Tag: K.J. Henry

Packer believes Clemson’s defense will be ‘really, really special’ in 2022

On Packer and Durham on ACC Network this past week, after talking about golf, Mark Packer and Wes Durham brought up the following tweet from Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas: Hit the course for the first time today. 240 yards out, double bogey …

On Packer and Durham on ACC Network this past week, after talking about golf, Mark Packer and Wes Durham brought up the following tweet from Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas:

Durham pointed out that Thomas (listed at 6-foot-2, 265 pounds on his official Clemson bio) is one big man on the golf course, and Packer replied, “He is a big, strong dude, is who he is… a heat-seeking missile.”

Packer then went on to talk about Thomas deciding to come back for his fifth year with the Tigers in 2022 — along with fellow Clemson defensive end K.J. Henry opting to return for his fifth year as well — and how good Packer believes Clemson’s defense will be this season.

“I tell you what, that was a big deal for him coming back,” Packer said of Thomas. “He and KJ Henry are the two guys on the defensive side – and Clemson’s got so much talent on that side, it’s stupid – but those are two dudes that you almost thought, ‘Well, they’ll be gone, it’s catch ya later.’ The fact that they both decided to come back, in addition to all that defensive line talent – I think they’re going to be filthy on the defensive side. I mean, really, really special.”

Last season, Clemson’s defense ranked first in the ACC and second nationally behind only national champion Georgia in scoring defense, with the Tigers allowing only 14.8 points per game.

A third-team All-ACC selection in 2021, Thomas tallied 27 tackles (5.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup over 12 games (10 starts) and was credited with a team-high 17 quarterback pressures.

Henry put together a career year with a strong finish in 2021, ending 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).

Thomas and Henry will join forces on Clemson’s defensive front with players such as 2021 first-team All-ACC selection Tyler Davis, 2021 second-team All-ACC selection Myles Murphy and 2021 third-team all-conference pick Bryan Bresee.

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CFB analyst weighs in on Clemson front seven, D-line which ‘should be devastating’

This week, a national outlet published a ranking of the best front-seven rooms in college football entering the 2022 season. CBS Sports has Clemson’s front seven ranked No. 1, followed by Alabama, Washington, Baylor and Oklahoma State, in that …

This week, a national outlet published a ranking of the best front-seven rooms in college football entering the 2022 season.

CBS Sports has Clemson’s front seven ranked No. 1, followed by Alabama, Washington, Baylor and Oklahoma State, in that order.

Here’s what college football analyst Barrett Sallee, who authored the ranking for CBS Sports, wrote about the Tigers’ front seven which features no shortage of star power and figures to help the overall unit be one of the nation’s best this season:

If coach Dabo Swinney’s crew is going to get back to the top of the college football world this year, it’ll be on the heels of one of the best defenses — personnel-wise — that he’s ever produced. Superstar Bryan Bresee will anchor the middle of the line of scrimmage and, when healthy, is the top defensive lineman in the country. Add Xavier Thomas and K.J. Henry at edge, and the line should be devastating. The linebacking corps will be led by Trenton Simpson, who had 64 tackles, 12.5 which were for a loss, last season. The only real question here is if the success former defensive coordinator Brent Venables had during his tenure in the upstate can be replicated by new defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin.

Listed among the honorable mention front-seven rooms is defending ACC champion Pittsburgh as well as Notre Dame, which Clemson will play in South Bend on Nov. 5.

Defending national champ Georgia is also an honorable mention, along with Michigan and Oregon.

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Clemson has the best front seven in college football

Clemson’s front seven is the most dangerous in college football.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program have had some of the best defenses in college football history in his tenure as the Tigers’ head coach.

Heading into the 2022 college football season, while there are many questions about how the Clemson offense will look, fans already know what to expect out of this defense. Though Brent Venables has moved on to Oklahoma, newly appointed defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin has more than enough talent in this defense to keep the unit one of the best in the nation.

For the defense, it all starts with the front seven. Of all the college football programs across the country, according to CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee, Clemson is the front seven in college football.

Here’s what Sallee had to say about the Tigers front seven:

1. Clemson Tigers

If coach Dabo Swinney’s crew is going to get back to the top of the college football world this year, it’ll be on the heels of one of the best defenses — personnel-wise — that he’s ever produced. Superstar Bryan Bresee will anchor the middle of the line of scrimmage and, when healthy, is the top defensive lineman in the country. Add Xavier Thomas and K.J. Henry at edge, and the line should be devastating. The linebacking corps will be led by Trenton Simpson, who had 64 tackles, 12.5 which were for a loss, last season. The only real question here is if the success former defensive coordinator Brent Venables had during his tenure in the upstate can be replicated by new defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin.

Sallee has some solid points but left out some pieces that make this front seven look even more dangerous.

First and foremost, Myles Murphy is arguably the best player on this defense, so it was a little shocking to see the star edge rushers’ name left out of Sallee’s comments. He is a projected top fifteen pick in the 2023 NFL draft right now and will contend with Bresee to be the first Tiger off the board.

Another key piece of this front seven he didn’t mention is the big guy in the middle, Tyler Davis. A player with an incredibly high ceiling, Davis will be looking to prove a lot to NFL scouts this season.

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Analyst breaks down why Clemson is best bet to win the ACC

Clemson’s season kicks off in less than 100 days, and oddsmakers are expecting the Tigers to bounce back in 2022 after missing the ACC Championship game last season.

After winning the previous six titles, Clemson didn’t appear in the ACC Championship game in 2021, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers aren’t still the team to beat.

According to Tipico Sportsbook, Clemson is -120 to win the ACC title in 2022, with Miami and North Carolina State behind at +600 and +900, respectively.

Although -120 is a step down from Clemson’s 2021 preseason odds of -300, CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson believes the Tigers are still the best bet to win the conference, and here’s why.

It is extremely unlikely that the Tigers will rank dead last in the ACC in passing efficiency like they did in 2021, a season that still saw Dabo Swinney’s team finish 10-3 thanks to one of the nation’s best defenses. That defensive front should still be among the best in the country, and even league-average passing from D.J. Uiagalelei (or freshman phenom Cade Klubnik) should be the difference in flipping at least a couple of those losses in the other direction. Clemson’s “down year” had no bad losses, so the bounce-back season absolutely should include an ACC Championship.

Clemson returns all of its defensive line starters from 2021, including defensive tackle Bryan Bresee who missed the majority of last season because of a torn ACL. Along with Bresee, defensive tackle Tyler Davis and defensive ends Myles Murphy, K.J. Henry and Xavier Thomas will be a tough group to contain for opposing offenses.

As for the offense, Swinney remained committed to Uiagalelei as the team’s starter after the spring game, so he will be taking the first-team snaps under center as of now. Even if Klubnik eventually takes over, as Patterson points out, Clemson’s offense should be healthier and much improved, paving the way for a potential return to Charlotte, North Carolina in December for a shot at the conference title.

Clemson lands atop of ESPN’s future defense power rankings

Despite multiple veteran departures from last season, Clemson’s defense is still poised to be one of the nation’s best over the next three seasons.

After allowing the second-fewest points per game in the FBS last season, Clemson’s defense has the talent, experience and potential to be one of the nation’s best units in 2022 and beyond.

Between a loaded defensive line that returns all of its starters from 2021 to a fast and dynamic linebacker room, head coach Dabo Swinney has plenty of defenders that have NFL potential.

With the departure of several coaches, including former defensive coordinator Brent Venables, the Tigers’ defense has entered into a new era. Although coaching and roster changes often have a negative impact on teams, there’s reason to believe Clemson’s past defensive success will continue for years to come.

According to ESPN college football analyst Adam Rittenberg, Clemson has the greatest potential to be a top-tier defense for the next three seasons. He ranked Clemson above last nation’s top defense, Georiga, among others like Wisconsin and Alabama.

Here’s what Rittenberg had to say about the Tigers’ defense.

2021 future defense ranking: 1

Scouting the Tigers: In a close race for the top spot, Clemson leads off the rankings for the second consecutive year. The unit loses two outstanding cornerbacks (Mario Goodrich and Andrew Booth Jr.), mainstays at linebacker (James Skalski, Baylon Spector) and longtime coordinator Brent Venables. Still, the outlook remains extremely promising. Clemson’s defensive line has been a strength through the CFP era and will remain that way, especially in 2022 as All-America candidates Bryan Bresee, Tyler Davis and Myles Murphy all return. The line got a bonus boost as end Xavier Thomas, a two-time third-team All-ACC selection, is back for one final season. There’s veteran depth at end with seniors K.J. Henry and Justin Mascoll, who last season combined for seven sacks and 15 quarterback pressures. Tackle Ruke Orhorhoro in 2021 had 42 tackles, eight for loss, and should continue to add playing time, along with classmate Etinosa Reuben, sophomore Payton Page and others.

Clemson adds four-star edge defender to 2023 class

Clemson added its fourth 2023 commitment on Wednesday, and it’s a huge get for the Tigers.

Clemson gained its fourth 2023 commitment on Wednesday after four-star edge David Ojiegbe selected the Tigers over Maryland, Miami, Michigan and North Carolina.

According to 247Sports Composite, the 6-foot-3 defensive end is the 20th edge in the class of 2023. Ojiegbe’s commitment comes just under two months after the Tigers offered the high school junior on March 5.

With Ojiegbe’s commitment, the Tigers now have the 23rd 2023 class, according to 247Sports. Along with Ojiegbe, Clemson has received commitments from four-star quarterback Christopher Vizzina, four-star wide receiver Nathaniel Joseph and three-star tight end Reid Mikeska.

With defensive ends Xavier Thomas and K.J. Henry gone after the 2022 season, Ojiegbe will join the Tigers at a time when those two spots will need to be filled.

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Clemson’s defense eager to show Goodwin’s new ‘flavor’

After defense dominated Clemson’s spring game, defensive end K.J. Henry said both units got it done while keeping things vanilla on that side of the ball, which is hardly unique to Clemson this time of year. “Not a lot,” Henry said when asked what …

After defense dominated Clemson’s spring game, defensive end K.J. Henry said both units got it done while keeping things vanilla on that side of the ball, which is hardly unique to Clemson this time of year.

“Not a lot,” Henry said when asked what percentage of the playbook the Tigers showed last week in their annual Orange and White game. “Nobody will during their spring game.”

Yet what teams want to do on both sides of the ball isn’t all that much of a secret anyway. For those who’ve had coordinators in place longer than a year, game film from previous seasons can give future opponents an idea of what to expect. But for the first time in a while, Clemson’s defense is starting over.

Kind of.

After a highly successful decade-long stint coordinating one of the nation’s top defenses, Brent Venables (now Oklahoma’s head coach) is out, and Wesley Goodwin is in. Goodwin is keeping some of the same plays and concepts in place that Venables implemented, but he said recently there are also some that Venables didn’t even know about that are being added to the Tigers’ playbook, which have yet to be displayed publicly.

“We’ve definitely got some fun stuff dialed up,” Henry said.

Goodwin isn’t exactly new to this. He spent the last four seasons in an off-field role as Venables’ right-hand man, helping him scheme and game plan for future opponents. But knowing Venables was likely to land a head coaching job sooner rather than later, Goodwin said he purposefully held some of his ideas back in case he became Venables’ successor. 

“I’m protective,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin said he’s also taken some ideas from Clemson’s newest assistant, defensive tackles coach Nick Eason, who will double as the defensive run-game coordinator. It’s led to a collaboration between the old and the new.

“We’ve been other places, and we know ball as well,” Goodwin said. “Not taking a shot at anybody, but Coach Eason has been such a great asset. I’ve learned so much from him. He’s one of the best teachers of fundamental play, and he’s brought some new ideas and some new ways of thinking in some areas and stuff. We’re going to utilize what’s made us successful here as well all those years, but we have to be our own people, do what we feel is best and what we know defensively.”

The Tigers are coming off a season in which they ranked second nationally in points allowed, and they have their entire two-deep along the defensive line back from a unit that finished top 15 in sacks and tackles for loss. Goodwin and his defense are just a few months away from showing everyone else exactly what the new version is going to look like.

“He’s got his own flavor, and we’ve loved it,” Henry said. “Definitely have to study a little bit more, but it’s kept me honest. … I’m excited for it, but we’ll see how those come up in the season.”

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Henry reflects on the moment Clemson won him over as a 5-star recruit

Sometimes little things go a long way, and that was the case in Clemson’s recruitment of defensive end K.J. Henry. Henry – a former consensus five-star prospect in the 2018 class – was a guest this week on The Players Club Podcast, hosted by former …

Sometimes little things go a long way, and that was the case in Clemson’s recruitment of defensive end K.J. Henry.

Henry — a former consensus five-star prospect in the 2018 class — was a guest this week on The Players Club Podcast, hosted by former Clemson running back Darien Rencher.

The now fifth-year senior defensive end shared a cool story about the moment Clemson won him over as a recruit, a story that says a lot about the Tigers’ culture and the integrity of their coaching staff.

You can read and watch what Henry had to say on The Players Club Podcast below:

“The fact that I came on my Clemson visit – and shout out to him – Jordan Sorrells was over the recruiting. And he allowed me to wear a Clemson jacket while it was raining. It was raining that day, and I think one of the best things he did was he made sure that it didn’t come home with me. He was like, ‘Hey, we’re going to need that jacket back.’ And that stuck with me. That stuck with me. You hear some of these stories about these guys getting these McDonald’s bags and what not. Like, I was feeling myself. I was a top-tier recruit. Like, wasn’t nothing sliding by Clemson. Wasn’t nothing going home with some of these guys. The coaches weren’t giving out nothing. I know players can give out whatever, but the coaches weren’t letting nothing slide, and that was a big message from all across the staff.”

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Clemson’s defense ‘can be as good as they want to be’

The heart and soul of the unit is gone. James Skalski, who spent the last couple of seasons roaming the middle of Clemson’s defense at linebacker, has exhausted his eligibility after six seasons in the program. So has Baylon Spector, who started …

The heart and soul of the unit is gone.

James Skalski, who spent the last couple of seasons roaming the middle of Clemson’s defense at linebacker, has exhausted his eligibility after six seasons in the program. So has Baylon Spector, who started alongside him at the second level. There’s also no more Nolan Turner, Andrew Booth or Mario Goodrich in the secondary, all of whom could hear their name called during the NFL Draft later this month.

Yet expectations are as high as they’ve ever been for the Tigers’ defense during the Dabo Swinney era.

“We have the potential, and I agree we have that as well,” defensive end K.J. Henry said. “But it means nothing until we go show it and until we put it on film. We have to earn that.”

Those expectations are there in large part because of what the Tigers have returning up front from a unit that finished second nationally in points allowed and in the top 15 in sacks and tackles for loss. With Henry and fellow end Xavier Thomas opting to run it back one last time with the Tigers, Clemson has its entire two-deep along the defensive line back, including Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy, first-round draft hopefuls next year.

“I think we’ve got seven guys (along the defensive line) that will get drafted next year, so it’ll start right there,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.

But despite those significant departures at the second and third levels, the Tigers aren’t exactly void of talent and experience there. Trenton Simpson, another prime 2023 draft candidate, is taking his six sacks and 12 tackles for loss from last season over to weakside linebacker to replace Spector, and former five-star signee Barrett Carter is in line to slide in at the Sam/nickel spot. In the middle, a couple of linebackers who’ve been in the program for a couple of years, LaVonta Bentley and Keith Maguire, have joined another former blue-chip recruit, Jeremiah Trotter, in the competition to be Skalski’s successor.

Clemson also has players on the back end – rising senior cornerback Sheridan Jones and veteran safeties Jalyn Phillips and R.J. Mickens, to name a few – who are primed for their most significant roles after biding their time as backups. Andrew Mukuba, a freshman All-American at strong safety last season, is a jack of all trades that Clemson plans to move around the secondary, and freshmen defensive backs Jeadyn Lukus, Toriano Pride and Sherrod Covil all showed this spring that they’re capable of providing immediate depth this fall, Swinney said.

“They can be as good as they want to be,” Swinney said of the defense. “They’ll have the type of depth that gives you a little bit of room for error, but I think we’ve got a  chance to be a special group in the defensive line. We’re going to be fast and athletic at linebacker. And I think we’re going to finally have some great experience in the secondary. It’s just a matter of getting everybody healthy.”

Bresee (knee), fellow lineman Tre Williams (shoulders), safety Tyler Venables (hip) and cornerback Malcolm Greene (shoulder) are some of the key contributors who didn’t participate this spring as they continue to recover from injuries, though Swinney has said he expects them to be full go come fall camp. Assuming that happens, it will be first-year coordinator Wesley Goodwin’s first time working with everyone, but Henry said the spring gave the defense a chance to catch up to some of Goodwin’s wrinkles and nuances, including some things that Goodwin has said his predecessor, Brent Venables, doesn’t even know about.

“We’ve definitely got some nuances,” Henry said. “I’m excited for it, but we’ll see how those come up in the season.”

Even though it wasn’t whole, the defense still displayed some of that depth this spring. The unit drew the praise of Swinney and other coaches for some of its scrimmage performances before owning the spring game, one in which the Orange and White teams combined to score just 22 points. Neither offense had more than 184 total yards, and the defenses combined for double-digit sacks and tackles for loss.

“As far as the defense, this has been a spring that I’ve liked very much,” Murphy said. “It’s something on defense that’s really just clicking.”

Other than getting back to full strength, Henry said the only thing left for the group to do is work so that it can show what it’s fully capable of once the games that count roll around in the fall.

“Day in and day out, we have to put the work in to really get the results that we want,” Henry said. “Just excited to take that next step with everybody and really get a chance so we can build up to those moments.”

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Looking to maximize potential, Clemson’s defensive line not resting on laurels

Clemson’s vaunted defensive line looked as advertised during the team’s spring game Saturday, though the group knows its suffocating performance came with a caveat. “That’s what I expect of us every time we take the field, but at the same time, we’d …

Clemson’s vaunted defensive line looked as advertised during the team’s spring game Saturday, though the group knows its suffocating performance came with a caveat.

“That’s what I expect of us every time we take the field, but at the same time, we’d be remiss to (not) notice some great offensive linemen we have were out (Saturday),” defensive end K.J. Henry said. “People on social media probably won’t even pay attention to stuff like that, but we know what it is.

“We know what we’ve got, and we know what we bring on both sides of the ball.”

The Tigers’ defensive front brought pressure – and a lot of it – during the Orange and White game. The unit had a more decisive edge than usual with Clemson running out much younger offensive lines between injuries and the decision to rest some veteran players, but with every defensive lineman on the two-deep back from last season — including a wealth of talent and experience on the edge — Clemson figures to once again be a handful for any offensive line it goes up against this fall.

The fight in the trenches Saturday was rarely fair. Clemson’s top two running backs (Will Shipley and Kobe Pace) weren’t available either, but those that were had little room to operate on a day when the defenses lived in the backfield. The teams combined for minus-35 yards rushing while the defenses were credited with 22 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in the White team’s 15-7 win.

Rising junior end Myles Murphy notched three of those sacks as part of his four tackles for loss. Xavier Thomas showed speed and explosion off the edge for four tackles while Henry got to the quarterback more often than anybody with 3.5 sacks.

“We have a lot of chemistry, and we know how to play with each other,” Murphy said. “We’re just playing well and know how to scheme against every offensive line we play against. We’re just doing a very good job.”

The group did it without the services of star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (knee) and fellow interior lineman Tre Williams (shoulder, others), who missed the spring as they work their way back from injuries. But Henry and Murphy said there’s still work to do this summer in order for the unit to meet the lofty expectations placed on them considering everything it’s returning.

Thomas, Henry and fellow end Justin Mascoll are all fifth-year players who gave the Tigers a lift by deciding to return for one more season. Meanwhile, Murphy, the Tigers’ sack leader a season ago, and Bresee may be the team’s top prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft. Williams, Ruke Orhorhoro and Etinosa Reuben are all key cogs back on the interior of a line that helped Clemson finish in the top 15 nationally in sacks and tackles for loss last season, and former blue-chip recruits Payton Page and DeMonte Capehart could provide quality depth up front with larger roles this fall.

Henry said it makes for a lot of potential, but the group needs to put it all together once it’s whole again to become a consistently dominant force.

“It doesn’t mean nothing until we really put it out there,” Henry said. “The next step for us is just having a great summer and really developing, getting us healthy, getting us stronger, getting us faster and really honing in on our craft to be a great d-line this year. We’ve got to earn it, and we’re going to try to earn it each day in the summer.”

Murphy said that starts with focusing on the details, including everyone maintaining peak physical condition leading up to the start of fall camp in August.

“That’s the biggest thing for all of us,” Murphy said. “Staying moving. Don’t take an entire week off just not doing anything. Stay up, stay moving and stay active. Stay in shape.”

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