Tag: Robert Gunn

Dabo Swinney shares an update Clemson kicker Robert Gunn’s injury

Dabo Swinney shared an update on the injury of Clemson kicker Robert Gunn.

During his weekly call with the media on Monday, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney shared that kicker Robert Gunn has been battling a quad strain, which has kept him from kicking in practice for the last two and a half weeks.

New news for the media and fans: people wondered why Gunn has not been given an opportunity to get back to kicking field goals in games. Swinney had mentioned Gunn taking on the long-field goal attempts, but we did not see that against Wake Forest. 

“They have just been trying to nurse him through the week and get him ready for game day so he could kickoff,” Swinney said. “Obviously, he is a weapon with that, but he has been battling some soreness there and some swelling. I think he is trending in a good direction, and hopefully, he can get back out there and start competing again.”

There was no indication of when he got injured, only that he is injured. Currently, Gunn is not kicking in practice, but the plan is to get him back to kicking this week.

“He has not kicked in practice. I think they are going to let him kick this week for the first time on a very limited pitch count,” Swinney said. “He has literally, for the last couple of weeks, just shown up on game day and kicked off. That is it.

“So, he has not had a chance to get back out and compete for the job. We certainly are looking forward to that because this kid is super, super talented. He needed a little bit of a reset. Jonathan has definitely brought some maturity and a little bit of confidence to that point. I think that is ultimately going to be good for Robert. He is eager; I know he about has all the soreness out of his leg. He is eager to get back out there and start competing. We will see how it goes.”

Clemson has a Week 7 bye for Gunn to get healthy before their Week 8 matchup against Miami.

5 Clemson players to watch closely vs. Florida State

Here are five Clemson players to keep a close eye on when the Tigers take on No. 4 Florida State on Saturday.

Clemson will play in a high-stakes game on Saturday when it takes on No. 4 Florida State at noon in Memorial Stadium.

Dating back to 2015, the Tigers have won the last seven matchups against the Seminoles.

While history is on Clemson’s side, there is a reason the Seminoles are the favorites to win on the road on Saturday, as they defeated then-ranked No. 5 LSU in Week 1 and are 3-0 on the year.

“You’ve got two great teams, two great programs and a rivalry game early in the season. So this is Clemson-Florida State at its best right here for sure,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said on Tuesday. “This is a great football team we’re getting ready to play. Every sense of the word.”

Here are five Clemson players to keep a close eye on when the Tigers and Seminoles kick off:

Dabo Swinney names Jonathan Weitz Clemson’s starting kicker against Florida State

Dabo Swinney made a big move, bringing back former walk-on kicker Jonathan Weitz to take over kicking duties against Florida State.

Have you ever sat on the couch watching your Clemson Tigers and thought they could use your help?

Well for former walk-on kicker Jonathan Weitz, that is exactly what happened. After Robert Gunn III missed three of his first four kicks of the season, it is time for a new strategy. Dabo Swinney did the unthinkable just days ahead of their Week 4 matchup with Florida State. It felt like something had to happen.

Weitz was not with the team this season but is enrolled in Clemson’s master’s program. Taking note that Weitz was still a part of the university, Swinney wasted no time calling Weitz and bringing him back to the team to kick.

During a press conference Tuesday, Swinney confirmed that Weitz is back on the team and will be Clemson’s field goal kicker for this Week when they host No. 4 Florida State Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

We went to the bullpen and called him off the beach,” Swinney said.

This is major for the Tigers, who now have a new kicker heading into arguably their biggest game of the season. Former starting placekicker Robert Gunn was just 1-4 kicking field goals this season, with Swinney feeling they needed some experience at the position.

“Honestly, we just needed a little bit of maturity there. I guess that would be the right word,” Swinney said. “I have not lost any confidence in Robert Gunn at all.

“He is just a young player, a freshman, that has to kind of work himself through it all. His kickoffs are amazing. He has been unbelievable there, but he has just been in a little bit of a funk. It really started in the Duke game. He was amazing all fall camp. Everyone thinks they can do it and it is easy. This is a great kid who really cares a lot, but sometimes you just need to catch your breath.”

Weitz was a walk-on from 2019-2022 who has experience with the team but little in-game experience. He was 3-3 in his career with extra points and kicked off ten times for the Tigers.

“He was pretty shocked to get a call from me on Sunday,” Swinney said. It is either going to be a great story, or it is going to be terrible. It is not going to be anything in between. He’s got a boss up in New York, probably pissed off at me.”

Something to note is the confidence Swinney has in Weitz. He would not be making a move like this if he didn’t feel it was necessary.

“He is not just a guy off the street. He is right now, but he was in our program for four years,” Swinney said. “He was the backup the last two years. He was a good backup, but we just happened to have BT Potter.”

It is a massive change for Clemson at a critical time in the season.

Dabo Swinney on Clemson’s kicking situation, ‘real close’ to making a change

A change could be coming if things don’t start working out.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football team showed much improvement in their Week 3 win over Florida Atlantic, but the team’s kicking issues were still evident and concerning. 

Robert Gunn remains Clemson’s placekicker, though things could change sooner rather than later. If Gunn doesn’t start hitting his kicks, Swinney and his staff must look in another direction.

Through three games this season, Gunn is 1-for-4 on his field goal attempts and has made 14 of his 15 PAT attempts. Two of these field goals were blocked but also low kicks, allowing an easier block for defenders. Dabo Swinney addressed the issue during his media call on Sunday when asked if the Tigers were close to making a change. 

“To answer your question, we are real close,” Swinney said. It is frustrating, for sure, but we just have to keep going. The next guy up would be Aidan (Swanson).”

The Tigers have other kickers on the roster, but it seems Swanson is the next man up. According to Swinney, the punter has looked solid kicking in practice. 

“The other two guys (Quinn Castner and Hogan Morton) have not seized the moment, and Aidan has,” Swinney said. “He is a punter who can kick, but he has gotten a little bit more confidence and has done a little better job than the other couple of guys. When they have had opportunities these past couple of weeks, they have not taken advantage of it.

“Hopefully, Robert will get this thing turned around and get out of this little funk he is in. As I have said many times, he is as talented of a guy as I have ever been around, but sometimes guys can get in a little bit of a bad spot mentally or in a slump.”

This issue needs to be fixed for the Tigers to be a successful team this season. Kicking is crucial, and this is a situation to monitor. 

Starting Clemson linebacker out vs. Syracuse

Clemson will be without one of its top defenders against Syracuse on Saturday.

Clemson will be without one of its premier defenders for the Tigers’ Top 15 matchup with Syracuse on Saturday.

Sophomore linebacker Barrett Carter is expected to be unavailable against the Orange, Clemson football announced on Saturday.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder has been one of the Tigers’ top playmakers on defense through seven games, racking up 33 total tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception.

Carter has been playing in the SAM/nickel spot with Trenton Simpson’s move to the weakside ‘backer position.

Clemson also announced that backup placekicker Robert Gunn III is expected to be unavailable.

Kickoff between No. 5 Clemson and No. 14 Syracuse is slated for noon.

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Watch: Clemson kicker coming off ACL surgery drills 60-yarder

One of Clemson’s place kickers is back at full strength, and it appears he still has a cannon for a leg.

Clemson kicker Robert Gunn hasn’t taken the field in a college game yet, but the freshman appears to have a cannon for a leg.

Coming off a torn ACL suffered during his senior year of high school, Gunn was forced to miss Clemson’s spring game and has been in a brace over the last few months. However, it appears he is nearing full strength as he recently drilled a 60-yarder at Clemson’s Allen N. Reeves Football Complex.

Committing to Clemson in June of 2021, Gunn was a three-star recruit who 247Sports Composite ranked as the No. 8 kicker in the nation. He played for Pinellas Park High School in Largo, Fla., where he had a career-long 57-yard field goal in 2021 and a career mark of 52 touchbacks on 55 kickoffs.

The 6-foot-2, 165-pounder will be one of five place kickers on Clemson’s roster this upcoming season, with B.T. Potter entering his fifth and final season with the Tigers.

Injury update on Robert Gunn

There is some good news on the injury front for the Tigers. Clemson freshman kicker Robert Gunn has been rehabbing a knee injury, but appears to be ready to go when camp starts in August. Gunn injured his ACL during his senior season. The brace is …

There is some good news on the injury front for the Tigers.  Clemson freshman kicker Robert Gunn has been rehabbing a knee injury, but appears to be ready to go when camp starts in August.

Gunn injured his ACL during his senior season.  The brace is off and his leg is as strong as ever as you can see from the Tweet from Kicking World.

New Clemson signee ‘can’t wait’ to start his career as a Tiger

After inking with Clemson one week ago today, one of the Tigers’ class of 2022 signees is ecstatic to get on campus in just a couple of weeks and begin his career as a Tiger. Robert Gunn, one of the nation’s top-ranked kickers, signed with Clemson …

After inking with Clemson one week ago today, one of the Tigers’ class of 2022 signees is ecstatic to get on campus in just a couple of weeks and begin his career as a Tiger.

Robert Gunn, one of the nation’s top-ranked kickers, signed with Clemson on Wednesday, Dec. 15, the first day of college football’s early signing period.

As a midyear enrollee, the Sunshine State native will report to campus on Jan. 8 to begin the next chapter of his life and football career.

“Super pumped that I signed with Clemson,” Gunn told The Clemson Insider recently. “Super (excited) that I can’t wait to get up there in a couple of weeks and start my career.”

A product of Pinellas Park High School in Largo, Fla., Gunn is ranked as the seventh-best kicker in the nation by PrepStar and was an all-conference selection at both punter and placekicker in both 2020 and 2021. He played in the USA vs. Japan All-Star game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in January 2020, recording field goals of 40 and 50 yards in that game.

In his final two years at Pinellas Park, Gunn had 52 touchbacks on 55 kickoffs and went 46-for-48 on extra points while hitting on 7-of-9 field goal tries. His team did not attempt many field goals, but he made season longs of 57 yards in 2021 and 46 yards in 2020.

Gunn’s goals heading into his Clemson career are simple.

“Give it 100 percent and be the best kicker!” he said.

Gunn made 3-of-4 field goals, went 18-for-18 on extra points and recorded 20 touchbacks on 21 kickoffs in 2021 before an ACL tear in his right (kicking) leg prematurely ended his senior campaign. The good news is he expects to be cleared for kicking again in May.

After he enrolls at Clemson next month, Gunn will have the opportunity to learn from the Tigers’ veteran kicker, B.T. Potter, a 2020 Lou Groza Award semifinalist and 2021 second-team All-ACC selection.

Dabo Swinney believes the return of Potter for one more season at Clemson in 2022 will be “a blessing” for Gunn.

“I promise you, nobody’s gonna be happier than Robert Gunn,” Swinney said, “that he’ll have the opportunity to really kind of mentor with B.T. for a year.”

Gunn couldn’t agree more with his new head coach.

“I am so eager to have someone like that as a mentor and also to look up to,” Gunn said of Potter. “I can watch and ask questions about things and have some fun with competition but also pushing each other to be better and grow as friends.”

“(It will) also give me more time to heal up and come back even stronger,” he added.

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Clemson commit talks ‘awesome’ visit with Swinney

Members of Clemson’s coaching staff made the rounds in Florida this week, checking in on some future Tigers in the program’s 2022 recruiting class. While in the Sunshine State on Thursday, Dabo Swinney and assistant coach Mickey Conn stopped by …

Members of Clemson’s coaching staff made the rounds in Florida this week, checking in on some future Tigers in the program’s 2022 recruiting class.

While in the Sunshine State on Thursday, Dabo Swinney and assistant coach Mickey Conn stopped by Pinellas Park High School (Largo, Fla.) to visit with kicker commitment Robert Gunn III. They also went out to lunch together.

The Clemson Insider caught up with Gunn, who appreciated the time he was able to spend with Swinney.

“It was awesome to have him here in my hometown,” Gunn said. “Got to show him around, and he enjoyed it a lot he said.”

What did Gunn hear from Clemson’s head coach while hanging out with him?

“Just can’t wait for me to come up there in January!” Gunn said.

Gunn, who committed to Clemson following the program’s Elite Retreat in June, has built a strong bond with his future coach.

“Me and Coach Swinney are close, family,” Gunn said. “He can’t wait to see me kick some bombs in the Valley.”

Gunn will enroll early at Clemson next month and is stoked to start his career as a Tiger.

“So pumped,” he said. “Am going to set a standard and be the best for myself and work hard and give 100 percent. Setting high standards for myself.”

Unfortunately, Gunn’s senior campaign at Pinellas Park came to an early end when he tore the ACL in his right (kicking) leg earlier this season, but the good news is he is ahead of schedule in his rehab and expects to be fully recovered this spring.

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Clemson commit talks ‘awesome’ official visit, gives injury update

Among the Clemson commits in the 2022 class whom Clemson hosted for official visits this past weekend was Largo (Fla.) Pinellas Park kicker Robert Gunn III. The Clemson Insider caught up with Gunn about his official visit experience and more. “It …

Among the Clemson commits in the 2022 class whom Clemson hosted for official visits this past weekend was Largo (Fla.) Pinellas Park kicker Robert Gunn III.

The Clemson Insider caught up with Gunn about his official visit experience and more.

“It was awesome,” he said of the visit. “Got to see all my future teammates. Got to spend time as one big family.”

Gunn made the trip to Tiger Town with his father and two sisters.

“They enjoyed it just as much as I did,” he said.

The best part of the weekend for Gunn was simply spending time and fellowshipping with his fellow commits at Dabo Swinney’s house.

“I think the highlight of the visit was when we all sat down for dinner, and we got to talk and just see how each of us were doing and talk about the future and what it holds,” he said.

Clemson’s 2022 class is a tight-knit group, and Gunn described the bond that the commits have built as “unbreakable.”

“We’re brothers, man,” he said. “From day one, we were family.”

Unfortunately, Gunn’s senior campaign at Pinellas Park came to an early end when he tore the ACL in his right (kicking) leg earlier this season.

The good news is Gunn is ahead of schedule in his rehab and expects to be fully recovered this spring.

“I’m six weeks out of surgery, and better than ever,” he said. “We’re ahead of progress, and I’ll be back kicking soon.”

“I’ll be back (at 100 percent) probably a month before May,” he added.

Gunn, who committed to Clemson following the program’s Elite Retreat in June, looks forward to starting his career as a Tiger when he enrolls early in January.

“When I got there, I didn’t think about Clemson as what it is now,” Gunn said, reflecting on his commitment decision. “I got to learn a lot more about it. It was just the people, really, that were there, and all the benefits you get and just how Coach Swinney sets you up for the future to be a young man. It’s different there from all the other colleges. Coach Swinney has done one heck of a job, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks