Price ‘just doing his job’ en route to first career TD

Six seasons came to an all-time high for tight end Luke Price in Clemson’s latest win over Miami. Besides the fact that it was Senior Day, the sixth-year senior expected Saturday to be like any other gameday in Death Valley, but boy was he in for a …

In the second quarter of the Tigers’ matchup versus the Hurricanes, Price tucked into the back left corner of the end zone and was wide open just in time for a scrambling D.J. Uiagalelei to connect with him for six — scoring the first touchdown of the tight end’s Clemson career in the process.

“It’s pretty cool,” Price said. “You just do your job, and coach always says just wait for your opportunity, so I mean, it’s great. But as long as we win the game, that’s all I really care about. Just be ready for your opportunity, and I was.”

While Price traditionally takes on the offensive blocking role at the tight end position, Clemson’s coaching staff noticed some offensive tendencies in their ACC foe while studying film, prompting the Tigers’ offense to come up with a trick play involving Price.

“We’ve seen it on film that they’re susceptible to some stuff and we saw a couple of clips on some film,” he said. “We took a little bit from that, from some other teams that they’ve played, so we had our own little wrinkle for it, and I mean, it worked, and they fell for it.”

And fell for it they did. With the Tigers having practiced the play throughout their week of preparation for Miami, it was just a matter of a quick turn, catch and score for Price when the time came.

“We’ve been repping it all week,” the Palmetto State native said. “If it was the right look, then I was going to get the ball. I just had to do my job, and he put the ball right up there for me, so it was pretty easy, pretty simple.”

Though Price’s first career touchdown on Senior Day was more than he could have ever imagined, it all goes back to doing the job he has been entrusted to do. For Price, the opportunity to play the game and do his job is far more important than any stat or accolade he could earn.

“At the end of the day, you want to make a difference no matter what your role is, whether you’re on the sidelines, whether you’re on the field, whether you’re on special teams, offense, whatever,” Price said. “Whatever your role is you embrace and then you do the job, and then if you continue to do your job well, I think maybe more opportunities come your way. It’s all about doing your job and doing what you’re asked to do, and then doing it to the best of your ability. That’s what it’s about.”

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Senior Day becomes a career day for Luke Price

Clemson’s win over Miami was a big day for tight end Luke Price. Not only was Saturday’s game senior day for Price, but it was also the day he caught the first touchdown of his Clemson career. After Wes Goodwin’s defense deflected a pass thrown by …

Clemson’s win over Miami was a big day for tight end Luke Price. Not only was Saturday’s game senior day for Price, but it was also the day he caught the first touchdown of his Clemson career.

After Wes Goodwin’s defense deflected a pass thrown by Miami quarterback Jacurri Brown and safety Jalyn Phillips came up with the interception, the Tigers were in prime Hurricane territory on the 27-yard line.

Price was in the right place at the right time, waiting patiently in the back left corner of the end zone for a pass coming off the hands of a scrambling D.J. Uiagalelei in the pocket, coming away with Clemson’s third touchdown of the day.

The South Carolina native’s 3-yard touchdown reception was both his first reception of the 2022 season (sixth career reception) as well as the first touchdown of his six-year Clemson career.

Though Price has encountered his fair share of adversity while donning the Orange and Purple, redshirting his freshman year and sustaining a season-ending knee injury during fall camp back in 2020, this will surely be a day that the tight end will always remember.

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Another productive day turns historic for Clemson’s tight ends

As has often happened this season, Davis Allen got involved early. The senior tight end caught his first pass – a 5-yarder – on Clemson’s second offensive snap Saturday. With the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Allen split out wide against Miami’s 6-1 …

As has often happened this season, Davis Allen got involved early.

The senior tight end caught his first pass – a 5-yarder – on Clemson’s second offensive snap Saturday. With the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Allen split out wide against Miami’s 6-1 cornerback, DJ Ivey, near the goal line, D.J. Uiagalelei went back to Allen at the end of the 12-play, 75-yard opening possession.

Uiagalelei faked a handoff to Will Shipley to help better clear a throwing lane to Allen, who worked his way inside Ivey on a slant toward the middle of the end zone. Ivey tracked closely behind, but Allen reached up to snag Uiagalelei’s fastball for a 7-yard touchdown.

And with that, Clemson’s tight ends were off in what turned out to be a historic day for the position.

Allen’s scoring catch was his fourth of the season. Fellow tight end Jake Briningstool had four coming into the game, making for the first time ever that Clemson has had two tight ends catch at least four touchdown passes in the same season.

Allen came into the game as Clemson’s second-leading receiver and added two other catches in the Tigers’ win Saturday, finishing the day with a team-high four receptions for 35 yards. His touchdown catch was the 11th of his career, moving him past former Clemson great Bennie Cunningham for the fifth-most scoring receptions by a tight end in program history.

Briningstool caught three balls for 57 yards, 49 of those coming on a catch and run late in the fourth quarter to set up another touchdown that put what was just a two-touchdown game at the time out of reach.

“It was a mixture of some matchups and just getting them involved,” offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter said. “We’re very talented in the tight end room, and they made plays for us.”

Even reserve tight end Luke Price got in on the receiving action. A sixth-year senior, Price had not caught a pass all season. That changed early in the second quarter when Streeter went deeper into the playbook to add to Clemson’s 14-0 lead at the time.

With the Tigers set up with first-and-goal at Miami’s 3-yard line, the Tigers dialed up a throwback to Price, who, with all of the action going to the right on a play-action pass, sifted his way through the defense to the left. Miami left him all alone, making for an easy first touchdown catch of his career.

“We’d seen on film that they’re susceptible to some stuff,” Price said. “We took a little bit from that, from some other teams that they’ve played. We had our own little wrinkle for it, and it worked.”

Clemson’s tight ends finished with eight catches on the day, a continuation of the group’s heavy involvement in the passing game. Allen is up to 32 receptions on the season while Briningstool has 20. As a whole, Clemson’s tight ends have 55 catches – 18 more than all of last season.

About the only negative for the position was a lack of ball security at times that’s permeated an offense that’s committed 12 turnovers in the last four games. Allen lost a fumble with Clemson going in for another potential score in the second half while Briningstool also put the ball on the ground once, though Clemson got a fortunate bounce when it popped directly into the hands of Antonio Williams, who was close by.

But Saturday was largely a memorable one for a position that’s been productive all season.

“They continue to make plays,” Streeter said. “That’s just going to continue to happen, giving them opportunities to make plays.”

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Clemson goes undefeated in ACC regular season play and extends its home win streak with a win over Miami

Clemson extends their home win streak with a win over Miami.

Dabo Swinney and the Tigers extended their home win streak to 40 games as Clemson took down Miami 40-10 Saturday in Death Valley.

It was an interesting performance from Swinney’s team as the Tigers 10-1 (8-0 ACC) came out the gates hot, putting together a near-perfect first half. In the second half, however, Clemson’s offense had its struggles with multiple turnovers that could have caused a lot more issues if the defense wasn’t playing so well.

Starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei had some great moments though there was some bad to go along with it. The junior completed 22-34 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns while being very effective on the ground Uiagalelei took 17 attempts for 89 yards and a touchdown. He had two second-half turnovers with an interception and a fumble.

Starting running back, Will Shipley seemed banged up throughout the game though he still managed to produce 75 total yards and a touchdown. The Tigers’ offense spread the wealth with 12 different players recording receptions, including senior Luke Price, who had his first career touchdown reception.

Wes Goodwin and the Clemson defense were phenomenal Saturday as the Hurricanes’ offense struggled to get much going against the unit even when they were given great field position. With 68 passing yards and 30 rushing yards, the Hurricanes failed to eclipse 100 offensive yards.

Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was fantastic in this matchup, making some big plays as he recorded a sack and interception. It was likely the best game of his career. Another linebacker, Trenton Simpson, also performed at a high level picking up two sacks.

It was a good win for the Tigers though it was not a complete performance. It was also the programs 12th straight ten win season. Clemson will finish their regular season with its annual rivalry game against South Carolina next Saturday at Death Valley.

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Briningstool makes lofty claim about Clemson’s offense

The struggles Clemson’s offense had a season ago isn’t shaking Jake Briningstool’s confidence in the group’s potential this fall. This time a year ago, Briningstool was just getting started in an offense that fell well short of the standard set in …

The struggles Clemson’s offense had a season ago isn’t shaking Jake Briningstool’s confidence in the group’s potential this fall.

This time a year ago, Briningstool was just getting started in an offense that fell well short of the standard set in recent years. Clemson plummeted to 82nd or worse nationally in yards, points and passing offense.

But with more than half the starters back on that side of the ball, Briningstool is confident in not only his position group but the offense as a whole bouncing back in a big way this season.

“I wholeheartedly believe we’ve got the best tight end room in the country, and I think we’ve got the best offense in the country, too,” he said. “I’m ready to see what we can do.”

Clemson has four starters back on the offensive line as well as its top three running backs. Joseph Ngata, E.J. Williams, Beaux Collins and Brannon Spector are back at receiver while senior Davis Allen returns to lead Briningstool’s position group. But if a turnaround is going to happen, it has to start with improvement from D.J. Uiagalelei, who enters his second full season as the starting quarterback.

Uiagalelei’s struggles with accuracy and confidence a season ago have been well-documented, but coaches and teammates have largely praised the junior signal caller’s performance in the spring and during preseason camp. Count Briningstool among those who’ve seen a difference in Uiagalelei beyond the weight loss.

“He’s been great forever, but he feels a lot more relaxed, and I think he can really sling it,” Briningstool said of Uiagalelei. “He does some stuff that’s unreal back there, so I’m excited to see him get his confidence back and see what we can do together.”

A former top-100 recruit, Briningstool caught just three passes in eight games as a true freshman last season but has worked his way up the depth chart and is primed to make a bigger impact this season. Sage Ennis, super senior Luke Price and true freshman Josh Sapp are also at the position, but the 6-foot-6, 235-pound Briningstool has a unique skill set at the position that he believes new position coach Kyle Richardson, who doubles as the passing-game coordinator, will try to take advantage of in certain situations.

“I would just say we’ve got a lot more opportunities for us,” Briningstool said of the tight ends. “I think we can really open up the passing game, create mismatches, just keep the ball moving and keep on going.”

Briningstool said he wouldn’t be surprised if there are times he and Allen are on the field at the same time this season. The offense’s 2022 debut will come Labor Day night against Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

“I feel like the tight ends, we’ve got a better situation now with the way we’re going to be used,” Briningstool said. “I think me and Davis both are going to make a big impact.”

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Swinney praises Clemson’s tight ends, which have been ‘really good’ since the start of fall camp

Following Wednesday’s final camp scrimmage, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney spoke with the media and was asked about the progression of his tight ends since the start of fall camp. Swinney said that Kyle Richardson’s group has been “really good” and then …

Following Wednesday’s final camp scrimmage, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney spoke with the media and was asked about the progression of his tight ends since the start of fall camp.

Swinney said that Kyle Richardson’s group has been “really good” and then rifled off some updates on the progress that each of Davis Allen, Jake Briningstool, Sage Ennis, Luke Price and Josh Sapp have made.

Allen, Clemson’s top draft prospect at the position, is beginning his first season atop the depth chart after taking over that spot last season after Braden Galloway sustained a season-ending injury. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder finished third on the team in receptions last season (28) and tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions (3).

“Davis Allen is a solid oak tree, man. He’s steady. He’s a pro,” Swinney said. “He’s the epitome of pro in how he handles himself, his commitment, his toughness, everything about him. So, I’m really pleased with him.”

Swinney made sure to talk up Briningstool, who is seemingly coming into his own as an all-around tight end. Richardson mentioned earlier this summer that the biggest thing for the second-year tight end and his development would be consistency. So far, he’s been among the standouts at his position during fall camp.

“Brinny’s been awesome,” Swinney said. “This has been by far the best patch of Brinny that we’ve had. He’s the best Briningstool that he’s been since he got here. Last year, he was like a dang two-year-old lab running around out there; and just wide open, 100 miles an hour. Super talented. And then had to get bigger, had to get stronger and had a lot to learn.”

“I thought he finished well in the spring and I think he carried that momentum over in the summer,” Swinney continued. “But, he’s had a really good camp. I mean, he’s a really talented player and he’s done some really good things. I feel great.”

“Sage is kind of the same as Davis (Allen), man,” Swinney said. “Just very steady, tough, gritty. It’s a good group. And then, nobody ever talks about Luke Price. But Luke Price has really made himself a good player. I mean, he’s a guy that’s short-yardage and goal line, you want Luke Price in the game. He brings grit, toughness and an incredible football IQ. This guy really, really knows the game and has worked hard on all aspects of playing tight end.

Meanwhile, Price, a former walk-on linebacker, is the “grandpa” in the room, who’s played in 25 career games.

All five players make up a “good group” that can considerably help Clemson’s offense as security blankets for DJ Uiagalelei in the passing game and effective run-blockers for the guys in the backfield.

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Clemson enters fall camp whole again at tight end

Clemson’s tight end room is in a different place heading into fall camp. The personnel at the position is largely the same. Braden Galloway has moved on after four years in the program, but every other scholarship player at the position that was on …

Clemson’s tight end room is in a different place heading into fall camp.

The personnel at the position is largely the same. Braden Galloway has moved on after four years in the program, but every other scholarship player at the position that was on last year’s roster is back. And, most importantly, they’re available.

This spring, the tight end room was significantly thinned out with Davis Allen and Sage Ennis recovering from shoulder and knee injuries, respectively. That left sophomore Jake Briningstool, sixth-year senior Luke Price and some walk-ons to get all of the reps at the position.

Four months later, tight ends coach Kyle Richardson said the group is whole again.

“It’s going to be eight guys in that tight end room and they’re all going to be in fall camp,” said Richardson, who will also serve as the Tigers’ passing-game coordinator this season.

Richardson said his objective now is to figure out each best fits into the offense, particularly the top four of Allen, Ennis, Briningstool and Price.

Allen, Clemson’s top draft prospect at the position, is beginning his first season atop the depth chart after taking over that spot last season after Galloway sustained a season-ending injury. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder finished third on the team in receptions last season (28) and tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions (3).

Ennis, a third-year sophomore, could take on his biggest role yet as the No. 2 option at the position, though he’ll have to hold off a former top-100 recruit in Briningstool, perhaps the best pure receiving tight end on the roster at 6-6 and 235 pounds, for that spot on the depth chart. Meanwhile, Price, a former walk-on linebacker, is the “grandpa” in the room, Richardson said, who’s played in 25 career games.

“You’ve got those four guys that have got all kinds of different levels of experience, and all four of those guys bring something different to the table,” Richardson said. “And what we have to do as coaches is find ways to mix and match their strengths in order to make our offense go. And that’s kind of my job is to go through fall camp.”

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Taking inventory: Tight 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 and running back have already been assessed.

Next up is tight end.

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

Clemson began the regular season with one tight end atop the depth chart and ended it with another.

Senior Braden Galloway was the first option at the position after starting all 12 games a season ago, but Davis Allen has emerged as one of the breakout players for Clemson’s offense. Galloway’s injury factored into that — he caught just four passes in six games before a shoulder injury ended his final season with the Tigers prematurely — but Allen overtook Galloway as the starter just four games in.

Allen gave Clemson a more physical presence in the running game with his blocking prowess, but with the seemingly constant attrition at receiver, Allen has also lined up in the slot at times and become one of D.J. Uiagalelei’s top targets in the passing game. He caught a season-high eight passes against Syracuse, had six more receptions against Wake Forest and finished the regular season with 26 receptions. His three touchdown grabs are tied for the team lead.

But Clemson often implements multiple tight-end sets, so it wasn’t unusual to see Galloway and Allen on the field at the same time. Sage Ennis, who started against Florida State, saw his role increase once Galloway was lost for the season, and true freshman Jake Briningstool has become a bigger part of the offense down the stretch, too.

Ranked by the 247Sports composite as the No. 1 high school tight end in the 2021 recruiting cycle, Briningstool has played in the last six games. He caught his first career touchdown against Connecticut.

Clemson has two other tight ends on scholarship, Jaelyn Lay and Luke Price. But neither has gotten any significant snaps on offense as depth players in their final season with the program.

So unless any of them decide to transfer, the Tigers are in line to have their top three tight ends back in the fold next season. And they’ve got at least one more coming in as part of their 2022 recruiting class.

Who’s leaving?

Galloway, Lay, Price

Who’s staying?

Allen, Ennis, Briningstool

Who’s joining?

Three-star tight end Josh Sapp, an in-state product from Greenville and son of former Clemson player Patrick Sapp, is verbally committed to Clemson and plans to join the program in the summer.

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Clemson’s tight end room long on options, short on egos

There’s not a lot of mystery as to what the top of the depth chart at tight end is going to look like for Clemson come the start of the season. Still, it’s a position for the Tigers that’s long on options and short on egos. “I think the best thing …

There’s not a lot of mystery as to what the top of the depth chart at tight end is going to look like for Clemson come the start of the season.

Still, it’s a position for the Tigers that’s long on options and short on egos.

“I think the best thing about our group is that it’s a bunch of selfless guys,” senior Braden Galloway said. “We want everybody to be successful.”

Galloway is back as the No. 1 option after starting all 12 games last season and finishing with the fourth-most receptions (27) on the team. In an effort to become a more complete tight end, Galloway said he focused on his lower body in the offseason so that he can be more effective help in the running game and is up to 247 pounds from the 240 he played at last season, but Galloway acknowledged his blocking is still a weakness that he’s constantly working to improve.

That’s where Davis Allen comes in. What Galloway may lack in sheer physicality and technique as a blocker, Allen can help with at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, though Allen isn’t exactly a one-trick pony heading into his junior season.

He caught 16 passes as a sophomore with four of those going for touchdowns, second-most on the team. Allen split first-team reps with Galloway during Clemson’s first scrimmage of camp over the weekend, Galloway said, which would seem to indicate an even bigger offensive role for Allen could be looming.

There’s also Jaelyn Lay, Jake Briningstool and Luke Price.

The most physically imposing of the group, Lay hasn’t always played with the physicality one would expect from a 6-6, 270-pounder, something Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he’s pleaded with Lae to embrace, particularly when it comes to blocking. Lay has responded by working on that aspect of his game, though he said improving as a blocker has more to do with technique than strength for him.

“It’s a lot of aspects whether it’s footwork technique, your hands, how you shoot your hands, your steps. You can overstride,” Lay said. “I’ve improved, but I can always get better because I see myself always tending to overstride.”

Lay has also used his long reach to make some impressive catches during camp. Briningstool, another tall target at 6-6, is going through his first collegiate practices as a true freshman while Price may be the most easily forgotten among the group.

A fifth-year senior, Price moved to tight end following the 2018 season after beginning his college career as a linebacker. But Price has only played one season at his new position after a knee injury cost him all of last season.

Price caught just four passes in 2019 and doesn’t have the prototypical body type for the position at 6-2 and 235 pounds, but offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said Price is fundamentally sound enough to have some sort of role for the Tigers this fall.

“The crazy thing is I’ve even pointed out some pictures in the passing game of what I want it to look like using Luke as the example,” Elliott said. “He’s in good shape, and he’s going to help us.”

Allen and Lay both said they haven’t noticed much of a dropoff from one tight end to another during practice. Clemson will get a better gauge of that once the games start Sept. 4 with a marquee opener against Georgia, but the group expects to be productive regardless of who’s getting the credit.

“Obviously I’m not in other position rooms, but everybody wants everybody to be happy and be successful and to make plays,” Galloways said, referencing the tight end room. “I’m happy when Davis makes a play. I’m happy when Jae-Lay gets out there and makes a play. And I think if we continue to do that, everything else will take care of itself.”

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