Tag: Justin Mascoll

Swinney shares an injury update on Justin Mascoll

Dabo Swinney shared an injury update on starting defensive end Justin Mascoll.

During Dabo Swinney’s Tuesday press conference, the Tigers head coach updated the injury status of multiple Tigers, including starting defensive end Justin Mascoll.

Mascoll, who started the first seven games of the season, has missed the Tigers’ last two games against NC State and Notre Dame. According to Swinney, Mascoll is getting better and hopes he is ready to go for this Saturday’s matchup against Georgia Tech.

“He’s better. Hopefully, no setback today or tomorrow and get him back,” Swinney said. “He’s been out the last couple of weeks. But, excited. Hopefully he’s ready to go. I know he wants to play.”

Clemson’s defense has been great this season, but there are no doubts that getting a veteran leader back on the defensive line will help their cause.

Swinney gives an injury update on starting defensive end Justin Mascoll

Dabo Swinney gave an injury update on Justin Mascoll.

Dabo Swinney met with the media Wednesday following Clemson’s practice, sharing an injury update on Tigers’ starting defensive end Justin Mascoll. 

After indicating that they weren’t sure of his status on Tuesday, Swinney was asked for an update on Wednesday as Mascoll is a crucial part of this defense. It sounds like the veteran defensive end will be a game-time decision for the Tigers’ Saturday matchup against NC State.

“Still kind of day to day,” Swinney said. “Getting better, so hopeful. But still day to day.”

Day-to-day has been a common label for injured Tigers this season. With seven starts this season, Mascoll has recorded 20 tackles, three tackles for loss, a pass breakup, three quarterback pressures, and a forced fumble. 

We will monitor his injury status closely as we get closer to Saturday’s road matchup with the Wolfpack.

5 Clemson players to watch closely vs. FAU

Clemson will kick off its third game of the 2023 season on Saturday when it takes on FAU.

Clemson will play its third game of the 2023 season on Saturday when it takes on Florida Atlantic at 8 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers (1-1) are coming off a 66-17 win over Charleston Southern last week after dropping their season opener at Duke on Sept. 4. Meanwhile, FAU came up short against Ohio last week, losing 17-10.

The only time Clemson and FAU have met was in 2006, when the Tigers won 54-6.

As ACC play looms, Clemson will look to gain momentum against the Owls in what is the team’s first night game at home of the season.

That said, here are five Clemson players to keep a close eye on:

Athlon Sports ranks Clemson with the No.2 defensive line in college football

Clemson’s defensive line is once again one of the best in the country heading into the 2023 season.

The Clemson football program has developed into one of the best in college football, and the thing they are known for the most is the stellar defensive lines they produce year after year. 

Heading into the 2023 season, this won’t be changing as the Tigers once again have a talented defensive line unit that remains one of the best in the country. According to Athlon Sports’ College Football’s Top 15 Defensive Lines for 2023, The Tigers D-Line ranks No.2 in the country. 

The Tigers continue to churn out elite talent up front and seemingly have an annual spot at or near the top of the defensive lines in college football. Bryan Bresee departed to the NFL, but the interior remains stout with Ruke Orhorhoro and Tyler Davis. True freshman Peter Woods is also expected to see significant snaps in the middle. Restocking the edge to replace K.J. Henry and Myles Murphy (10 combined sacks) is a priority in fall practice. But coach Dabo Swinney’s group isn’t hurting for talent here. Xavier Thomas looks to close out his career on a high note after battling injuries over the last couple of years. Senior Justin Mascoll is expected to man the other end spot.

Not only did the Tigers return talent, they brought talent into the program. Freshman Peter Woods, in particular, could have a monster year at defensive tackle. He is expected to be an immediate impact player for Wes Goodwin’s defense.
Another year, another strong Clemson defensive line.
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Watch: Xavier Thomas looks fast, furious and healthy in drills

Clemson DE Xavier Thomas looks fast and fully healthy.

Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas seems to be back at full strength.

Thomas and his teammates recently worked with trainer Casser Middleton at Clemson’s practice facility, and Thomas looked sharp and fully healthy.

Battling a foot injury last season, Thomas only appeared in three games, finishing the year with four total tackles and two sacks. Since he didn’t see the field much in 2022, he is returning for his sixth season with the Tigers this fall.

In his career, Thomas has amassed 91 total tackles, 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. The former five-star recruit is expected to start at defensive end alongside Justin Mascoll when Clemson kicks off its season at Duke on Sept. 4.

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Swinney, Goodwin explain this change to Clemson’s defensive front

Clemson made another change to its starting defensive line against Wake Forest, though this one had nothing to do with attrition. While K.J. Henry and Ruke Orhorhoro have gotten spot starts for the injured Xavier Thomas and Tyler Davis up front, …

Clemson made another change to its starting defensive line against Wake Forest, though this one had nothing to do with attrition.

While K.J. Henry and Ruke Orhorhoro have gotten spot starts for the injured Xavier Thomas and Tyler Davis up front, defensive end Justin Mascoll entered the starting lineup for the first time this season against the Demon Deacons. It was a notable change considering Myles Murphy is widely considered one of the Tigers’ top prospects for next year’s NFL Draft.

Murphy had just eight tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack through the Tigers’ first three games. Defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin said Mascoll had a better week of practice following a solid performance the previous week against Louisiana Tech.

“I think it just goes into the week of preparation,” Goodwin said. “Those guys are co-starters, and everything counts.”

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney echoed that sentiment during his weekly press conference Tuesday, reiterating that he believes the Tigers have four ends capable of starting when the group is intact. Mascoll has 12 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss through the first four games of his senior season.

“Not that (Myles) has played bad, but Mascoll played great against La Tech,” Swinney said. “He just played better.”

While the coaching staff may view the position as interchangeable, Murphy has been one of Clemson’s more impactful linemen since becoming a starter midway through a freshman All-American season. Now a junior, Murphy has compiled more than 100 tackles and double-digit sacks over 19 career starts. The 6-foot-5, 290-pounder led Clemson in sacks and tackles for loss a season ago.

Murphy still got his share of reps against Wake Forest, and Swinney and Goodwin noted he performed better in the Tigers’ double-overtime win. He finished with five tackles and half a sack.

Now Goodwin wants to see it more consistently from the Tigers’ talented edge defender.

“I think this was Myles’ best performance,” Goodwin said. “Just want to continue to see him, getting into conference play, where hopefully we can get some better rushes on quarterbacks and using his athleticism on the edge as well. I definitely think he took a step forward this past game.”

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce limited edition signed cards from the freshmen football players are now in our online store.  There are only 100 of each signed.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

Will Clemson’s defensive line be whole again against Wake Forest?

Clemson’s defense hasn’t looked like the dominant force many expected to see coming into the season, particularly considering the level of competition the Tigers have faced through three games. Clemson also hasn’t played any of those games at full …

Clemson’s defense hasn’t looked like the dominant force many expected to see coming into the season, particularly considering the level of competition the Tigers have faced through three games.

Clemson also hasn’t played any of those games at full strength up front.

Will that change in time for what will easily be the Tigers’ stiffest test of the season Saturday when they travel to take on No. 21 Wake Forest in an early Atlantic Division showdown? 

The answer is still to be determined, though Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said his team is in a “much better place” from an injury standpoint going into the weekend. The Tigers’ defensive line, widely viewed as arguably the best in college football leading up to the season, has been hit with its share of attrition already.

The patchwork group held its own against FCS foe Furman and, most recently, Louisiana Tech. The Tigers still rank in the top 12 nationally in rush defense and tackles for loss but have just five sacks so far. That ranks in the bottom half of the FBS.

Defensive end K.J. Henry, who’s starting in the place of the injured Xavier Thomas for the time being, said the line is capable of taking its game to another level when intact.

“The sky is the limit for when everybody is healthy,” Henry said. “Now that being said, the game we play, I don’t know if we’ll get everybody healthy, especially not 100%. Ain’t nobody going to be 100%. But as we start to get guys matriculating back in, we’re just going to keep getting better and better.”

The good news for the group is star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee is expected to return to the lineup Saturday after missing the Louisiana Tech game following the recent passing of his sister. But Clemson played last week without two other starters up front in Thomas (foot) and Tyler Davis (undisclosed).

The Tigers were also without a third defensive tackle in Tre Williams, who was held out with a knee injury. Davis, Bresee’s running mate on the interior, has missed the last two games while Thomas has yet to play this season after sustaining his injury during the latter part of preseason camp, though they could be back sooner rather than later.

While Swinney kept things close to the vest when asked Wednesday about the status of the Tigers’ injured players, he said last week that Davis probably could have played against Louisiana Tech if he was needed, an indication Davis may have simply been held out again as a precaution. As for Thomas, Swinney reiterated the senior edge defender is close to returning and cracked a smile when asked specifically if Thomas will be available for Saturday’s game.

“Maybe,” Swinney said. “I’m hopeful.”

In the meantime, Clemson has gotten a closer look at some of its linemen further down the depth chart who have helped fill in. Kevin Swint, a former linebacker who averaged less than eight snaps a game in his first two seasons with the Tigers, has 11 tackles and a fumble recovery as part of the rotation at end with Henry, Myles Murphy and Justin Mascoll. On the interior, sophomore Payton Page logged a season-high 23 snaps last week. Third-year sophomore DeMonte Capehart, who played just 20 snaps all of last season, got in for 17 snaps.

Co-defensive coordinator Mickey Conn said being able to build the kind of depth Clemson is going to need over the course of the season is a silver lining to all the attrition. But now would be a good time for the Tigers to start getting some of their frontline guys back if they want to maximize their chances of disrupting what’s been one of the ACC’s most prolific offenses to this point.

Wake Forest is bringing the league’s second-highest scoring offense and second-best passing offense into Saturday’s matchup.

“When you play hopefully a 15-game season, you’ve got to build that depth. You’ve got to build that confidence,” Conn said. “I’m excited we got to do it here early, but it’ll be great to get (our starting linemen) back. I’m excited about that.”

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce limited edition signed cards from the freshmen football players are now in our online store.  There are only 100 of each signed.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

What We Heard: Justin Mascoll

Defensive end Justin Mascoll spoke to the media on Wednesday, Aug. 31, ahead of Monday’s game versus Georgia Tech. Mascoll, a redshirt senior, enters the 2022 season with 64 tackles over 833 career snaps, with 19 of those tackles coming in the 2021 …

Defensive end Justin Mascoll spoke to the media on Wednesday, Aug. 31, ahead of Monday’s game versus Georgia Tech.

Mascoll, a redshirt senior, enters the 2022 season with 64 tackles over 833 career snaps, with 19 of those tackles coming in the 2021 season. 

With Xavier Thomas out for the next few weeks, the defensive unit will have to rely on players like Mascoll to step up and maintain the standard of what the Clemson defense has been known to be in recent years.

However, with the talent of Myles Murphy and Mascoll at the defensive end position, Clemson’s defense looks to remain physical and a significant threat versus Georgia Tech.

“I feel like this is a great opportunity for me,” he said. “I feel like this is another challenge for our defense. Xavier is a great player. That’s my friend. That’s my brother. We are going to miss him a lot, but it’s just going to be a challenge for us to hold it down and just compete and we’ll have him back in a few weeks after that.”

Mascoll reflected on making the transition from fall camp to game week. He regards his role as a leader on the defense as influential in guiding some of the newcomers on the team.

“Really just for me, being a leader and stuff like that,” he said. “Really keeping the young guys in that game-week mentality. Right after fall camp, we hop straight into game prep for Georgia Tech.”

Mascoll reiterated much of the sentiment expressed by KJ Henry earlier in the day, that the coaching changes on the defensive side were relatively seamless for both the staff and the players.

He expressed how both co-defensive coordinators Wesley Goodwin and Mickey Conn prioritized their relationships with each player on the defense. 

“I really feel like there wasn’t much change,” Mascoll said. “Wes is a great defensive coordinator. Coach Conn is a great defensive coordinator. They work really well with us, kind of having that understanding and that perspective.

“They’ve already been here, so they understand us as players.”

In facing Georgia Tech on Monday, it seems that the team’s attitude has shifted. With this revitalized attitude, the team expressed that they are looking forward, not behind. Mascoll spoke on behalf of the defense expressing their desire to look forward and get excited for what’s to come on Monday.

“We are past talking about it as a group,” he said. “We are ready to go out there, compete and play.”

Dear Old Clemson has loaded up the online store with items like Myles Murphy signed cards and many items from our event for Clemson softball.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

For Swinney, Power Rangers aren’t the comparison for Clemson’s Avengers

Clemson’s current defensive line is often compared to the group the Tigers had four years ago, and it’s easy to understand why. Much like the 2018 unit that helped lead Clemson to its most recent national championships, the headliners of what’s …

Clemson’s current defensive line is often compared to the group the Tigers had four years ago, and it’s easy to understand why.

Much like the 2018 unit that helped lead Clemson to its most recent national championships, the headliners of what’s expected to be another suffocating defense this season reside up front. Star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and end Myles Murphy are projected first-round picks while Clemson’s entire starting front four, which includes Tyler Davis and Xavier Thomas, could be drafted the way Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence and Austin Bryant all were in 2019. Even the group’s adopted superhero-themed moniker, The Avengers, was inspired by the Power Rangers nickname given to that 2018 group.

Yet that’s not the comparison that comes to mind for Dabo Swinney.

“On paper, it reminds me of our ‘14 defensive line,” Clemson’s veteran head coach said.

While his current defensive front may possess the same kind of front-line talent that the 2018 group did, Swinney said the two don’t share the same quality depth.

Clemson returned its entire two-deep up front from a defense that yielded the second-fewest points in the country last season. The Tigers have nine defensive linemen on their roster that have started at least one game. Of those, seven have started multiple games, including another projected draft pick in senior K.J. Henry, who will fill in opposite Murphy on the edge as Thomas works his way back from a foot injury that will sideline him for Clemson’s Labor Day opener against Georgia Tech if not longer.

“Everybody talks about ‘18, and that was a great group, but really very young behind (our starters),” Swinney said. “We got lucky, and you’ve got to have some luck to win a national championship. There’s so much that’s got to go into that. You’ve got to get a little luck along the way, and we were very, very fortunate that Christian, Dexter, Clelin and Austin played every game.

“And we had (defensive tackle) Albert (Huggins). We kind of had five guys, and if you really look at the roster, we were really young, very inexperienced and very unproven behind those guys. Those guys had to play a lot of snaps.”

With another senior end, Justin Mascoll, also part of the rotation at end as well as juniors Ruke Orhorhoro, Tre Williams and Etinosa Reuben on the interior, Swinney said the depth along the current defensive front is at a point where he doesn’t feel like there is “anybody that’s got to go play 60 snaps.” That’s why he said the makeup of this year’s line reminds him more of the 2014 group that had a comparable blend of talent and depth.

Future first-round picks Shaq Lawson and Vic Beasley manned the end sports then, but Kevin Dodd, Tavaris Barnes and Corey Crawford were also part of the rotation on the edge. Yet the Tigers may have been even deeper on the interior that season.

“You look at that (defensive) tackle group, DeShawn Williams, he’s on Year 8 with the (Denver) Broncos,” Swinney said. “Carlos Watkins, D.J. Reader, Grady Jarrett. I think Josh Watson was in the group.

“The only guy I knew was going to start was Grady, and it wasn’t because he was more talented than anybody. He just separated himself in every area. But at that spot, (former defensive tackles coach) Dan (Brooks) would grade them all through Tiger Walk and how he felt like they looked in pregame. And then he’d say, ‘All right, you run out there.’ I never even worried about who was playing.”

The 2014 line spearheaded what was statistically the nation’s best defense that season, so Swinney doesn’t want to get carried away with the comparison. At least not yet.

“I can’t mention this group in the same breath because they haven’t done anything,” Swinney said. “You don’t play it on paper, but it’s a talented group that has the opportunity to do something special this year if we can stay together.”

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

‘Dr. Strange’ embracing chance to bring more weirdness to Clemson’s defense

While talking with local reporters Wednesday, K.J. Henry revealed a nickname for one of his fellow defensive linemen at Clemson. “Dr. Strange,” Henry said when Justin Mascoll’s name was referenced. “Yes sir.” So what’s the story behind it? Turns out …

While talking with local reporters Wednesday, K.J. Henry revealed a nickname for one of his fellow defensive linemen at Clemson.

“Dr. Strange,” Henry said when Justin Mascoll’s name was referenced. “Yes sir.”

So what’s the story behind it?

Turns out it has nothing to do with the Marvel Comics character. Mascoll, one of Clemson’s talented defensive ends, has played 833 snaps over 39 games heading into his senior season, but it’s the weird ones, as Mascoll described it, from which the moniker has been derived among his teammates.

“That just goes back years of playing,” Mascoll said. “Strange things happen when I’m on the field, in a good way. I’m just always ready to make that big play, I feel like.”

Mascoll referred to Mario Goodrich’s pick-six in Clemson’s Cheez-It Bowl back in December as Exhibit A. With Clemson holding a 13-3 lead on Iowa State late in the third quarter, Mascoll jumped in an attempt to knock down Brock Purdy’s second-down pass. The ball bounced off Mascoll’s helmet and back to Purdy, who batted it forward into the hands of Goodrich. Clemson’s senior cornerback took it to the house for what proved to be the decisive score in the Tigers’ 20-13 win.

“I feel like that was a really big moment, a turning point in the game, getting that batted ball and (Ma)rio coming up with the play,” Mascoll said. “And coming back down and making a block so that Rio can make the play.

“I feel like those are really, big, key moments, and a really, big, key moment that took place. I feel like that’s why they call me Dr. Strange.”

Mascoll is expected to get even more chances to create those plays than usual early this season with Xavier Thomas sidelined with a foot injury. Mascoll was listed as a co-starter at defensive end on Clemson’s first depth chart released ahead of the team’s Labor Day opener against Georgia Tech, though that didn’t come as much of a surprise.

While Henry and star junior Myles Murphy are likely to be the first defensive ends on the field against the Yellow Jackets, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has said he feels like the Tigers have four starters at the position, which includes Mascoll.

His teammates are also high on Mascoll’s ability, which includes more than his physical talent. Henry said the 6-foot-4, 255-pounder has always brought physicality to the position, but it’s the strides Mascoll has made mentally that has Henry believing his teammate is primed for his most impactful season yet with the Tigers.

“I think where he’s grown in his game is the mindset and the IQ of it all,” Henry said. “I think everybody comes in with certain challenges when they first get here. I was more of a physical stature and aggression. Really had a good feel for the game. But for some people, and I think Mascoll would agree, it was just hit you and then make a play. But there are so many small things that go into making those plays and being in the right places. And I’d say other than his leadership and his ability to speak up when he feels like something is off, I’d also say his IQ and feel for the game has been something that’s made this (defensive ends) room better.”

Mascoll is embracing the chance to bring more weirdness to Clemson’s defense, whatever that may entail.

“I feel like it’s a great opportunity for me,” Mascoll said.

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!