Tag: K.J. Henry

What We Heard: K.J. Henry

On Wednesday, Aug. 31, K.J. Henry spoke to the media ahead of the season opener versus Georgia Tech on Monday. Henry discussed the shifts brought about due to coordinator changes, how he feels the team has had an overall mindset shift in the right …

On Wednesday, Aug. 31, K.J. Henry spoke to the media ahead of the season opener versus Georgia Tech on Monday. 

Henry discussed the shifts brought about due to coordinator changes, how he feels the team has had an overall mindset shift in the right direction and how improved the team is on both sides of the ball.

Henry reflected on navigating changes made in the offseason, but affirmed that he has found a new level of confidence in his own maturity and leadership in guiding some of the younger guys on the defense. He also affirmed his confidence and contentment with the coaching shifts made in the offseason.

“A whole lot of new. New coordinators. New roles for different guys, who are growing and developing,” Henry said Wednesday. “It’s been fun. It’s been fun to navigate that space. Being a fifth-year guy, it is very easy for a lot of people in my situation to say this year’s about me. Now it’s just time to get mine and get out of here. But that’s so far from what it’s been. It’s been so fun to navigate this leadership role and just hone in on this defense.”

“Wes (Goodwin) and Coach (Mickey) Conn have been awesome,” Henry continued. “They’re listening to us. More than anything, they want to win. They want to win and dominate and that’s what we want to do as players. We’ve been like-minded in that regard and it’s been fun to attack each day, especially practice.”

It was the culture that Henry really emphasized in why Clemson coach Dabo Swinney chose to make hires within his current staff. Henry regarded the vision of Swinney to be what made these coaching transitions ideal for the athletes.

“Everything we need we already have here,” Henry said. “Everyone he has brought in, Coach Swinney, he has done a great job. He sees it before we ever could. Alluding to new coordinators, people who might need to come in here, as players we might say this guy has the best name, this guy has the best pedigree, but Coach Swinney does a great job of understanding the culture he’s built and what’s the best fit for us as players. The hires he’s had have been a home run.”

After last season, it seems there’s a reinvigorated mindset and focuses on one game at a time for Clemson. Henry discussed those “hiccup” games of last year and how he believes the Tigers just need to return to what they know and what they do best on the field.

“We are going to get back to doing what we do,” he said. “It’s that simple. There were a lot of times, especially for myself, we knew what we were capable of, but we were in our own way. There were a lot of good teams we play every year that fed off of that. As a league, we aren’t given the respect we deserve and finally, Clemson has a hiccup year and everyone is surprised that they’re close games. We’ve been telling y’all we have been playing good teams every year. At the same time, we knew what we are capable of and we’re ready to get back to that.”

With much speculation surrounding the Clemson offense, particularly quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, Henry reaffirmed his own belief in the improvement of the entire team, especially the offense. 

“There’s not one person on the offensive side of the ball who didn’t get better this year, who hasn’t grown in some capacity over the spring or over the summer,” Henry said. “As a team, we all have gotten so much better, so much closer.”

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!

Uiagalelei feels he’s ‘a totally different’ QB entering 2022

D.J. Uiagalelei has never pointed fingers. And we sure know that Clemson’s starting quarterback has worn a lot of the blame. Speaking with reporters ahead of Clemson’s season opener against Georgia Tech Monday in Atlanta, Uiagalelei acknowledged …

D.J. Uiagalelei has never pointed fingers.

And we sure know that Clemson’s starting quarterback has worn a lot of the blame. 

Speaking with reporters ahead of Clemson’s season opener against Georgia Tech Monday in Atlanta, Uiagalelei acknowledged that he made mistakes last season. That there were some aspects where he could’ve done better fundamentally, as well as from a decision-making standpoint.

He’s learned from his mistakes. He knows that there are different ways he can get better from it. 

But how does Uiagalelei see himself compared to last season?

“I think I see a totally different guy,” Uiagalelei said Wednesday. “I think that guy is a lot better than from the last game (against) Georgia Tech. Someone that’s gone through it and someone who’s gotten a lot better throughout the offseason through all the hard work I put in. I definitely see a different quarterback.”

Uiagalelei wouldn’t say specifically if there was a low point during last season but maintained that he feels a lot better now than he did during his sophomore campaign.

“I think I’m just ready to go out for Game 1 and just come out and show the world what I’ve been working on,” he said.

Teammates like K.J. Henry and Will Putnam have seen what Uiagalelei has been working on, ever since he committed to shedding some weight and improving himself since Clemson’s Cheez-It Bowl win over Iowa State.

They’ve also seen him do so while absorbing criticism for his play last season.

“It wasn’t all on him,” Henry said. “And the thing is, the locker room knows that. A lot of the fans don’t. He’s done a great job of taking (the criticism) on the chest. That’s the leader you want to see in a quarterback…I think that’s probably the No. 1 thing is, he’s gonna take the bullet for us as a team, especially the offense, but it’s not always him.”

“First and foremost, it’s just a part of the quarterback position,” Putnam said. “If something goes wrong, they’re gonna get all the blame. If something goes right, they’re gonna get all the glory. I mean, us as a team, we never blamed him for anything. Because as a team, everyone has to take ownership and accountability for all our successes and all of our failures. It has to be unconditional. 

“And some of it, it’s not fair. It’s not fair to D.J. Like passes, for example, it’s not always on the quarterback. It can be on the wide receiver running the wrong route. It can be on us up front for not having the best protection that we could’ve had. And then sometimes, he just might make a mistake, which we all mistakes.”

Putnam said that the team is rallying around Uiagalelei, who he described as a “great player” and a “great teammate.”

“We love him and we want to do well,” Putnam added. “And, I think it’s also another thing up front that we’ve kind of taken as a challenge upon ourselves, is to do what we can to put him in the best opportunity for him to make the most plays.”

“I’m unbelievably thankful for all the teammates and especially Coach Swinney, who stood behind my back, stood behind me and supported me through it all,” Uiagalelei said. “I appreciate them, man. I just appreciate them for all they’ve done sticking up for me and representing me. I appreciate that a lot. It means a lot to me.”

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!

Clemson football’s top ten recruits of all time

Clemson football has picked up some of its highest-rated recruits of all time in recent years.

Something Dabo Swinney has excelled at in his time as Clemson’s head coach is recruiting top-tier talent.

As Swinney and the program developed into a college football powerhouse, recruiting naturally took a turn along with the program. Sure, not every top recruit a team brings in may not live up to that ranking, but the ability to recruit those considered the best of the best in the country is always a bonus.

As the Tigers go through the 2023 recruiting cycle, I thought it would be fun to look at the top ten recruits in Clemson football history, according to 247Sports. 

From the highly touted quarterback of the 2022 class to a key piece of the Power Rangers, here are the top ten recruits Clemson has ever had.

Nine Tigers named to East-West Shrine Bowl 1000

Nine Clemson Tigers have been named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 ahead of the upcoming college football season. The longest-running college all-star football game in the nation, the East-West Shrine Bowl gives top college players the …

Nine Clemson Tigers have been named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 ahead of the upcoming college football season.

The longest-running college all-star football game in the nation, the East-West Shrine Bowl gives top college players the opportunity to showcase their talents to NFL scouts and a national television audience.

This year, the bowl released its East-West Shrine Bowl 1000. Here’s how the list was put together:

Every year, approximately 1000 all-star game eligible players are drafted, signed after the draft, or attend a rookie mini-camp. Our aim is for this Shrine Bowl 1000 to serve as a look into our scouting process, as well as begin to preview college players who are currently all-star game eligible for the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl and 2023 NFL draft class.

This list was extremely difficult for our team to put together, scouring players from all four levels of football and speaking with NFL and college personnel to ensure we put together the best 1000 players for the NFL level.

As the East-West Shrine Bowl strives to be a best-in-class event, we’re excited to feature these talented 1000 players and over 200 college programs as they strive to be at their best for the 2022 college season.

So, which Clemson players are on the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000?

Here’s all the Tigers that appear on the list:

Davis Allen, Tight End

Tyler Davis, Defensive Tackle

K.J. Henry, Defensive End

Sheridan Jones, Cornerback

Jordan McFadden, Offensive Lineman

Joseph Ngata, Wide Receiver

Ruke Orhorhoro, Defensive Tackle

Will Putnam, Offensive Lineman

Xavier Thomas, Defensive End

https://twitter.com/EricGalko/status/1556684719512862721

Why Xavier Thomas has one of ‘biggest projections’ among edge rushers in 2022

Pro Football Focus recently ranked Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas as one of the top 25 edge rushers in the country.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently ranked the top 25 edge rushers in the country ahead of the 2022 season, and Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas cracked the top ten.

With his previous production and potential in mind, PFF ranked Thomas as the tenth-best edge rusher in the nation, slightly ahead of his teammate, Myles Murphy, who came in at No. 9.

Entering his fifth season with the Tigers, Thomas could be primed for his most productive year yet as a part of one of, what many expect to be, one of the nation’s top defensive fronts.

Thomas finished 2021 with 21 total tackles (6.5 for loss), 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, earning a Third-Team All-ACC selection.

As for PFF’s Anthony Treash, he believes Thomas has one of the “biggest projections” among all defensive ends in college football.

A long battle with COVID-19 disrupted Thomas’ 2020 junior year, but he still managed to play 119 snaps in what was supposed to be a bounce-back season after a sophomore slump in 2019. The 2018 No. 3 overall recruit went from an 83.4 PFF grade as a freshman to a 69.8 mark the year after. Thomas got back on the right track this past season, earning a 76.7 pass-rush grade and 18.7% pass-rush win rate — 11th and fourth, respectively, among returning Power Five edge defenders. What’s most encouraging about his performance this past season is his true pass-rush grade was nearly 25 grading points higher than the last time we saw him consistently on the field in 2019.

PFF isn’t the only source projecting high results from the fifth-year defensive end, as Clemson defensive ends coach Lemanski Hall detailed the value Thomas brings as an experienced player.

“Anytime you get a chance to get Xavier Thomas back, it’s a big deal,” Hall said on July 19. “When he said he was coming back, I was fired up. Obviously, a guy with that kind of experience and athleticism, he’s eager to prove a lot of people wrong. We all know what he can do; it’s just a matter of now going out there and executing.”

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Henry on Clemson haters: ‘We definitely hear it’

Based on what many in the media had to say about the Clemson football program in 2021, you would think the Tigers had a winless season. There was a sense of doom and gloom and a lot of outside negativity surrounding Clemson over the course of last …

Based on what many in the media had to say about the Clemson football program in 2021, you would think the Tigers had a winless season.

There was a sense of doom and gloom and a lot of outside negativity surrounding Clemson over the course of last season despite the fact Dabo Swinney’s team ended up reaching the 10-win plateau for a school-record 11th consecutive season.

During an appearance on ACC Network at the ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte on Wednesday, Clemson fifth-year senior defensive end K.J. Henry was asked how it felt to hear plenty of people knock the Tigers last season and say “the dynasty is over” after they weren’t able to win the ACC Championship and make it to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2014.

“Yeah, we were helping Coach pack up his bags, he about got fired. Boring 10-win season last year,” Henry joked.

“But nah, it showed the standard that we have at Clemson, and we love that. We love that that is a down year for us, number one, and that’s the perspective that we have to look into.”

Henry was asked if the Tigers hear the haters and listen to the doubters.

“We definitely hear it,” he said. “Whether we let it come in home and whether we actually care about it is a whole ‘nother story. We definitely hear it. We got TVs, we got radios, what not. … We know what’s being said, we know who’s saying what, and our time will come. There’s no doubt about it, and I think we’ll see a lot of good things this season.”

What was the biggest learning lesson that Henry and Clemson took away from what was perceived as a “down” year for the program in 2021?

“I think for us, we were reminded how to appreciate winning,” said Henry, who had a career year in 2021 and finished the season credited with 28 tackles (6.5 for loss), 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery over 13 games (four starts).

“That’s something that we haven’t been told a lot about. We’ve had a lot of great teams up to this point, and not everybody understands that the ACC Championships, we earn those. We play good teams. We had to prepare and we had to take those wins, and now in the year where we don’t make it to that point, it’s the end of the world and now it’s no fluke no more. But we understood that we prepare for those moments, and we were just reminded. It’s that simple. And we know now going into this year, once again, that we’re going to have to prepare every week and do the best we can in order to win every game.”

Dear Old Clemson’s first event is July 24. Now there is a new way to support Clemson student-athletes. Come out and meet the freshmen football players at this meet and greet autograph session. If you sign up for certain club levels you get free access to all Dear Old Clemson events. Purchase your tickets today at Dear Old Clemson.

Clemson Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 98 Myles Murphy

After leading Clemson in sacks last season, here’s a closer look at junior defensive end Myles Murphy.

Heading into the 2022 season, ClemsonWire will look at multiple players on the Clemson football roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school and what role they will play for head coach Dabo Swinney this season.

Since we already covered Xavier Thomas on Sunday, we will now be looking at the player who will likely line up on the opposite side of Thomas, defensive end Myles Murphy.

Murphy is undoubtedly one of the Tigers’ most dominant pass rushers, leading Clemson in sacks and tackles for loss last season with seven and 14, respectively.

That high-level production has caught the attention of NFL analysts and scouts, as most 2023 mock drafts have Murphy as a first-round selection.

NFL teams will have to wait for the Marietta, Ga. product, however, as he still has the 2022 season to make more of a mark for himself.

Here’s a snapshot look at Murphy.

Clemson Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 3 Xavier Thomas

Heading into the 2022 season, fifth-year defensive end Xavier Thomas could be primed for his best year as a Tiger.

Heading into the 2022 season, ClemsonWire will look at multiple players on the Clemson football roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school and what role they will play for head coach Dabo Swinney this season.

With the top two quarterbacks already covered, we will now be switching to the defense and looking at defensive end Xavier Thomas.

Entering his fifth season with the program, Thomas has been one of the Tigers’ most consistent pass rushers during his tenure and will be a valuable asset for defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin.

Here’s a snapshot look at Thomas.