Taking inventory: Defensive end

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 and offensive tackle have already been assessed.

Now we’ll take a look at the defensive side of the ball starting with the defensive ends.

A quick note first: This is where things currently stand with Clemson’s personnel at defensive end. 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

The edges of Clemson’s defensive front had arguably the most quality depth of any position on the roster heading into the season. While the Tigers lost some of it along the way, the group didn’t disappoint.

Myles Murphy, Xavier Thomas, K.J. Henry, Justin Mascoll and Justin Foster had all started at least one game at defensive end entering the season, and that blend of talent and experience showed up with Murphy and Thomas leading the way. A former five-star recruit, Murphy has followed up his freshman All-America campaign with a stronger sophomore season, leading the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense with seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss en route to second-team All-ACC honors.

He also had 10 quarterback hurries during the regular season, which ranks third on the team behind linebacker James Skalski and Thomas, who has bounced back from a disappointing 2020 season. Thomas, who’s started nine of the 11 games he’s played, leads the team with 15 hurries to go with 3.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and 26 tackles, giving Clemson one of the top edge tandems in the ACC when healthy.

That hasn’t always been the case. Thomas dealt with a hamstring injury late in the regular season that sidelined him for Clemson’s most recent game against South Carolina. Meanwhile, Foster underwent back surgery that ended his season after just five games while Mascoll has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury, further cutting into the depth at the position.

But Henry did a serviceable filling in as a starter. Another former blue-chip recruit, the fourth-year junior has started three games and combined for six tackles and 1.5 sacks in the final two games of the regular season. Thomas hasn’t been limited during bowl practice and looks primed to return to the starting lineup for the bowl game.

Will it be the last game in a Clemson uniform for the veterans the Tigers have at the position?

Barring a transfer, Murphy, who’s not yet draft-eligible, will be returning. Sixth-year senior Regan Upshaw is out of eligibility while Henry, Thomas, Mascoll and Foster have all been a part of Clemson’s program for at least four seasons but could decide to use the COVID year granted by the NCAA last season to return, though the odds of all four doing that aren’t in Clemson’s favor.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney suggested recently he still doesn’t know what they’re going to decide to do, adding he’ll keep scholarships open for them just in case. He should have their answers after the bowl game if not sooner.

But even if some of them decide to move on, the Tigers still have some depth at the position, albeit largely unproven.

Sophomore Kevin Swint filled out the rotation, flashing some of his potential in limited action. He finished the regular season with nine tackles, three tackles for loss and a hurry in nine games. Third-year sophomore Greg Williams has played in four games as a reserve. There’s also freshmen Cade Denhoff and Zaire Patterson, a pair of highly touted ends in Clemson’s 2021 recruiting class who are in line to redshirt.

Who’s leaving?

Upshaw, Thomas (maybe), Henry (maybe), Mascoll (maybe), Foster (maybe)

Who’s staying?

Murphy, Thomas (maybe), Henry (maybe), Mascoll (maybe), Foster (maybe), Swint, Williams, Denhoff, Patterson

Who’s joining?

Nobody as of now

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Swinney announces Clemson loses another D-line starter for year

During his Zoom conference call with reporters Sunday evening, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney revealed that another player will be out for the season. Swinney said redshirt senior defensive end Justin Foster is done for the year. Foster, Swinney …

During his Zoom conference call with reporters Sunday evening, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney revealed that another player will be out for the season.

Swinney said redshirt senior defensive end Justin Foster is done for the year.

Foster, Swinney said, has been battling a lower back injury.

“We’ve done a couple epidurals and it’s just not really getting the job done,” Swinney said. “It’s at the point where he’s going to have to have back surgery to alleviate the problem.”

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Grading Clemson’s defense through the first half of the season

Clemson won’t officially hit the halfway point on its 12-game regular season until after its game at Syracuse next week, but it’s close enough. With an open date to take a step back and evaluate where the Tigers are as a team, TCI is handing out …

Let’s hand out some grades for each position on defense through five games:

Defensive line

The front was expected to be the strength of the defense coming into the season given the mix of talent and depth the Tigers had there. Both have taken a hit because of some significant injuries, but the line is still holding its own.

Not many defenses would be able to lose both starting defensive tackles and keep rolling the way Clemson’s has. First, it was Tyler Davis who had to have surgery on his bicep that will keep him out until November. Then it was Bryan Bresee, who went down with a torn ACL against North Carolina State. Ruke Orhorhoro and Tre Williams have now become starters on the interior, and the Tigers have developed some depth with Darnell Jefferies, Etinosa Reubun and true freshman Payton Page having to be part of the rotation, too.

Meanwhile, the Tigers still have their numbers intact at end. Myles Murphy and Xavier Thomas (10 tackles for loss and six sacks) have been terrors off the edge while K.J. Henry, Justin Mascoll and Justin Foster (who’s also slid inside some) are there as well. Clemson has ranked in the top 30 nationally in points allowed, yards allowed and rush defense all season, and the front four is a big reason why. Grade: A

Linebackers

Clemson began the season with a strong blend of experience, athleticism and high football IQ at the second level of its defense. The first five weeks have shown the Tigers have more quality depth than they may have initially thought, too.

Super senior James Skalski and Baylon Spector, a fifth-year player, lead the Tigers in tackles with 80 combined stops. Skalski, whom the Tigers consider the heart and soul of the defense, showed his knowledge and instincts in a big way when he snuffed out Georgia Tech’s goal-line shovel pass late in that game to help preserve the victory. Spector has quietly been a productive player on the weakside.

If there’s a weakness for Skalski and Spector, it’s pass coverage. But sophomore Trenton Simpson helps there. The sophomore strong-side ‘backer has shown the physicality to play in the box and the speed to run with tight ends when needed. And then there’s LaVonta Bentley, a backup who hasn’t played like one when filling in for Skalski and Spector, who have been slowed by injuries at times. Bentley is fourth on the team with 24 tackles and has three tackles for loss. Grade: A-

Secondary

Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich have answered most of the questions about Clemson’s cornerbacks coming into the season. Both have not only played well in coverage, but they’ve been some of the ACC’s top tackling corners when attacking the line of scrimmage. Booth is the Tigers’ third-leading tackler (26 stops) while Goodrich is right behind him (23).

Goodrich has produced his stats in four games after not playing last week against Boston College with a groin injury, forcing Sheridan Jones into a starting role. Jones had seven tackles in that game.

Sixth-year senior Nolan Turner is holding down one safety spot while true freshman Andrew Mukuba has been a revelation for the Tigers at the other. Mukuba is tied with Goodrich in tackles and leads the team with four pass breakups. But there’s depth at the safety position, too, with Jalyn Phillips, Joseph Charleston and R.J. Mickens, who has two of the Tigers’ five interceptions.

The group hasn’t been perfect. Boston College threw for more than 300 yards last week. But the Tigers are still in the top 50 nationally in passing yards allowed (203 per game), and they’ve done it without nickel Malcolm Greene (shoulder injury) for the last two games. Grade: B+

Overall

Even with the attrition, the defense has been one of the ACC’s best and has carried Clemson while the offense gets things figured out. The Tigers have yet to allow more than 14 points in regulation, though depth will be something to watch going forward if injuries continue to mount. There isn’t a glaring weakness at any level of the defense. Grade: A

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Foster hoping to show NFL scouts that he can ‘do it’

After stepping away from the game of football, Justin Foster didn’t know what his future entailed. Foster was unable to perform everyday activities following complications related to asthma and COVID-19. His dream of reaching the NFL would have to …

After stepping away from the game of football, Justin Foster didn’t know what his future entailed.

Foster was unable to perform everyday activities following complications related to asthma and COVID-19.

His dream of reaching the NFL would have to be put on hold. He had to get past his asthma attacks before he could even think about stepping back on a football field again.

After a long, frustrating road back from recovery, he’s back.

Now, those thoughts about a future in the game can persist.

“I’ve played all my life. That’s the goal, in the end, to make it to the league” Foster told reporters during Tuesday evening’s media availability. “If I get the opportunity, I will take it. That’s kind of how I look at it. I’m just gonna bust my tail every day and if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll take it and do the best I can.”

With that being said, what is Foster hoping that he can show NFL scouts, now that he’s back in the fold?

“I’d just like to show that I can do it,” he said. “I guess there’s been a lot of questions if he can actually come back and if he can do it if he can work through it with all my medical stuff. Just show them that I’m back and I’m gonna be better than I was.”

With that goal now in reach, Foster finds himself having a newfound appreciation for the game he loves.

Prior to missing the entirety of the 2020 season, Foster recorded 66 career tackles (17.5 for loss) and seven sacks over 39 career games with 13 starts dating from 2017-19. In his first season as a starter, which came back in 2019, he earned an honorable mention All-ACC selection, in addition to garnering All-ACC Academic honors.

Now that he’s feeling like himself again, Foster is hoping to put up those types of accolades to catch the attention of those at the next level.

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Podcast: Tigers face a tough task in the trenches

There are some that think Georgia is just going to roll right over Clemson in the Duke’s Mayo Kickoff Classic. Levon Kirkland and myself discuss that, as well as breakdown the matchups up front on both the offensive and defensive lines. We also have …

We also have interviews with Clemson offensive lineman Matt Bockhorst and defensive end Justin Foster.

You can listen to today’s podcast here (LINK), or listen to it and download it where you listen to all of your podcasts at either Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify.

Foster explains what separates this year’s DEs from the 2018 group

Though Justin Foster would not say this year’s defensive line can be as good as Clemson’s 2018 group, he said there is one area in which they do have an edge. The redshirt junior, who is returning to football after missing all of last year due to …

Though Justin Foster would not say this year’s defensive line can be as good as Clemson’s 2018 group, he said there is one area in which they do have an edge.

The redshirt junior, who is returning to football after missing all of last year due to complications from COVID-19, says this year’s group of defensive ends are deeper than they were during the Tigers’ national championship run three years ago.

“I feel like we have more depth than them overall,” he said.

Foster should know. He was a sophomore on the 2018 team, playing in all 15 games while recording 17 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks. Fellow defensive ends K.J. Henry and Justin Mascoll were also on that 2018 team, but they redshirted and played in a combined five games.

Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant, both who are now in the NFL, played the majority of the snaps in 2018. Foster says there will not be just two guys taking most of the snaps this year.

“The depth (is the difference). We can rotate guys and there is no drop off,” he said.

With Foster, along with Xavier Thomas, back, Clemson is as deep as it ever has been at defensive end. The Tigers also return preseason All-ACC defensive end Myles Murphy, Mascoll and Henry, both of whom shared starting duties in 2020.

“We can rotate X, me, K.J., Mascoll and Myles. There is a whole bunch of us that we just keep rotating in and out,” Foster said.

Foster and Thomas were both preseason All-ACC candidates in 2020 before COVID-19 derailed their seasons and put their careers on hold. Now they are back and ready to roll again, along with Kevin Swint, who moved over from linebacker to defensive end in the spring.

“There are a lot of talented guys in the room, and we just rotate on every play,” Foster said. “At the end of the day, two guys are going to run out there. I don’t really pay attention to it. I let the coaches do their job, and at the end of the day, we will all play and we will have a good time.”

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Frustrated Foster ‘kept the faith’ during long road back to recovery

Justin Foster had a chance to tell his story. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Foster detailed his long road back from recovery, why he chose to step away from the game of football and what drew him back to Clemson. “It’s great. I didn’t think …

Justin Foster had a chance to tell his story.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Foster detailed his long road back from recovery, why he chose to step away from the game of football and what drew him back to Clemson.

“It’s great. I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to step back out here. A lot of doctor’s appointments, a lot of discussions with (Dabo Swinney) and many other people,” Foster told reporters Tuesday evening. “I’m just happy to be out here. I kept the faith. I’m just having a great time.

Dabo Swinney has spoken about Foster’s situation many times in the past. He indicated that he had spoken to Foster at the tail end of Clemson’s 2020 campaign and wanted him to wait before making a decision on his future.

Foster stepped away from the game of football anyway.

“I was very frustrated with the whole situation and what was going on,” he said. “I had been going back-and-forth to doctors and I was going to MUSC (The Medical University of South Carolina). The last visit at MUSC, the doctor recommended me to give up football and just rest. He didn’t know how long it was going to be. He didn’t know if this was going to be a couple of months or if it was going to linger any longer.

“With that being said, I just kind of made the best decision for my health at the time and just mentally, I wasn’t in a good place. I sat around the whole year not knowing what’s going on, struggling with my health, so it was just best for me to step away.”

The most frustrating part for Foster was the unknown.

He would be in and out of trips to the doctor’s office and there was a level of uncertainty because of the lack of readily available information regarding the COVID-19 virus.

That became tiresome for Foster, just not knowing what the future held for his health.

He would start feeling better for about a week, feeling himself again, and then boom…The next day he was back at ground zero.

“Throughout the whole season, I was more shut down. I was very limited,” Foster said. “I didn’t do much of anything during the season. We tried to do things every day, but it was kind of hit or miss, whether there was an asthma attack the day before or whatever. I just had to be cautious and protect myself.

The main thing that Foster was dealing with was breathing. He was having a very bad allergic reaction, which was causing a lot of inflammation in his lungs.

So, when did Foster actually start feeling better?

It was when he made a call to Swinney. He doesn’t remember the exact time and date of the phone call but estimated that was around two or three months after he left the program.

“I just told him I was feeling better,” Foster said. “I didn’t know whether I was going to be able to play at the time, but I knew that I was feeling better and getting better each day. I wasn’t having as many setbacks as I was. And the doctors at Duke recommended that I go back and play and said that if I stick to the program they put me on and take my medicine that I would be able to play.”

With his football career on hold, Foster was just mainly hanging out. He did, however, go to work with his father at his trucking company for a little bit. Although, from there it was extremely difficult for Foster to do everyday activities.

“My dad recommended that I get my health under control before I figured out what was next in life,” he said.

Going back to Foster’s first visit at Duke, when he was told that he could go back and play football, he heard from Swinney immediately after the fact.

This phone call wasn’t unormal, but it certainly was out of the blue. Swinney wasn’t aware of Foster’s appointment, being that he was no longer with the team.

“That was kind of like a sign for me,” Foster said. “He was just calling to catch up…For me, that was like a ‘God wink’ as Coach Swinney calls it, and right there, as soon as I walked out the door, he rang. It was kind of crazy. I didn’t tell him then. I thought about it a little bit. Probably two weeks later, I called him and let him know.”

At that point in time, Foster felt like he was around 50-60%, so his status for this coming season was still up in the air.

He was feeling better mentally, but there were still some hurdles for him to overcome before he was ready to immerse himself back into the locker room with his teammates.

Overall, Foster’s breathing had improved and the inflammation in his lungs had cleared. He was told by his doctor that it may be uncomfortable, but Foster would be able to move forward. Nothing was going to be life-threatening at that point.

Foster was pushing himself, but he also needed some pushing.

Luckily, he had his family supporting him and one of his lifelong friends, Michael Smith, to push him.

Smith was with Foster every morning working out. He was the guy who would get Foster to go, even if he didn’t want to. He continually checked on him throughout the process.

Another part of the process for Foster was getting the vaccine.

He was hesitant at first but slowly warmed up to the idea after it was recommended to him by his doctors.

Once Foster got the vaccine, is when he started to improve, he said. Obviously, Foster didn’t feel so great after he got his dose, but it took about three weeks and he finally was able to get his asthma under control and feeling like himself again.

He’s been good ever since.

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Foster opens up about battle with COVID, return to field

It has been a long road back to the football field for Justin Foster. The senior Clemson defensive end initially wasn’t even planning on playing football this fall after stepping away from the game at the start of the offseason following …

It has been a long road back to the football field for Justin Foster.

The senior Clemson defensive end initially wasn’t even planning on playing football this fall after stepping away from the game at the start of the offseason following complications related to asthma and COVID-19.

However, this spring, Foster informed Clemson coaches of his intent to return to the team and resume training for the upcoming season, and he returned this summer.

Foster spoke to the media following Tuesday’s practice about what he dealt with last year when he was unavailable to play for the entire 2020 season.

“There were weeks where I felt really good and I felt like I could go out there,” Foster said. “But we were doing three or four days, and then all of a sudden I would have an asthma attack. And most of the time when I did have a problem, it would set me back three or four days. … So, I was very limited when I did have problems. Sometimes I wasn’t even coming to team meetings or even coming here, I just stayed at home and just rested.”

Foster said the hardest part of physically building himself back up was simply waking up and pushing himself every day, even when he was short of breath and wheezing or didn’t feel good.

“Just getting up and still trying to run, walk, do something,” he said. “Some days it was just like, I don’t want to do this, I’m just going to give up, and it’s just the fact of waking up. I knew I was getting better and just pushing myself each day.”

Foster said Monday’s practice was probably the best he’s felt since he has been back.

“I’ve had ups and downs, but no matter what, just kept on pushing,” he said. “I feel 100 percent now. I don’t really have any problems. … So, I feel really good.”

Prior to missing the 2020 season, Foster recorded 66 career tackles (17.5 for loss), 7.0 sacks, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery over 39 career games with 13 starts from 2017-19. In his first season as a starter in 2019, he earned an honorable mention All-ACC selection in addition to garnering All-ACC Academic honors.

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Defensive line meets expectations in Clemson’s first scrimmage

As Myles Murphy assessed how Clemson’s defensive line performed Saturday, the Tigers’ defensive end rattled off a long list of players that impressed him. Once he was done, nearly every first- and second-teamer had been mentioned. “Everybody stood …

“Everybody stood out today,” said Murphy, a freshman All-American a season ago. “Got in the backfield, kind of just retraced the entire offensive line into the backfield and got pressure on the quarterback.”

It seemed fitting given just how interchangeable the Tigers are becoming at one of the deepest and most talented positions on their roster.

Clemson returns every starter along the defensive line, seven linemen in all who have started at least one game and five ends that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he considers starters, so it’s no secret the Tigers expect to have one of the nation’s most formidable defensive fronts this fall.

The group got its first live reps over the weekend during the Tigers’ first scrimmage of fall camp, one in which the defense got the better of the offense inside Clemson’s indoor practice facility. Regardless of which personnel groupings it had on the field, the line set the tone for the defense’s performance as expected, Swinney said.

“I was super, super impressed with those guys (Saturday),” Swinney said. “What I was hoping I would see is no dropoff, and it didn’t matter really how I ran the scrimmage as far as the groups, I didn’t see any dropoff. I thought those guys really all played well.

“We created some pressure. Some (tackles for loss). Some sacks. I thought both groups played to the standard that we talked about. That’s fun to see defensively.”

With Xavier Thomas and Justin Foster back in the fold — both seniors opted to return to Clemson for another season — the Tigers can go two- and sometimes three-deep with experience at defensive end and have rotated accordingly throughout camp. Thomas, Foster, Murphy, Justin Mascoll and K.J. Henry have bounced back and forth between the ones and twos and continued to do so in the scrimmage.

Senior Tyler Davis and sophomore Bryan Bresee, another freshman All-American, are entrenched as the top interior linemen. Swinney also mentioned fellow defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro for his performance in the scrimmage, noting Orhoro, who’s spent most of camp getting second-team reps, is at a point in his development where “he shows up” every time he’s on the field.

Clemson seems to be building more depth on the inside even with some defensive tackles unavailable for the time being. Redshirt freshman DeMonte Capehart and sophomore Etinosa Reuben were held out of the scrimmage with undisclosed injuries, but Tre Williams and Darnell Jeffries made their presence felt in the scrimmage while true freshman Payton Page also got some reps.

Orhorhoro and Williams are both healthy again after injuries derailed their seasons early a year ago. Swinney referred to Williams’ performance Saturday as “awesome.”

“It was good to see Tre get in there and make some plays,” Swinney said. “Darnell had a nice play.”

Clemson will need to solidify more of that depth on the interior, but the weekend scrimmage went a long way in confirming the Tigers don’t have too many concerns when it comes to their defensive line.

“We’ve got a lot of talented guys there,” Swinney said, “and I like the chemistry I’m seeing from that group.”

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Besides usual suspects, D-Line has other players standing out

Clemson’s defensive line is set to possibly rival the 2018 front, which was notably known as the Power Rangers. Though preseason All-American Bryan Bresee and others on the defense feel they should never be compared to those Clemson legends, the …

Clemson’s defensive line is set to possibly rival the 2018 front, which was notably known as the Power Rangers.

Though preseason All-American Bryan Bresee and others on the defense feel they should never be compared to those Clemson legends, the Tigers are still expected to have the best defensive line in college football in 2021.

Everyone knows about Bresee, Tyler Davis, Xavier Thomas, Myles Murphy and K.J. Henry. But what could make this year’s group so good is its depth.

In the first week of camp, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, along with defensive coordinator Brent Venables and several defensive players, have talked about how other members of the defensive line are making plays, too.

Defensive ends Justin Foster and Justin Mascoll have stood out to this point, as have defensive tackles Etinosa Reuben and Ruke Orhorhoro.

“We got so many veterans over there, but I would probably just have to say Ruke,” Swinney said. “He has just missed a lot of time, but he is the guy, if I had to pick one guy that I think has a chance to have a great season, I would say Ruke. He is ready. He is ready to be the guy.”

Venables and Bresee both mentioned how much big, stronger and faster Mascoll is and how he is really standing out in camp, while safety Lannden Zanders thinks Reuben has been the most improved player on the defensive front.

“[Kevin] Swint, he would probably be the other most improved, especially because he moved to a new position,” Swinney said.

In the spring, Swint moved from linebacker to defensive end.

“He is a great football player,” Swinney said. “Then you throw in Regan Upshaw, who is just a problem. I know we don’t talk about Regan Upshaw a lot, but that dude, if you line up on him and you are not ready to practice, he is going to kill you.

“This guy is really a good, tough, hard-nosed football player. We just have a very veteran group. That defensive line is special.”

Clemson’s head coach says all of his safeties have improved too, but Orhorhoro has made big strides in camp. Swinney has also liked what he has seen from Foster, who has returned to football after initially retiring following issues with COVID-19 last fall that kept him sideline and wondering if he would ever play football again.

“He looks great. He is doing everything,” Swinney said. “He had just had a little test that first day, so we held him because he literally had something stuck down his throat. But he has done everything and is doing great.

“We will probably keep him on a little bit of pitch count, but it is kind of easy to do that when you have five guys that have started there at that position. Then you have Swint. So, we are in a good spot there. But he does everything and looks great, but we don’t need him to have to play fifty snaps. We don’t need him to have to play two series in a row. We are very fortunate with the type of depth we have.”

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