final home game of the season is pretty cut and dry: Win or else. There’s still no guarantee the Tigers make it to their seventh straight ACC championship game even if the former happens. Clemson (7-3, 5-2 ACC) …

The scenario for Clemson entering its final home game of the season is pretty cut and dry: Win or else.

There’s still no guarantee the Tigers make it to their seventh straight ACC championship game even if the former happens. Clemson (7-3, 5-2 ACC) still needs Wake Forest (9-1, 6-0) to lose next week to Boston College and North Carolina State to lose at least one of its last two conference games.

But if the Tigers don’t take care of business against the 10th-ranked Demon Deacons today in a game Vegas actually has Clemson favored in, then nothing else matters. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is set for noon.

“We’re trying to stay alive,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “We’re a wounded dog on the side of the road. We need a little help, but we’re still alive.”

While the ACC’s Atlantic Division race may be at the top of the list, it’s not the only thing at stake for the Tigers.

With a win, the Tigers’ senior class would finish 26-0 at home over the last four seasons, becoming the second straight group of seniors to go undefeated at Memorial Stadium during their playing careers in a four-year span. That hasn’t happened since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration (1940-41) when Clemson was playing its home games at Riggs Field. Memorial Stadium didn’t open until 1942.

Clemson’s last loss at home happened back in 2016 against Pittsburgh, a game in which five “super seniors” on this year’s roster didn’t play. The Tigers have ripped off 33 straight home wins since, another streak they’re trying to keep going against Wake Forest. It’s the longest active home winning streak in the nation.

“We haven’t lost a game at home in like five years,” said one of those super seniors, linebacker James Skalski. “It’d be pretty cool to go out with the longest win streak at home and to keep it going not only for our class but next year and the year after that. Just keep the momentum going.”

Asked what the biggest reason is for Clemson’s success on its home turf, Skalski gave a nod to those who turn out to support the Tigers each fall.

“It’s a great stadium, but the fans make it what it is,” he said. “The energy they bring. The passion. It’s just a special place. You can feel it when you’re playing in the stadium. I’m going to miss it a lot when it’s done.”

In order to keep all of that in play, Clemson will have to play perhaps its most complete game against what Swinney called the most complete team the Tigers have seen all season. Wake Forest is enjoying its best season under eighth-year coach Dave Clawson, whose offense, led by fourth-year sophomore Sam Hartman, is scoring the second-most points in the country (44.7 per game). The Demon Deacons are the only team in the Football Bowl Subdivision that’s scored at least 35 in every game it’s played.

They’re balanced, too. While Wake Forest does a lot of its damage with big plays through the passing game (14th nationally in passing yards), the Demon Deacons also rank 50th in the FBS in rushing (180 yards per game).

Clemson will counter with the nation’s No. 3 scoring defense and a unit that’s yielded the fewest plays of 20 yards or more in the ACC. The Tigers had few problems slowing Hartman and company down last season in a 37-13 win, holding Wake Forest to 330 yards and one touchdown.

“The past is the past,” Skalski said. “That doesn’t mean anything. They’re a different. We’re a different team. It’s about can we execute right here and right now?”

Defensively is where Wake Forest struggles the most, but how much the banged-up Tigers are able to take advantage of that remains to be seen. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei is still battling a sprained knee, and his backup, Taisun Phommachanh, is questionable to play with a shoulder injury. Clemson will also be without its leading receiver, Justyn Ross (foot), whose college career may be over.

The running game should get a boost from the return of Clemson’s top two running backs, Will Shipley and Kobe Pace, as well as starting offensive lineman Will Putnam. The Tigers will try to bounce back from a 129-yard rushing performance against Connecticut last week — their 3.1 yards per carry tied for the fewest in the last five games — against a Wake Forest defense allowing more than 200 yards a game on the ground.

For the Tigers, it’s all about whatever it takes one last time this season at Death Valley, where all of Clemson’s league wins have come by 10 points or less.

“This is a huge game for a lot of reasons,” Swinney said.

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