Tag: Josh Sapp

Briningstool makes lofty claim about Clemson’s offense

The struggles Clemson’s offense had a season ago isn’t shaking Jake Briningstool’s confidence in the group’s potential this fall. This time a year ago, Briningstool was just getting started in an offense that fell well short of the standard set in …

The struggles Clemson’s offense had a season ago isn’t shaking Jake Briningstool’s confidence in the group’s potential this fall.

This time a year ago, Briningstool was just getting started in an offense that fell well short of the standard set in recent years. Clemson plummeted to 82nd or worse nationally in yards, points and passing offense.

But with more than half the starters back on that side of the ball, Briningstool is confident in not only his position group but the offense as a whole bouncing back in a big way this season.

“I wholeheartedly believe we’ve got the best tight end room in the country, and I think we’ve got the best offense in the country, too,” he said. “I’m ready to see what we can do.”

Clemson has four starters back on the offensive line as well as its top three running backs. Joseph Ngata, E.J. Williams, Beaux Collins and Brannon Spector are back at receiver while senior Davis Allen returns to lead Briningstool’s position group. But if a turnaround is going to happen, it has to start with improvement from D.J. Uiagalelei, who enters his second full season as the starting quarterback.

Uiagalelei’s struggles with accuracy and confidence a season ago have been well-documented, but coaches and teammates have largely praised the junior signal caller’s performance in the spring and during preseason camp. Count Briningstool among those who’ve seen a difference in Uiagalelei beyond the weight loss.

“He’s been great forever, but he feels a lot more relaxed, and I think he can really sling it,” Briningstool said of Uiagalelei. “He does some stuff that’s unreal back there, so I’m excited to see him get his confidence back and see what we can do together.”

A former top-100 recruit, Briningstool caught just three passes in eight games as a true freshman last season but has worked his way up the depth chart and is primed to make a bigger impact this season. Sage Ennis, super senior Luke Price and true freshman Josh Sapp are also at the position, but the 6-foot-6, 235-pound Briningstool has a unique skill set at the position that he believes new position coach Kyle Richardson, who doubles as the passing-game coordinator, will try to take advantage of in certain situations.

“I would just say we’ve got a lot more opportunities for us,” Briningstool said of the tight ends. “I think we can really open up the passing game, create mismatches, just keep the ball moving and keep on going.”

Briningstool said he wouldn’t be surprised if there are times he and Allen are on the field at the same time this season. The offense’s 2022 debut will come Labor Day night against Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

“I feel like the tight ends, we’ve got a better situation now with the way we’re going to be used,” Briningstool said. “I think me and Davis both are going to make a big impact.”

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Swinney praises Clemson’s tight ends, which have been ‘really good’ since the start of fall camp

Following Wednesday’s final camp scrimmage, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney spoke with the media and was asked about the progression of his tight ends since the start of fall camp. Swinney said that Kyle Richardson’s group has been “really good” and then …

Following Wednesday’s final camp scrimmage, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney spoke with the media and was asked about the progression of his tight ends since the start of fall camp.

Swinney said that Kyle Richardson’s group has been “really good” and then rifled off some updates on the progress that each of Davis Allen, Jake Briningstool, Sage Ennis, Luke Price and Josh Sapp have made.

Allen, Clemson’s top draft prospect at the position, is beginning his first season atop the depth chart after taking over that spot last season after Braden Galloway sustained a season-ending injury. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder finished third on the team in receptions last season (28) and tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions (3).

“Davis Allen is a solid oak tree, man. He’s steady. He’s a pro,” Swinney said. “He’s the epitome of pro in how he handles himself, his commitment, his toughness, everything about him. So, I’m really pleased with him.”

Swinney made sure to talk up Briningstool, who is seemingly coming into his own as an all-around tight end. Richardson mentioned earlier this summer that the biggest thing for the second-year tight end and his development would be consistency. So far, he’s been among the standouts at his position during fall camp.

“Brinny’s been awesome,” Swinney said. “This has been by far the best patch of Brinny that we’ve had. He’s the best Briningstool that he’s been since he got here. Last year, he was like a dang two-year-old lab running around out there; and just wide open, 100 miles an hour. Super talented. And then had to get bigger, had to get stronger and had a lot to learn.”

“I thought he finished well in the spring and I think he carried that momentum over in the summer,” Swinney continued. “But, he’s had a really good camp. I mean, he’s a really talented player and he’s done some really good things. I feel great.”

Ennis, a third-year sophomore, could take on his biggest role yet as the No. 2 option at the position, though he’ll have to hold off a former top-100 recruit in Briningstool, perhaps the best pure receiving tight end on the roster at 6-6 and 235 pounds, for that spot on the depth chart.

“Sage is kind of the same as Davis (Allen), man,” Swinney said. “Just very steady, tough, gritty. It’s a good group. And then, nobody ever talks about Luke Price. But Luke Price has really made himself a good player. I mean, he’s a guy that’s short-yardage and goal line, you want Luke Price in the game. He brings grit, toughness and an incredible football IQ. This guy really, really knows the game and has worked hard on all aspects of playing tight end.

Meanwhile, Price, a former walk-on linebacker, is the “grandpa” in the room, who’s played in 25 career games.

All five players make up a “good group” that can considerably help Clemson’s offense as security blankets for DJ Uiagalelei in the passing game and effective run-blockers for the guys in the backfield.

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‘We hit a home run getting that kid’: Freshman tight end continues to impress

Clemson has a group of tight ends that head coach Dabo Swinney believes is in line for a big season. Whether or not Josh Sapp becomes part of those plans immediately remains to be seen, but the true freshman continues to impress at the position …

Clemson has a group of tight ends that head coach Dabo Swinney believes is in line for a big season.

Whether or not Josh Sapp becomes part of those plans immediately remains to be seen, but the true freshman continues to impress at the position during preseason camp.

“I’m going to tell you, Josh Sapp, we hit a home run getting that kid,” Swinney said this week. “We’re lucky to have him. He’s a really good player.”

Swinney said the 6-foot-1, 240-pound Sapp has “made a play every day” during camp that’s caught the collective eye of the coaching staff. That includes a touchdown catch to start the scoring in the Tigers’ final full-scale scrimmage Wednesday.

Of course, Sapp arrived at Clemson this summer plenty familiar with the program he signed with December. A legacy recruit out of Greenville Senior High School, Sapp is the son of former Tiger Patrick Sapp, a quarterback and linebacker for Clemson in the early 1990s.

The gene pool sticks out with the younger Sapp when it comes to his athleticism and versatility, Swinney said.

“He’s probably a lot like his dad was. Just a diverse, savvy guy,” Swinney said. “You really study Josh Sapp, he’s played everything from quarterback to tight end to receiver to running back to d-end to linebacker. He’s played a lot of things in his career. And he’s a really good basketball player. He’s just a big athlete. This kid is 240 pounds with really soft hands, and he’s hard to tackle.”

Sapp is part of a tight end room that also includes Davis Allen, Sage Ennis, Jake Briningstool and Luke Price. Allen, who could be taken in next year’s NFL Draft, is the leader of the group while Swinney said Briningstool, a former blue-chip recruit, is the best he’s been at Clemson heading into his sophomore season. Ennis and Allen are healthy again after missing the spring with injuries while Price brings plenty of experience and leadership to the position as a super senior.

Swinney said Sapp is still doing a lot of learning as a first-year player trying to pick up the Tigers’ offense. That combined with those ahead of him on the depth chart could make playing time hard to come by this fall, but Sapp continues to do what he can to try to change that.

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Swinney ‘really, really excited’ about this freshman

While much of the attention within Clemson’s newest crop of freshmen has been paid to some of the mid-year enrollees, as well as Antonio Williams and Cole Turner, this true freshman caught the eye of head coach Dabo Swinney during this past …

While much of the attention within Clemson’s newest crop of freshmen has been paid to some of the mid-year enrollees, as well as Antonio Williams and Cole Turner, this true freshman caught the eye of head coach Dabo Swinney during this past Saturday’s scrimmage.

While Swinney was asked specifically about the tight ends room, it didn’t take long for him to bring up Josh Sapp, who made a nice play during Clemson’s first camp scrimmage on Saturday.

“Really glad we got him,” Swinney said of Sapp. “He’s a little ball player now. He’s tough. He’s natural. He’s a really good athlete. It just comes easy for him. He’s a fit kid. He ain’t afraid. He’s played linebacker. He’s played d-end. He’s played quarterback. He’s played running back. I mean, he’s a basketball player. He’s just a really smooth athlete.”

Sapp is another legacy recruit for the Tigers, following in the footsteps of his father Patrick, who played for Clemson from 1992-95 before going on to be a second-round pick in the NFL Draft. Unlike his father, though, the younger Sapp plays on the offensive side of the ball, where he was one of South Carolina’s top prep tight ends last fall. He caught 50 passes for 836 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final high school season played in the Shrine Bowl.

Josh didn’t play his first full season at tight end until this past fall at Greenville High. It’s why he flew under the radar during his recruitment, even after a productive senior season. Clemson offered Josh on Oct. 14, 2021, and he committed to Swinney’s program five days later.

He would later sign during the early signing period in December but didn’t enroll until June.

It goes without saying, but the younger Sapp is a prospect that Clemson has been impressed with thus far.

“I’m really, really excited about him,” Swinney said.

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Freshman TE, son of former Tiger talks transition to Clemson

Josh Sapp has been to Clemson countless times in the past, but being a player is a different experience. The freshman tight end from nearby Greenville (S.C.) High School is the son of former Clemson and NFL linebacker Patrick Sapp. The transition …

Josh Sapp has been to Clemson countless times in the past, but being a player is a different experience. The freshman tight end from nearby Greenville (S.C.) High School is the son of former Clemson and NFL linebacker Patrick Sapp.

The transition has been so far, so good.

“It’s been great meeting all my teammates and getting close with them — some of them I’ve been talking to before,” Josh told The Clemson Insider this past Sunday at an NIL collective appearance in Clemson this past Sunday. “Really just been adjusting with school and the practice schedule and learning new plays and stuff like that.”

While Josh committed to now-former offensive coordinator/tight ends coach, Tony Elliott, it hasn’t taken long for him to embrace Kyle Richardson.

“Coach Richardson, he’s a great dude, man,” Josh said of his new position coach. “He’s a straightforward coach that”ll really help you out with anything with football or outside of football. I’m enjoying it and we’re building a great relationship so far.”

Clemson’s tight ends coach/passing game coordinator spoke at length during a media appearance last Tuesday inside the Allen N. Reeves Football Complex. Shortly after sitting down, The Clemson Insider asked Richardson about the lone freshman in his room.

“Sapp looks great,” Richardson said back on Tuesday, July 19. “He came in looking awesome. He, obviously, did some things on his own and took that seriously…We’re not in the workouts with him and doing those types of things, but he’s come in and he’s jumped right into the classroom academically…he’s doing great. Really excited about being able to get my hands on him and work with him here in August and he’s got a bright future here as a Clemson Tiger.”

While Josh hasn’t had a chance to work directly with Richardson, he has been able to embrace his teammates in his position group. Since enrolling at Clemson earlier this summer, Josh has kept close with veterans like Davis Allen and Luke Price, both of which have helped him learn the intricacies of the playbook and what he should be focusing on as a freshman.

“We got some great guys in the tight end room,” he said. “It’s been smooth learning from those guys. They’ve been real helpful.”

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The Newcomer Files: Josh Sapp

Clemson signed 21 players as part of its 2022 recruiting class, some of whom still have yet to make it to campus. Nine signees went through spring practice as early enrollees while the rest, including transfer Hunter Johnson, will arrive on campus …

Clemson signed 21 players as part of its 2022 recruiting class, some of whom still have yet to make it to campus.

Nine signees went through spring practice as early enrollees while the rest, including transfer Hunter Johnson, will arrive on campus this summer. The Clemson Insider is taking a closer look at each newcomer and the likelihood of him contributing immediately this fall based on development and positional need.

Next up is Josh Sapp.

Position: Tight end

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 235 pounds

Ranking: 3 stars (247Sports Composite)

Previous school: Greenville Senior High

Early enrollee? No

The skinny: Sapp is a legacy recruit for the Tigers, following in the footsteps of his father, Patrick, who played for Clemson from 1992-95 before going on to be a second-round pick in the NFL Draft. Unlike his father, though, the younger Sapp plays on the offensive side of the ball, where he was one of South Carolina’s top prep tight ends last fall. He caught 50 passes for 836 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final high school season and played in the Shrine Bowl.

But given the numbers the Tigers have at the tight end position, Sapp may have to bide his time. Davis Allen, who rose to the top of the depth chart last season, is back for his senior year while sophomores Sage Ennis and Jake Briningstool, a former blue-chip recruit, are competing for playing time, too. Even super senior Luke Price is back to provide further depth at the position. Sapp will join the mix for the first time once fall camp starts, but his primary contributions may come on special teams in Year 1 if he doesn’t redshirt.

Local product, lifelong Clemson fan eager to prove himself at Swinney Camp

Among the participants at the Dabo Swinney Camp next Thursday, June 2, will be a local product, who projects as a wide receiver/tight end. While Greenville (S.C.) High School’s Mac McLean is a household name just yet, that could change after this …

Among the participants at the Dabo Swinney Camp next Thursday, June 2, will be a local product, who projects as a wide receiver/tight end. 

While Greenville (S.C.) High School’s Mac McLean is a household name just yet, that could change after this summer. He’s a talented athlete without the film to go with it, but he’s also ready to prove himself on the camp circuit this summer.

The Clemson Insider recently caught up with McLean, who signed up to participate in Swinney Camp next week on his own accord. As a life-long Clemson fan, who has had multiple family members attend the University, McLean is more than ready to prove to the coaching staff that he belongs.

“It’s going to mean a lot,” he said. “I’m definitely going to bed early the night before, so I’m ready for camp. I’m gonna give it my all, go hard every rep and definitely talk to all the coaches I can.”

McLean (6-2, 190) envisions that he’ll work out with the wide receivers and Tyler Grisham when he partakes in Swinney Camp next week. While he asked that we label him as a tight end, McLean understands that there likely won’t be a lot of live blocking and that it would probably behoove him to work out at receiver on the camp circuit.

In addition to Clemson, McLean has been invited to camp at Liberty, East Carolina, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and the Old Dominion mega camp, to name a few. McLean told us that he’ll be at Wofford on June 5 and Furman on June 25. He’s also looking to camp at the University of South Carolina this summer.

McLean’s upcoming junior season will be critical for his recruitment going forward. It’s all about him putting together a full season’s worth of film. Rather than getting a chance to start on Greenville’s JV team last season, McLean elected to forego significant playing time and learn from one of the best tight ends in the Palmetto State.

This past season, McLean backed up Clemson’s three-star tight end signee, Josh Sapp.

“I know he didn’t commit to Clemson until the end of our regular season,” McLean said, “but I knew he was gonna end up at a D1 school. I didn’t want to leave that. I had to take that chance.”

“Last year I was soaking up all the information, just watching him practice and learning everything I can,” he continued. “We also got Mazeo Bennett and Tyler Brown — two great receivers. So, I’m just learning from them and doing my best.”

Having the opportunity to learn from a player like Sapp provided McLean with invaluable experience. McLean would watch how Sapp ran his routes in practice and tries to model his game after the Clemson legacy recruit.

“It’s a blessing to be behind such a great player and Greenville (High School), we have a ton of great players and our offense last year was amazing,” McLean said. 

McLean is a natural in the classroom, as he owns a 4.0 GPA, but he’s also a natural athlete.

“I’m hardworking and I’m never gonna quit,” he said when asked to describe himself as a player. “You’re gonna get the best of me every rep, even if we’re down by 20. I’m always going to go at it.”

Greenville has had 50-plus schools stop by during spring practice. McLean said that his head coach, Greg Porter, told teams that inquired about him, that the rising tight end just needs a full season of film under his belt.

— Photo for this article courtesy of Mac McLean.

Grisham checks up on future Tigers, other recruits

While out and about on the recruiting trail this week, Clemson wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham checked up on a few future Tigers, among other recruits. On Tuesday, Grisham traveled to Dutch Fork High School (Irmo, S.C.) to attend one of Antonio …

While out and about on the recruiting trail this week, Clemson wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham checked up on a few future Tigers, among other recruits.

On Tuesday, Grisham traveled to Dutch Fork High School (Irmo, S.C.) to attend one of Antonio Williams’ basketball games.

Williams, a highly regarded wide receiver rated as a top-100 player nationally by multiple outlets, signed with Clemson in December and plans to enroll this summer.

On Wednesday, Grisham also stopped by Greenville (S.C.) High School, which produced a pair of 2022 Clemson signees in offensive lineman Collin Sadler and tight end Josh Sapp.

Like Williams, Sadler and Sapp signed with the Tigers in December. Sadler is already at Clemson as an early enrollee, while Sapp is expected to enroll this summer.

A couple of other prospects from Greenville High on Grisham and Clemson’s radar are 2024 wide receiver Mazeo Bennett and 2023 wide receiver Tyler Brown.

On Wednesday, Grisham was also at Florence (Ala.) High School, where 2023 five-star cornerback Jahlil Hurley attends.

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Second generation signee won Swinney, Clemson over in camp

After being unable to secure the commitments of some of the nation’s top-rated tight ends, Clemson shifted its focus to a legacy recruit. Greenville (S.C.) three-star tight end Josh Sapp – the son of former Clemson and NFL linebacker Patrick Sapp – …

After being unable to secure the commitments of some of the nation’s top-rated tight ends, Clemson shifted its focus to a legacy recruit.

Greenville (S.C.) three-star tight end Josh Sapp — the son of former Clemson and NFL linebacker Patrick Sapp — officially put pen to paper with the Tigers on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period for class of 2022 football recruits.

“Clemson has always been a dream school of mine and it just feels like I’m at home when I’m there and everything about it is just great,” Josh told The Clemson Insider regarding his decision to commit to Clemson. “It was a no-brainer for me. It just felt right.”

Josh definitely fell victim to being under-recruited, considering how many different positions he played at Greenville High School.

Clemson didn’t realize just how much potential he had at the tight end position until he camped at the Dabo Swinney Camp as a rising senior this past summer.

“They said that they just didn’t know how good Josh was because he’s played quarterback, he’s played defensive end and when you watch his film, he plays a lot of different positions,” Patrick told TCI following his son’s commitment to Clemson. “They didn’t know he was a true tight end until he got to camp. I can tell that they were somewhat surprised by that and wished that they had got in much earlier on really recruiting him.”

“The one thing we loved about Josh, the more and more we evaluated him, is his versatility,” Swinney said Wednesday during Clemson Football’s National Signing Day Show. “He’s played quarterback, tight end, receiver, linebacker, defensive end, he’s played it all. He’s got a great football mind and really understands the game. Incredibly athletic, excellent basketball player, great ball skills and I think has a chance to develop into a really excellent player.”

Josh, like Tigers’ four-star wide receiver signee Adam Randall, had been camping at Clemson for years. He had the opportunity to be coached up by former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott and from that point on, there was mutual interest.

“We needed a tight end in this class and the same thing, this kid came to camp and won us over in camp,” Swinney added. “Tony couldn’t say enough. We really fell in love with Josh Sapp…What a cool, cool thing to be able to see this young man grow up and now have an opportunity to be a Clemson Tiger.”

Josh helped Greenville to a 10-3 record and the final four of the state playoffs, which was his high school’s first appearance in the Upper State title game.

He finally came into his own at the tight end position with an outstanding senior campaign, in which he recorded 50 receptions for 836 yards with 10 touchdowns.

Swinney isn’t the only one excited about what Sapp brings to the table. Newly minted tight ends coach Kyle Richardson gave his stamp of approval for what will be the first new addition to his room.

“Really excited about Josh Sapp here at tight end,” Richardson said via Sapp’s official Clemson bio. “He has great size, can run, catches with his hands and finishes plays. He’s very physical after the catch when you watch his film, it takes more than one defender to bring him down, which is great.”

“He comes from a great family and through his family, he knows that great Clemson football tradition and I can’t wait to see him add to that tradition as a Clemson Tiger.”

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What They Are Saying: Clemson commits impress in Saturday action

Saturday afternoon was a big one for Clemson’s commits. Sherrod Covil led Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) to a State Championship victory. The four-star safety pledge finished his high school career as a back-to-back 6A State Champion. Though, Covil …

Saturday afternoon was a big one for Clemson’s commits.

Sherrod Covil led Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) to a State Championship victory. The four-star safety pledge finished his high school career as a back-to-back 6A State Champion.

Though, Covil wasn’t the only one playing with a State Championship on the line Saturday. Clemson’s five-star quarterback commit Cade Klubnik led Westlake (Texas) to a 45-14 victory over Katy (TX.) in the state semifinals, earning a trip to the state title game.

As for Myrtle Beach (S.C.) four-star wide receiver commit Adam Randall and Greenville (S.C.) three-star tight end pledge Josh Sapp, the duo combined for four catches with 60 yards and a touchdown during Saturday’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl.

In this edition of “What They Are Saying”, we take a look at what’s being said on Twitter about Clemson’s commits following Saturday’s impressive performances:

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