Tag: Marcus Tate

Two Clemson Tigers earn ACC Weekly Honors

Two Tigers had an excellent weekend.

CLEMSON, S.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today that Clemson offensive lineman Marcus Tate (ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week) and placekicker Nolan Hauser (ACC Specialist of the Week) have collected ACC weekly honors for their performances in Clemson’s 29-13 victory at Florida State on Saturday.

The honors in their respective categories represent the first in the careers of both Tate and Hauser. Their selections also represent Clemson’s second and third ACC weekly honors of the season, and the Tigers have now garnered a total of 581 ACC weekly awards since 1968.

On Saturday, Tate and his counterparts on Clemson’s offensive line helped power the Tigers to 500 total yards, including 265 on the ground. Back in his home state, the Florida native helped clear the way for running back Phil Mafah’s 25-carry, 154-yard rushing performance, including the fourth quarter as Clemson leaned on its veteran running game to seal the victory with 11 runs and no passes for 109 yards in the final frame.

Tate’s selection is Clemson’s 21st ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honor since 2018. He becomes the first Clemson offensive lineman to earn the honor since Will Putnam collected the award for performances against Notre Dame and North Carolina last season.

Hauser accounted for 17 points in Clemson’s 16-point victory against the Seminoles. His five field goals represented Clemson’s first five-field-goal performance since Chandler Catanzaro went 5-for-5 on field goal attempts against Boston College in 2011. It was the seventh five-field-goal performance by a kicker in Clemson history.

Hauser joins Richard Jackson, Catanzaro, Spencer Benton, Ammon Lakip and Jonathan Weitz as the sixth Clemson placekicker to earn an ACC Specialist of the Week selection in Head Coach Dabo Swinney’s tenure. Hauser is the 15th player in Swinney’s tenure to earn the honor when expanded to include punters and return specialists, and he is the first to do so since Weitz’s 3-for-3 performance on field goals in a win at South Carolina last November.

Tate, Hauser and the Tigers will be on the road again next week when Clemson faces the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Saturday, Oct. 12. That game will kick off at noon ET on ESPN. Clemson will return to Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19 for another noon contest against the Virginia Cavaliers; ticket packages for games at Memorial Stadium are available here.

–Via Clemson Athletic Communications

Dabo Swinney confirms two Clemson offensive lineman are healthy for NC State

Clemson is returning some key players.

During his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney shared positive news for the Tigers’ offense. Offensive linemen Marcus Tate and Trent Howard are set to return for Clemson’s ACC opener against NC State on Saturday at noon (ABC).

Tate was available for the Appalachian State game, but the team opted not to play him. Howard, on the other hand, will see his first action of the season after missing the initial two games due to injury. Swinney highlighted Howard’s return, stating, “He is one of those guys where the off week was huge for him. So, that is a shot in the arm for us. We get a veteran guy back that can snap and play guard for us.”

This news comes as a boost for the Tigers, especially after losing reserve guard Dietrick Pennington for the season due to a partial ACL tear sustained against App State on Sept. 7.

Swinney ‘really excited’ about the Tigers’ 2024 offensive line despite Gator Bowl struggles

Clemson allowed eight sacks against Kentucky in the Gator Bowl, but head coach Dabo Swinney has plenty of confidence in the unit going into 2024.

Clemson’s offensive line performance in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Friday left much to be desired, but despite the unit’s struggles, head coach Dabo Swinney remained optimistic about the future.

Speaking to the media after the Tigers’ 38-35 victory over Kentucky in the Gator Bowl, head coach Dabo Swinney briefly touched on the offensive line’s performance and outlook.

“We’ll have seven starters coming back, and we’re excited about that,” Swinney said. “We’re excited about what we got. I’m sure not all of those sacks were on the OL. It’s easy, and that’s kind of the first thing everybody does, but we’ll watch the tape and assess it. There’s probably one or two that Cade might’ve taken. I don’t know, we’ll see when we watch the tape. There’s a lot of things that go into it, but I’m really excited about the group that’s coming back.”

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was sacked eight times against the Wildcats on Friday after only being sacked 20 times throughout the regular season.

Despite consistently being under duress and hit, Klubnik said after the game that he felt like he “had all day back there today.”

Nonetheless, Swinney added in his post-game press conference that Clemson’s offensive line has to “get better,” and the Tigers need to “establish our depth.”

Swinney’s confidence in next year’s line stems from two factors, the first of which is the returning players on the roster.

In 2024, Clemson will have Marcus Tate, Walker Parks, Blake Miller, Collin Sadler, Tristan Leigh, Harris Sewell and Trent Howard, all of whom started in at least one game this season. The only starter who the Tigers are losing is center Will Putnam, who is out of eligibility. Clemson also lost guard Mitchell Mayes to the transfer portal earlier this month.

The second reason Swinney has confidence in the unit is the hiring of Matt Luke as the new offensive line coach.

Luke coached in Friday’s game against Kentucky, and although his group didn’t perform exceptionally well, he is expected to elevate and develop the blockers up front, as well as have more success on the recruiting trail than his predecessor, Thomas Austin.

PFF names 16 Tigers to their 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team

A total of 16 Tigers were named to PFF’s 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team.

Heading into the 2023 college football season, the Clemson football program will battle to remain the top dogs in the ACC with Mike Norvell and the Florida State Seminoles. 

The ACC will be strong next season, but at the top of the conference should be the Tigers and the Seminoles. Two programs with a ton of talent and much to prove in 2023. 

The amount of talent these two programs have is prevalent in Pro Football Focus’ 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team, where Clemson and FSU had the most players make the team. However, it was the Tigers who had the most members, with 16 names making the cut. 

Here is a look at every Tiger who made PFF’s 2023 Preseason All-ACC team.

FIRST TEAM

RB Will Shipley

LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

CB Nate Wiggins

SECOND TEAM

WR Antonio Williams

TE Jake Briningstool

G Marcus Tate

DI Tyler Davis

DI Ruke Orhorhoro

LB Barrett Carter

S R.J, Mickens

RS Will Shipley

THIRD TEAM

QB Cade Klubnik

T Blake Miller

C Will Putnam

Edge Xavier Thomas

S Jalyn Phillips

Flex Andrew Mukuba

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McFadden comments on OL teammate’s season-ending injury

Jordan McFadden has enjoyed lining up beside Marcus Tate on Clemson’s offense line, with Tate manning the left guard position and McFadden occupying the left tackle spot. Unfortunately for Tate, he suffered a season-ending knee injury early in …

Jordan McFadden has enjoyed lining up beside Marcus Tate on Clemson’s offense line, with Tate manning the left guard position and McFadden occupying the left tackle spot.

Unfortunately for Tate, he suffered a season-ending knee injury early in Saturday’s 40-10 win over Miami, so McFadden will have a new starter alongside him up front moving forward this season.

McFadden feels for Tate and spoke Monday about the sophomore’s season being cut short.

“You definitely hate it for Marcus, a guy who’s been playing well this year and a guy who cares so much,” McFadden said. “Like, I want to see him be successful, and I love playing beside him. So, I really hate that happened to him. But I know he’ll take his recovery serious, and I have no doubt that he’ll be better next year when he’s healthy.”

Tate started all 11 games the Tigers have played so far this season. The sophomore from Sunrise, Fla., played 627 snaps over 13 games with eight starts as a true freshman in 2021.

McFadden, a fifth-year senior, has played 774 snaps while starting each of Clemson’s 11 games in 2022.

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Starting OL to have surgery, miss rest of season

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney held his weekly Zoom conference call with the media Sunday evening and updated the status of a starting offensive lineman who suffered an injury in Saturday’s 40-10 win over Miami at Death Valley. Swinney said …

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney held his weekly Zoom conference call with the media Sunday evening and updated the status of a starting offensive lineman who suffered an injury in Saturday’s 40-10 win over Miami at Death Valley.

Swinney said starting left guard Marcus Tate, who went down on Clemson’s first possession and had to be helped off the field, will be out for the rest of the season.

The sophomore will have to undergo surgery after sustaining a knee injury in the game. While that’s the bad news, Swinney said the good news is that Tate’s injury is not related to his ACL or MCL.

“We got good news and bad news,” Swinney said. “Good news is his ACL and all that stuff is good. Bad news is there’s like a — I don’t really know how to explain it other than there’s like a little ligament or tendon or something that holds your kneecap, and that’s where he got hurt. K.J. (Henry) actually had a similar thing a couple years ago.

“So, he’s going to have to have surgery on that to get it fixed. Again, it’s not like an ACL surgery, so he’ll be fine. So, that’s the good news. The bad news is he’s going to be out for us.”

Swinney added that he expects Tate to be back this spring — not at full speed, but in a green jersey, Swinney 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!

Clemson’s offensive line playing ‘a lot of winning football’

Clemson’s offense has taken a 180-degree turn from the rut it was stuck in for much of last season. While the improved play of D.J. Uiagalelei has gotten most of the focus through the Tigers’ first four games, Clemson’s quarterback and skill …

Clemson’s offense has taken a 180-degree turn from the rut it was stuck in for much of last season. While the improved play of D.J. Uiagalelei has gotten most of the focus through the Tigers’ first four games, Clemson’s quarterback and skill position players have gotten plenty of help from an offensive line that’s picked up its game as well.

The unit took its share of criticism last season as ineffectiveness and attrition forced the Tigers to start eight different combinations along the offensive line, which didn’t do much to help with the group’s cohesion. So far this season, Clemson is averaging 17 more points per game than it did a year ago (26.3 to 43.8) with many of the same faces that blocked for Uiagalelei and his supporting cast then.

While Will Putnam (guard to center) and Walker Parks (tackle to guard) have switched positions since last season, true freshman tackle Blake Miller is the only new starter up front. All-ACC tackle Jordan McFadden and guard Marcus Tate have joined the trio in the starting lineup every game this season.

“Certainly they’re all good enough players. They’re really talented players,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Sunday. “That and the continuity has been a real positive for D.J., and they’ve just gotten more and more confident. You’re not going to watch any game and see guys perfect, but they’re just playing a lot of winning football.”

With the line paving the way, many of Clemson’s offensive numbers are positively different – and, in some cases, drastically – than last season. The Tigers, fresh off a season-high 559 yards in their win at Wake Forest on Saturday, are putting up nearly 100 more yards per game on average than they did a season ago. Will Shipley ran behind the group en route to another 100-yard day on the ground for Clemson, which has rushed for at least 188 yards in back-to-back games.

But the biggest contrast in Clemson’s offensive output this season is what the Tigers are doing through the air. Clemson ranks in the top 50 nationally in passing offense at 275 yards per game, a significant jump from when the Tigers finished in the triple digits in that category last season.

Uiagalelei turned in one of the best performances of his career against the Demon Deacons, throwing for 371 yards and a career-high five touchdowns on a day when Clemson needed all of it to escape in double overtime. Thanks to strong protection up front, he spent most of the day in a clean pocket with plenty of time to survey the field and find open receivers. He averaged 14.3 yards per completion.

Clemson has allowed just six sacks through four games, though Swinney said the line hasn’t been responsible for giving up any in the last three games. Wake Forest got to Uiagalelei for just one sack on 42 dropbacks, but Swinney said that came as a result of a running back not picking up a blitzing safety in time.

That was with Clemson’s starting five playing all 86 offensive snaps, the first time this season the Tigers haven’t rotated in any backup linemen. Swinney said that had everything to do with the flow of a back-and-forth game.

“We do need to get a couple of more guys in there, but as the game went, it was literally living and dying on every single play,” Swinney said. “And in the second half there, we played from behind every drive. We were at a point where we’ve got to go score. We went with the best we had. Just really proud of them.”

The line has largely held up regardless of the circumstances to do its part in limiting the frequency with which opposing defenses get into the Tigers’ backfield. Teams are averaging just 4.2 tackles for loss against Clemson, the second-fewest in the ACC.

“They are doing a really good job,” Swinney said. “All you can ask is they keep working and getting better, and that group has done 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!

After baptism-by-fire rookie season, Tate ‘playing free’ along Clemson’s offensive line

Marcus Tate isn’t necessarily where he wants to be yet, but he’s glad he’s not where he used to be. Tate is the second-youngest member of Clemson’s offensive line. Only freshmen tackle Blake Miller has played fewer snaps among the starting five up …

Marcus Tate isn’t necessarily where he wants to be yet, but he’s glad he’s not where he used to be.

Tate is the second-youngest member of Clemson’s offensive line. Only freshmen tackle Blake Miller has played fewer snaps among the starting five up front, but Tate isn’t too far removed from being in Miller’s shoes. Tate was the lone true freshman starter among the group a year ago, winning the starting job at left guard during preseason camp.

Like many first-year offensive linemen, the learning curve was a steep one. Tate’s introduction to college football came against eventual national champion Georgia, which had three defensive linemen off last year’s team taken in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. Tate’s youth fed into inconsistency, and he was eventually pulled from the starting lineup.

Tate bounced in and out of throughout his first season with the Tigers but got plenty of experience. He logged 628 snaps over 13 games with eight starts.

“I never really had any doubt in myself that I could play at this level,” Tate said. “I think just the fact that I was able to play as a freshman proved that I did belong here. Also, I just have a lot of good people around me that’s encouraged me and kept me motivated to know that I deserve to be here.”

Tate reclaimed his starting job entering this season and has looked more natural than overwhelmed in Year Two. After admittedly doing a lot of thinking as a freshman trying to get caught up, Tate said he’s more at ease playing the game that made him a highly sought-after prospect coming out of NSU University School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“Definitely I’m just more comfortable with where I’m at,” he said. “I don’t really feel like I’m trying to pick up on too many different things or worrying about my play right now. I’m just playing free, just trying to stay disciplined to my routine every day and just focus on what I can control.”

Tate said that’s not something he did much of last season.

“I felt like a lot of things last year were me being in my own head, trying to get the playbook down a little bit better and technique issues,” he said.

Tate still isn’t a finished product going through his second season. Specifically, he said his technique could still use some work. But the 6-foot-5, 235-pounder has been part of the same starting offensive line for each of the Tigers’ first three games, paving the way for an offense that’s upped its point production to more than 41 points per game – a significant uptick from the 26.3 Clemson averaged a season ago.

A good chunk of that production has come through the air with the running game still working to find some consistent footing, but Clemson had its most fruitful rushing performance of the young season with 280 yards on the ground against Louisiana Tech its last time out. The group has also been credited by Swinney for giving up just one sack thus far.

“The growth is very inspiring,” Tate said of the offensive line. “I think we’re very cohesive right now. It’s probably the most cohesive we’ve been in a while.”

For Tate, those strides have come, at least in part, as a result of less mental encumbrances.

“At this part of the season, just to be able to focus on playing free and having fun out there,” Tate said. “That’s something I’ve really enjoyed this season, and it’s made it much easier when I’m on the field.”

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!

For McFadden, cohesion ‘the best I’ve felt’ along Clemson’s offensive line

Jordan McFadden is entering his third season as a starter at Clemson and fifth overall, so he’s been part of plenty of offensive lines during his time with the Tigers. None have given him a stronger sense of chemistry than this one. “This is the …

Jordan McFadden is entering his third season as a starter at Clemson and fifth overall, so he’s been part of plenty of offensive lines during his time with the Tigers. 

None have given him a stronger sense of chemistry than this one.

“This is the best I’ve felt since I’ve been here personally about cohesiveness,” McFadden said.

That was a glaring issue last year when injuries and ineffectiveness made for a musical chair of sorts up front. The Tigers started eight different offensive line combinations in 13 games and had three different starting centers, which factored into the offense’s dropoff as a whole.

Clemson didn’t rank better than 82nd in the Football Bowl Subdivision in yards, points or passing offense. After giving up seven sacks in the season opener against Georgia, the Tigers only allowed 14 sacks in the final 12 games and found more consistency in the running game later in the season to finish a respectable 58th nationally in rushing yards. 

Still, stability or not, McFadden said the line’s subpar performance overall has been a source of motivation for the unit heading into this season.

“I definitely think everybody has a chip on their shoulder,” he said. “It’s not so much us reading what everybody else is saying, but knowing what we’re capable of and knowing we didn’t perform to that standard of play here every game last season was disappointing. Everybody was just ready to get to work and ready to kind of show the country what we can do Sept. 5.”

Yet it’s that continuity, at least during the preseason, that has McFadden believing the group is capable of a rebound. The senior from Spartanburg is one of four starters back up front, though there have been some tweaks to the formation.

Senior Will Putnam is taking over at center after starting the last two seasons at right guard. Meanwhile, true freshman Blake Miller has soared to the top of the depth chart at right tackle for the time being, bumping junior Walker Parks inside to guard. Marcus Tate is back with a year of experience under his belt at left guard after starting eight games there last season.

But the majority of the group has been repping together since the spring. Miller, who’s in line to be the first true freshman to start a season opener at tackle for Clemson since 2015, has consistently repped with the first team since midway through preseason camp.

For a position where working in unison is key, that cohesion has drastically helped the line improve its communication, which McFadden said was “amazing” during camp.

“Last year, there was so much going on with injuries and everything, it was hard to get a set five out there the first couple of games,” McFadden said. “Just not being comfortable with everybody, but we’ve pretty much had the same five the whole camp. Moved a couple of people around, but me and Marcus are more comfortable with a year playing together and different things like that.

“I think, everybody, we’re just more cohesive, which makes a big difference in the o-line.”

Dear Old Clemson has added to the store posters signed by all 20 members of Clemson’s 2022 football class.

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!

‘Big evaluation week’ as decisions loom on Clemson’s offensive line

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and his staff have been looking for what they consider the Tigers’ best five along the offensive line since the spring. Almost two full weeks into preseason camp, the search continues. But evaluations will have to be …

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and his staff have been looking for what they consider the Tigers’ best five along the offensive line since the spring. Almost two full weeks into preseason camp, the search continues.

But evaluations will have to be replaced with decisions in the near future. With Clemson’s first preseason scrimmage in the books and the second and final one looming later this week, offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter provided a timetable as to when the Tigers need to settle on the best starting combination up front with their Labor Day opener against Georgia Tech less than three weeks away.

“I think this week is a big evaluation week for us,” Streeter said. “We have another scrimmage on Wednesday, so being able to get more than one evaluation is critical. We’d like to get that first unit ready to go when we come back next week when we get started and start really, really ramping up game planning and ramping up just getting ready for that first game.”

Barring any major injuries between now and the first Monday in September, the majority of the unit is set. Senior Will Putnam is taking over as the starting center after moving over from guard in the spring while Marcus Tate remains the favorite to join veteran tackle Jordan McFadden on the left side of the line. 

Walker Parks is also going on his second season as a full-time starter. The most pressing questions are will the junior stay at right tackle or move inside to guard? And, based on that answer, who will be lining up beside him?

True freshman Blake Miller continues to make a push for the starting job at right tackle, a new development revealed last week when Parks said he had started cross-training at both positions. Streeter said Miller has been getting first-team reps the last two practices, which includes the scrimmage over the weekend.

“Blake has done a great job,” Streeter said. “He’s really a smart kid. He understands the big picture for being such a young guy. It’s been special to watch him work. He doesn’t say a whole lot. He’s just goes out there and gets it done. It’s really neat to watch him, and boy is he tough.

“He’s on that track to get those first-team reps.”

If that happens, Parks would slide over to guard, a position the 6-foot-5, 315-pounder has yet to rep at in a game during his time at Clemson. Streeter said Parks is still learning the nuances of the position but that he has picked things up quickly from a mental standpoint.

“He’s done really good the last couple of days,” Streeter said. “And it turns into a valuable situation where he loves playing guard but he’s played a ton at tackle, too. So we’ve got an opportunity of him to potentially play both.”

If Clemson ultimately thinks keeping Parks on the edge is the best move, that would leave Bryn Tucker, Mitchell Mayes and Dietrick Pennington among others duking it out for the starting spot at right guard since Miller is strictly a tackle for the time being. Those decisions are coming sooner rather than later.

“Next week, we need to start really honing down on what that lineup is going to look like with those best five,” Streeter said.

Dear Old Clemson has added to the store posters signed by all 20 members of Clemson’s 2022 football class.

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!