Tag: Keith Maguire

Clemson linebacker involved in cool trade with Bryce Harper

A Clemson football player was involved in a cool moment – and trade – with Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper on Thursday. Clemson linebacker Keith Maguire, a native of Media, Pa., was in attendance at the Phillies’ game vs. the San Diego …

A Clemson football player was involved in a cool moment — and trade — with Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper on Thursday.

Clemson linebacker Keith Maguire, a native of Media, Pa., was in attendance at the Phillies’ game vs. the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon.

Maguire and Harper made a trade during the game. Sitting near the Phillies’ dugout, Maguire exchanged the hat he was wearing for Harper’s hat.

Maguire shared a photo on Twitter of the hat that Harper traded (see below), which shows it autographed.

As for the hat Maguire had been wearing before trading it to Harper (see below), Maguire posted on Twitter, “Bought that hat as I was walking into the stadium, who would have thought i would trade it for Bryce’s hat (laughing emoji).”

Maguire, a former four-star prospect from Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, Pa., enters his redshirt junior season at Clemson in 2022 with 33 tackles (4.0 for loss), a forced fumble, an interception and two pass breakups in 208 defensive snaps over 28 career games.

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images 

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What did Swinney learn about Clemson’s ‘very athletic’ linebackers this spring?

One position group that’s been an interesting storyline worth following this spring for Clemson is the linebackers. And if you listen to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney talk about them, you’d understand. Even with James Skalski and Baylon Spector …

One position group that’s been an interesting storyline worth following this spring for Clemson is the linebackers. And if you listen to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney talk about them, you’d understand.

Even with James Skalski and Baylon Spector exhausting their eligibility, Clemson is excited about the prospects that Wesley Goodwin’s room has, especially considering the level of athleticism and speed that guys like Trenton Simpson, Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. possess.

During his final media availability before Clemson’s spring game this Saturday, Swinney was asked what he’s learned about the team’s inside linebackers this spring. Clemson’s head man ran through the depth chart and provided a long, thorough answer.

“Very athletic, very fast and a very focused group,” Swinney said Wednesday. “It’s been fun moving Trenton in there and watching him mature in a different role. I love what I see — it was good to get Sergio (Allen) back in the second half, so he was able to get some work these last six practices.

But man, I love what I see out of Trotter, and LaVonta (Bentley) and (Keith) Maguire. Man, Maguire’s just like a different dude. I mean, he’s got some swagger, he’s playing fast. It’s just a very knowledgeable group. Even though Trotter’s just a sophomore, that guy is off the charts, football IQ and instincts for the game.

“Barrett Carter, he’s as good as a football player that there is on this entire team. He could probably play corner, safety, SAM, MIKE, WILL, running back. I mean, this guy is a very, very unique football player. He’s a great, great young prospect.”

Swinney reiterated that he thinks that Clemson will be very athletic, knowledgeable and fast at the linebacker position. That’s not even mentioning guys like Wade Woodaz, Kobe McCloud and T.J. Dudley, who will each arrive this summer and provide some necessary depth to one of the most talented position groups on the team.

“Those first six guys are gonna be ready to play when it comes bright light time,” Swinney said.

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Clemson’s competition rages on at mike linebacker

The battle to replace James Skalski in the middle of Clemson’s defense continues. Nine spring practices in, and there’s been little separation among those competing for the top spot on the depth chart at middle linebacker, a position Skalski manned …

The battle to replace James Skalski in the middle of Clemson’s defense continues.

Nine spring practices in, and there’s been little separation among those competing for the top spot on the depth chart at middle linebacker, a position Skalski manned the last three seasons. Skalski led Clemson in tackles last season, but after six years with the program – and more than 1,900 snaps over 69 career games – he’s exhausted his eligibility.

That has left a massive void at the second level of the defense for first-year coordinator Wesley Goodwin to work on filling. Even with additional attrition, there’s no shortage of viable candidates.

Clemson lost its top three mike linebackers off last year’s depth chart when Kane Patterson (transfer to Vanderbilt) and Jake Venables (stepping away from football) opted not to return next season. But rising juniors LaVonta Bentley and Keith Maguire are still around and have gotten the majority of the first-team reps this spring, Goodwin said.

Bentley and Maguire, who have combined to play in 55 games at Clemson, are among the most experienced ‘backers still on the roster. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the coaching staff is close to making any long-term decisions at the position.

“Just mixing and matching guys, per se,” Goodwin said. “It’s been a great competition. We’ll see how it all works out, but all of those guys in the linebacker room have been great. They’re unselfish. They’re team guys. They’re learning to play every day with more confidence and being more vocal.”

In fact, the number of options appears to be expanding. Goodwin said rising sophomore Jeremiah Trotter, a former blue-chip recruit who contributed primarily on special teams last season, has progressed to the point that he is legitimately competing for a starting job.

Even Trenton Simpson is splitting time between the mike and will, where he was initially moved at the start of the spring after starting 12 games at the strongside ‘backer position last season. Simpson, who finished second on the team in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (6) last season as a premier edge rusher, made the move to replace another departing member of the linebacking corps, Baylon Spector, but Clemson coach Dabo Swinney hinted that Simpson has also gotten his fair share of reps in the middle.

“We’re rolling those first four guys pretty consistently,” Swinney said. “Maguire, Trotter, LaVonta and Simpson, those four are kind of splitting all of those reps, competing, battling and doing a good job.”

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Who’s next up for the Clemson defense? Former Tiger weighs in

At the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week, Fran Duffy of PhiladelphiaEagles.com caught up with former Clemson linebacker Baylon Spector. Duffy asked Spector who he expects to be next up for the Tigers’ defense and who people should …

At the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week, Fran Duffy of PhiladelphiaEagles.com caught up with former Clemson linebacker Baylon Spector.

Duffy asked Spector who he expects to be next up for the Tigers’ defense and who people should be looking out for next season.

Spector named a couple of Clemson linebackers — redshirt junior and Pennsylvania native Keith Maguire, and sophomore Jeremiah Trotter Jr., the son of Jeremiah Trotter, Sr., a four-time Pro Bowl linebacker who spent the majority of his 12-year NFL career with the Eagles and is in the Eagles Hall of Fame.

“Jeremiah Trotter. He. Can. Play. Football,” Spector said, via Duffy. “It only took like two weeks watching him in spring ball. It’s like this kid’s got really good instincts. He’s got a nose for the football. I’m excited for him. Give a shout out to Keith Maguire too, another Philly guy. Both of them up there. Just two guys that have I mean, Keith’s a little bit older but both have really good talent. A lot of speed. Can play the game of football.”

Trotter enters the 2022 season following a true freshman campaign in 2021 during which he notched 22 tackles (one for loss) and a sack while playing 59 defensive snaps and key special teams roles in 13 games.

Maguire heads into 2022 with 33 tackles (4.0 for loss), a forced fumble, an interception and two pass breakups in 208 defensive snaps over 28 career games.

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