Tag: Seth Davis

Time for the Muss Bus to Shift Gears

The pieces are there for the Muss Bus to get rolling again. Coach Musselman has proven in the past that he can right the ship, so he’s earned the benefit of the doubt.

Is there any bigger Razorbacks football fan than Eric Musselman? Probably not. The third year basketball coach is coming off the program’s most successful NCAA tournament run since the mid-90s, but the 2021-22 version has stubbed a lot of its toes so far this year. Blowout losses to Oklahoma and Mississippi State and an embarrassing in-state loss to Hofstra were all camouflaged to many Hogs fans by the success of the football team. But that all ended in Tampa.

Frankly, the basketball team is not very good right now.

But the key phrase is “right now.” Remember, last year’s team started off 1-3 in conference play. The Athletic’s Seth Davis thinks it’s time to buy Arkansas stock. As he points out, coaching and talent can correct existing problems.

I’d be concerned if I thought this team lacked talent, but its main problem has been at the defensive end, and that is something that I believe Eric Musselman will be able to correct. It’s also a good sign that 6-6 super senior transfer Stanley Umude, who averaged 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists for South Dakota last year, had his best game of the season (19 points, three rebounds, two steals) in the loss to the Bulldogs.

The pieces are there for the Muss Bus to get rolling again. Coach Musselman has proven in the past that he can right the ship, so he’s earned the benefit of the doubt. Even his first team had plenty of ups and downs before pulling things together just in time for COVID to prematurely end the 2020 season.

So let’s wait until February before we start gnashing our teeth and worrying about the odds for a postseason berth. College basketball is built on runs. The Hogs have time to get it together and get on a run of their own. Perhaps that begins tomorrow night against Vandy at Bud Walton Arena.

Lone Star State RB, family ‘loved’ Clemson gameday visit

One talented prospect who made a long-distance trip to see Clemson play at Death Valley on Saturday night is Seth Davis, a running back in the class of 2023 from Katy (Texas) High School. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound junior was among the recruits in …

One talented prospect who made a long-distance trip to see Clemson play at Death Valley on Saturday night is Seth Davis, a running back in the class of 2023 from Katy (Texas) High School.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound junior was among the recruits in attendance for the Tigers’ 19-13 victory over Boston College, and he thoroughly enjoyed the unofficial gameday visit.

“It was really fun,” Davis told The Clemson Insider. “I liked the atmosphere, the fans and how they brought us in — the recruits and all that got to eat together, and it was all just fun.”

Davis made the trek to Tiger Town with his mother, father and little brother. They spent all day on campus Saturday and then stayed with other family members in the Charlotte area on Sunday before heading back home Monday morning.

Davis’ parents and his brother had a great time on the visit, as well.

“They loved it, too,” Davis said.

“They couldn’t stop talking about how the food was so good,” he added with a laugh.

For Davis, the highlight of his experience at Death Valley was watching Dabo Swinney and his team rub Howard’s Rock and run down the hill to the roar of the crowd prior to kickoff.

Asked what stood out most to him about the game atmosphere, Davis didn’t hesitate before answering.

“The fans,” he said. “They love the team so much, and how the coach loves his team, too.”

Before and after the game, Davis had the chance to briefly interact with Clemson running backs coach C.J. Spiller, who invited Davis to the game.

“He’s a great coach,” Davis said. “I like how he was in the NFL, so I follow his footsteps. I used to watch him all the time.”

Added Davis of receiving the game invite from Spiller: “It meant a lot. It meant he really liked me, and I really respect that.”

Along with Clemson, schools such as Duke, North Carolina, Florida, Baylor, Texas State, Rice and Louisiana Tech have shown interest in Davis, who has rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns through the first six games of his junior season this year. He received his first offer from Morgan State this past Friday.

After leaving Clemson very impressed by the game-day visit and environment at Death Valley, Davis is even more hopeful to earn an offer from the Tigers and have the chance to play there down the road.

“It would mean the world to me to play there,” he said. “I love the school and I love the atmosphere and everything.”

Davis said he “most definitely” plans to make it back to Clemson at some point. Duke, LSU and Louisiana Tech are other schools he is looking to possibly visit this season.

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Talented Texas RB ‘really excited’ to take in first game at Death Valley

A talented running back from the Lone Star State is ready to take in his first game at Death Valley. Katy (Texas) High School class of 2023 prospect Seth Davis will be in attendance for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. contest between Clemson and Boston College …

A talented running back from the Lone Star State is ready to take in his first game at Death Valley.

Katy (Texas) High School class of 2023 prospect Seth Davis will be in attendance for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. contest between Clemson and Boston College at Memorial Stadium.

“I’m really excited to see the fans and the stadium and all that,” Davis told The Clemson Insider.

Davis was invited to the game by Clemson running backs coach C.J. Spiller, whom Davis had the chance to be coached by and get to know when he was on campus to participate in the Dabo Swinney Camp this past June.

“It was real fun working with him,” Davis said. “He was an NFL running back, so he gave us a lot of tips on what he did, and it was real fun.”

Katy (Texas) High School 2023 RB Seth Davis (photo courtesy of Davis)

Entering Katy High School’s game against Tompkins (Katy, Texas) on Friday night, the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Davis had rushed for 745 yards and six touchdowns through the first five games of his junior season, averaging 7.9 yards per carry on 94 attempts. As a sophomore in 2020, he ran for 1,755 yards and 18 touchdowns on 197 carries (8.9 average) and was named Offensive MVP of the Texas 6A State Championship Game.

In Katy’s 56-21 win over Tompkins on Friday, Davis toted the rock 16 times for 205 yards and two scores.

Davis, who also runs track, models his game after former Southern Cal and NFL running back Reggie Bush.

“I’m a quick running back with good vision,” Davis said. “Will use my power if I need to, and just go score.”

Along with Clemson, schools such as Florida, North Carolina, Duke and Baylor have shown interest in Davis, who received his first offer from Morgan State on Friday.

Davis is stoked to experience the environment at Death Valley tonight and would love to have the opportunity to play there himself one day.

“I would love if they extended an offer to me because it’s one of my dream schools to go to,” he said of Clemson. “I’m just looking forward to the atmosphere and everything, the stadium. It’s going to be real fun.”

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Highly touted prospects headed to Death Valley for Clemson-Boston College game

Clemson will again play host to some top prospects for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. game against Boston College in Death Valley. Here are some of the bigger names The Clemson Insider has confirmed as planned visitors for the Clemson-BC game: A couple of …

Clemson will again play host to some top prospects for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. game against Boston College in Death Valley.

Here are some of the bigger names The Clemson Insider has confirmed as planned visitors for the Clemson-BC game:

A couple of headliners among the recruits expected to be in attendance are Thomspon (Alabaster, Ala.) five-star defensive lineman Peter Woods, Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) four-star defensive back Caleb Downs and Auburn (Ala.) High School four-star center Bradyn Joiner.

Woods is the No. 4 defensive lineman and No. 17 overall prospect in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, which also tabs Downs as the No. 2 safety. Rivals ranks Joiner as the No. 1 center in the Class of 2023.

“They care for each player like they’re family,” Downs said of Clemson to TCI last month. “Everything you do, they want you to excel. They want to be there to help you with your ups and downs. It’s just a family there.”

A big-time receiver from North Carolina is slated to be on hand for Saturday’s game as well in Hickory Ridge (Harrisburg, N.C.) four-star Christian Hamilton, the No. 15 wideout and No. 93 overall prospect in the 2023 class, per the 247Sports Composite.

Clemson wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham recently came up to Harrisburg to watch Hamilton play, now the highly-touted wide receiver prospect is returning the favor this weekend. 

“What I’ve been hearing from Coach Grisham is that he thinks I’m an amazing player,” Hamilton told TCI. “He says just be patient with him because he doesn’t just throw out offers. He says (Clemson is) really, really close to offering me and also he wants me to keep in touch with him weekly.”

Among other notable Class of 2023 recruits on Clemson’s anticipated guestlist for Saturday’s contest are two Life Christain Academy (Colonial Heights, Va.) products in three-star offensive lineman Joshua Miller and four-star cornerback Antonio Cotman, Jr.

Miller picked up a Clemson offer back on Sept. 2 and is looking forward to getting back down to Tiger Town for Saturday’s marquee ACC matchup.

“I got a little bit of experience when I was there (in Charlotte), but it not really being a home game, I wasn’t able to get the full experience,” Miller told TCI earlier this month. “So, I’m excited to get down there to Clemson and actually see what an actual game day is like at their home stadium.”

As for Miller’s teammate and good friend, Cotman, he’s been feeling the love from Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed and is looking forward to seeing how the vibe is in Death Valley at Memorial Stadium, he said.

Some other marquee names that will be in attendance from the 2023 class include Sumter (S.C.) 2023 four-star defensive lineman Monteque Rhames, Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) 2023 running back Jarvis Green and Pendleton (S.C.) 2023 offensive tackle, Aidan Leigh, who is the younger brother of Clemson true freshman offensive lineman Tristan Leigh.

Another name from the 2023 class that recently informed TCI of his incoming arrival is Katy (Tex.) running back Seth Davis, who was invited to the Clemson-BC game by Tigers’ running backs coach C.J. Spiller.

Last but certainly not least is Greenville (S.C.) 2022 tight end Josh Sapp, who is the son of former Clemson and NFL linebacker Patrick Sapp. TCI caught up with the Clemson target earlier this month on stop No. 1 during this season’s edition of The Tour of Champions.

He continues to build a relationship with Clemson offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Tony Elliott.

“Really just keeping in touch and checking up on each other,” Sapp said. “He and my dad have known each other for a while, so I kind of grew up knowing. It’s really just a cool relationship with him.”

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Seth Davis: ‘Pretty big surprise’ if Notre Dame fires Mike Brey

Nobody knows for certain what Mike Brey’s fate as Notre Dame coach will be after this season.

Nobody knows for certain what Mike Brey’s fate as Notre Dame coach will be after this season. However, college hoops guru Seth Davis is fairly certain that Brey will return to his post for the 2021-22 season. In his latest piece for The Athletic, Davis ran off a list of college coaches who may or may not be sticking around at their current gigs. In case you can’t be bothered to read the whole thing or you aren’t an Athletic subscriber, Notre Dame beat reporter Pete Sampson has the part Irish fans care about the most:

If Brey rides out his contract, he will be 66 at the end of the 2024-25 season, a good age for any accomplished coach to go out on. However, we don’t know what mindset Jack Swarbrick is taking on as he ponders this decision, if there’s even one to be made. Would you say it’s time for the Irish to move on, or has Brey earned the benefit of the doubt and thus, the right to correct this ship?