Tag: Sage Ennis

Former Clemson tight end announces transfer destination

Former Clemson tight end Sage Ennis is staying in the ACC.

A former Clemson tight end has announced his new home and it is in the ACC with a familiar face to the program.

Sage Ennis took to social media to announce that he is transferring to Virginia. He joins former Clemson defensive coordinator and current Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott’s squad.

Originally committed to Florida A&M, Ennis is making a change after staff changes at A&M. Former Florida A&M head coach and former Tiger Willie Simmons has moved on to be running backs coach at Duke, leading to Ennis searching for a new team.

Playing in 41 games for the Tigers, Ennis totaled six catches for 77 yards, but stats don’t truly tell his impact. Ennis is an excellent blocker, putting together some great tape as a blocking tight end. His impact was felt in the Clemson running game. A torn ACL ended his season early after earning solid reps in the Tigers’ offense.

Former Clemson tight end announces transfer destination

Former Clemson tight end Sage Ennis has announced his transfer destination.

Former Clemson tight end Sage Ennis was one of the few Tigers to enter the transfer portal this season, and we now know where he will be playing next season.

Ennis announced via X (Twitter) that he will be transferring to play football at Florida A&M. He will play for former Tiger Willie Simmons.

Playing in 41 games for the Tigers, Ennis totaled six catches for 77 yards, but stats don’t truly tell his impact. Ennis is an excellent blocker, putting together some great tape as a blocking tight end. His impact was felt in the Clemson running game. A torn ACL ended his season early after earning solid reps in the Tigers’ offense.

Clemson football 2023 transfer portal tracker

Here is a transfer tracker to track who is leaving and who is joining the program.

Dabo Swinney and the Tigers finished the regular season with an 8-4 (4-4 ACC) record, performing well but also below expectations as the offense failed to keep up with the high level of play from the defense.

We head into the conference championship and bowl season with the regular season over. However, it is more than just that, as it is also the beginning of transfer portal season. All across the country, players are entering their names in the transfer portal as they look for new opportunities at different programs. Clemson is no different than others, as multiple Tigers have entered their name into the portal as their time with the program has come to an end.

To keep you updated, below is our transfer portal tracker with every Tiger who has entered the portal so far. We will update accordingly as more news continues.

Updated 12/11

Clemson tight end enters the transfer portal

A Clemson tight end has entered the transfer portal.

Another Clemson player has entered the transfer portal as they look to find a new home and place to play football.

Tight end Sage Ennis, whose season ended with a torn ACL, is transferring after four years with the Tigers. Ennis was getting solid playing time before the injury.

Playing in 41 games for the Tigers, Ennis totaled six catches for 77 yards, but stats don’t truly tell his impact. Ennis is an excellent blocker, putting together some great tape as a blocking tight end. His impact was felt in the Clemson running game.

We now wait to hear where Ennis will be taking his talents.

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.”

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.

“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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Clemson made a ‘very huge impact’ on Pennsylvania TE’s recruitment during official visit

The Clemson Insider recently spoke with a newly-offered tight end, who made his first trip to Clemson for the program’s official visit weekend. Clemson has quickly and not so quietly made quite the splash in Archbishop Wood High School (Warminster, …

The Clemson Insider recently spoke with a newly-offered tight end, who made his first trip to Clemson for the program’s official visit weekend.

Clemson has quickly and not so quietly made quite the splash in Archbishop Wood High School (Warminster, Pa.) three-star tight end Markus Dixon’s recruitment. Talking with TCI in a phone interview Wednesday, Dixon detailed his official visit to Tiger Town this past weekend and gave the latest on his recruitment, which could soon be nearing a conclusion.

“It was great,” Dixon said regarding his official visit experience. “I think Clemson made a very huge impact in my recruitment.”

What stood out to Dixon during his first-ever visit to Clemson, is how the program is very family-oriented. He feels like that also speaks for what the team values off the field, including academics.

Dixon reported an offer from the school he was officially visiting on Friday, June 3.

“It was a heavy offer,” he said. “It’s not just any Power Five school offering me. This is a team that’s almost consistently top-four every year. I think that this is a great program and them offering just really shows my skills and abilities and how they’d love to use me.”

Dixon thinks that he will be making his college decision next week. He doesn’t have any more official visits lined up at the moment and said that his Clemson one was the only one he planned on taking as of now.

“They’re definitely heavy on my list,” Dixon said when asked where the Tigers currently stand in his recruitment.

Among 31 official visitors, Dixon and First Baptist Academy (Naples, Fla.) four-star Olsen Patt Henry were the only two tight ends on campus this past weekend. Henry announced his verbal commitment to Clemson on Tuesday.

Dixon said that Clemson’s coaching staff did talk about him and Henry being the only tight ends that they’re heavily interested in.

“Hanging with him throughout the whole weekend, he was just a great person to be around,” Dixon said of Henry. “We haven’t even played together, so I think that just says a lot about his character.”

The other tight end that Dixon got to spend time around during his official visit was Sage Ennis, who served as his player host for the weekend.

“He’s a funny guy with a wholesome spirit,” Dixon said of the Clemson redshirt sophomore tight end. “I can definitely see myself just learning the game from him. Just being around him was pretty cool.”

Between the coaching staff, tight ends coach Kyle Richardson, Ennis and everything the program has to offer and more, Clemson certainly made a huge impression on Dixon and his family. He was accompanied by his mother and two siblings, who also thoroughly enjoyed their first stay in South Carolina. 

When it comes time for Dixon to make his eventual college decision, he told us that he’s looking for a program that will take care of him on and off the field, especially coaching staff-wise. He’s also looking for a program that he feels will help develop him and his game as a whole all-around tight end.

While it won’t be an ultimate deciding factor in his decision, Dixon will certainly look at the quarterback position. This past weekend, he was able to spend a lot of time with the leader of Clemson’s 2023 class in Briarwood Christian (Birmingham, Ala.) five-star quarterback commit, Christopher Vizzina.

“I was excited about being around CV,” Dixon said. “I was around CV a lot this weekend. He’s actually a great person. I’m looking forward to building a real tight chemistry between us if that were to happen. He’s just a great quarterback and I’m real excited for what the future holds for him.

That future could be together, but that’s up to Dixon, who very well could be making his college decision come next week.

Dixon (6-5, 230) is the nation’s No. 24 tight end in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

— Photo for this article courtesy of @markusd1xon on Instagram.

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Briningstool ‘benefited a lot’ from being Clemson’s TE1 this spring

The opportunity for Jake Briningstool this spring was as big as it’s ever been in his brief Clemson career. The Tigers’ top tight end, Davis Allen, didn’t participate at all so that he could fully recover from an injury. The same went for fellow …

The opportunity for Jake Briningstool this spring was as big as it’s ever been in his brief Clemson career.

The Tigers’ top tight end, Davis Allen, didn’t participate at all so that he could fully recover from an injury. The same went for fellow tight end Sage Ennis. With Braden Galloway no longer around after exhausting his eligibility last season and Jaelyn Lae transferring out of the program, that left Briningstool to get all of the first-team reps at the position when he was healthy.

A hip pointer slowed Briningstool down at times during the spring, but the rising sophomore said he felt like being the guy at the position helped speed up his development.

“I think I benefited a lot,” Briningstool said. “Got a lot of opportunities, and I felt like I took advantage of them. I feel like I got a lot better from the beginning of the spring to now and even better going into the fall.”

Briningstool was full go for Clemson’s spring game Saturday, and the former blue-chip recruit showed what he’s capable of bringing to the position as a receiver. More of a hybrid at the position, the 6-foot-6, 235-pounder was freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik’s favorite target for the White team, catching a team-high seven passes for 58 yards. Two of his receptions covered 22 and 25 yards.

“For me really, I just wanted to come out here and be a better tight end all around, and I think I was able to do that throughout the spring,” Briningstool said. “Especially coming out (Saturday), getting some balls and showing what I can do in space, I think really helped out, too.” 

Briningstool caught just three passes in limited snaps over eight games last season. Exactly what Briningstool’s role will look like come the fall when the Tigers expect to be whole again at the position remains to be seen, but he’s eager to carry his momentum from the spring into the competition during fall camp.

“Just showing what I can do in the fall, and whatever happens happens from there,” Briningstool said. “So I’m excited.”

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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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