Tag: Sherrod Covil

Top CB with Clemson tie looking to experience ‘electric’ Death Valley atmosphere

A highly touted cornerback prospect with a connection to Clemson is planning to be back in Tiger Town this fall. Oscar Smith High School (Chesapeake, Va.) four-star Asaad Brown told The Clemson Insider that he’ll make his way to Death Valley during …

A highly touted cornerback prospect with a connection to Clemson is planning to be back in Tiger Town this fall.

Oscar Smith High School (Chesapeake, Va.) four-star Asaad Brown told The Clemson Insider that he’ll make his way to Death Valley during the upcoming season to watch his former Oscar Smith teammate Sherrod Covil Jr., who is now a freshman safety for the Tigers.

“Oh yes sir, definitely,” Brown said to TCI when asked if he will attend a game at Clemson this season. “I’m going to definitely go support Sherrod.”

Brown – a top-115 national prospect ranked as the nation’s No. 9 cornerback in the class of 2024 by 247Sports – shares a close bond with Covil and said they “talk on the regular.”

Brown said he has also communicated with Mike Reed a couple of times lately and that the message from Clemson’s cornerbacks coach to him right now is “just keep working.”

“The season’s about to start, so I’m staying focused, getting ready to play ball,” Brown said.

Brown added that his relationship with Reed is “definitely” growing.

“Great guy,” Brown said of Reed. “I can see myself getting developed by him. I’m ready to see what Clemson’s going to do this year. (Clemson has) a lot of good pieces, so I’m definitely hoping to come down there this year and see (the Tigers) play.”

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound rising junior received an offer from Reed and Clemson when he made an unofficial visit to campus on June 9.

Looking back on that visit, Brown discussed what stood out to him about it.

“Great facilities,” he said. “I loved how the coaches were very talkative. Everybody talked to me. Everybody had a smile on their face. Everybody seemed like they wanted to be there. So, when you’re looking at a school, that’s kind of important – that if the athletes there want to be there, that means it must be alright. Especially it would be my first time away from home for a while, so that’s something I’m looking at.”

Along with Clemson, Brown named LSU, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss and Texas A&M as schools he expects he’ll definitely get to during the upcoming college football campaign.

When he travels to Clemson, Brown is eager to get a taste of the Tigers’ famous pregame tradition.

“I would definitely like to see them run down the hill and experience that,” he said.

“It’s electric,” Brown added of Clemson’s game-day atmosphere from what he’s seen on TV. “It’s got a big crowd. The fan base at Clemson is phenomenal, so I would definitely like to experience that.”

Brown said “there’s a couple schools standing out” to him at this point in the process as far as how hard they’re recruiting him, and “Clemson definitely is one.”

Brown, who boasts three dozen total offers, told TCI after the Tigers pulled the trigger on an offer in June that they were “definitely” in his top three.

Has anything changed since then about where Clemson stands with him?

“Nah,” he said. “They’re still there.”

Brown, who has helped Oscar Smith to back-to-back state titles, is ranked as high as the No. 9 cornerback and No. 113 overall prospect in the 2024 class by 247Sports.

Come out to support Clemson softball at Dear Old Clemson’s second event which is set for August 27 at the Madren Conference Center.  Clemson returns one of the top teams in the nation and adds some new talent to the mix.   If you sign up for certain club levels you get free access to all Dear Old Clemson events or purchase your tickets today at Dear Old Clemson.

Clemson’s toughest receiver to cover? Freshman DB has two

Sherrod Covil got his first up-close look at Clemson’s receiving corps earlier this year. And as a defensive back, the Tigers’ freshman safety did more than take a glance. Covil, a four-star signee in Clemson’s 2022 recruiting class, went through …

Sherrod Covil got his first up-close look at Clemson’s receiving corps earlier this year. And as a defensive back, the Tigers’ freshman safety did more than take a glance.

Covil, a four-star signee in Clemson’s 2022 recruiting class, went through the spring as an early enrollee and drew various coverage assignments against a group of wideouts that includes Joseph Ngata, Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins among others. As a safety, it wasn’t uncommon for Covil to get matched up against slot receivers and even tight ends.

For Covil, though, there were a couple that stood out from the rest.

“The toughest two guys to cover in the spring were Beaux Collins and Brannon Spector,” Covil said.

Covil said Collins and Spector have similar strengths that make it difficult to cover them in man-to-man situations despite the fact they play different positions. Collins, a rising sophomore, is primed to take over for the departed Justyn Ross as a starting outside receiver opposite Joseph Ngata while Spector enters fall camp as Clemson’s top option in the slot after a strong spring in his return to the field.

“Quick,” Covil said. “And they’re very fundamental with their routes. They’re definitely good with the head fakes and the different types of moves that they make off the line to mess you up.”

A high school teammate of Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, Collins saw his reps increase late last season as injuries took a toll on the receiving room. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder played 11 games as a true freshman, finishing second on the team in receptions (31) and third in receiving yards (407).

Spector hasn’t played a down of competitive football in more than a year after missing all of last season with a shoulder injury and respiratory complications from COVID-19. But the 6-1, 195-pounder returned to the practice field in the spring and reminded his teammates and coaches of the skill set he possesses. He’s caught 19 career passes heading into his fourth year in the program.

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!

Freshman safety out to disprove misconception about his game

It didn’t take long for Sherrod Covil to earn a reputation among his coaches and teammates as a human heat-seeking missile on the back end of Clemson’s defense. The Tigers’ freshman safety enrolled early and went through spring practice, where his …

It didn’t take long for Sherrod Covil to earn a reputation among his coaches and teammates as a human heat-seeking missile on the back end of Clemson’s defense.

The Tigers’ freshman safety enrolled early and went through spring practice, where his knack for finding the ball and laying a lick was often on display. Covil isn’t disputing that as a trademark of his game.

“All I’m thinking when I come downhill to hit is I’m not scared of you, and I’m coming to enforce some pain on you,” Civil said. “That’s it.”

But if the ballhawk label is going to be attached to Covil, he would like it to be applied to every part of his game. While the 6-foot, 190-pounder is most known for his physicality as a tackler, Covil said he feels like it overshadows his coverage ability.

“I’m an all-around safety, and there’s a misconception that I’m just a hitter and stuff like that,” Covil said. “But people don’t know I can really cover and do stuff like that, too, and get picks, which I displayed in my junior and senior years of high school.”

Covil was a consensus four-star prospect coming out of Oscar Smith (Virginia) High, where he was a starter on consecutive Class 6A state championship teams during the final two years of his prep career. Covil had three interceptions as a junior in 2020 and returned two of them for touchdowns. 

He had four tackles in Clemson’s annual Orange and White game to conclude the spring. But Covil also had the game’s lone interception when he picked off D.J. Uiagalelei along the sideline in the third quarter, setting up the White team’s only touchdown. 

“I can definitely cover as well,” he said.

Covil wants to keep showing his versatility when fall camp opens Aug. 5. That’s when his bid to be part of the safety rotation will continue. His strong first impression during the spring has him in a good spot at a position where the Tigers are losing one starter (Nolan Turner) and a transfer (Joseph Charleston).

There’s still some experience at safety with Andrew Mukuba, Jalyn Phillips, R.J Mickens, Lannden Zanders and Tyler Venables all back for another season. Phillips, who started three games last season, is in line to take over as the full-time starter at free safety, the same position as Covil.

But Clemson needs quality depth, something Covil said he’s confident he will provide in Year 1 as he continues to hone a skill set that he believes is more diverse than it gets credit for.

“(Safeties coach Mickey Conn) said he’s going to work me in as long as I do everything right this offseason,” Covil said.

The Newcomer Files: Sherrod Covil Jr.

Clemson signed 21 players as part of its 2022 recruiting class, some of whom still have yet to make it to campus. Nine signees went through spring practice as early enrollees while the rest, including transfer Hunter Johnson, will arrive on campus …

Clemson signed 21 players as part of its 2022 recruiting class, some of whom still have yet to make it to campus.

Nine signees went through spring practice as early enrollees while the rest, including transfer Hunter Johnson, will arrive on campus this summer. The Clemson Insider is taking a closer look at each newcomer and the likelihood of him contributing immediately this fall based on development and positional need.

TCI previously highlighted Keith Adams Jr. Next up is Sherrod Covil Jr.

Position: Safety

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 190 pounds

Ranking: 4 stars (247Sports Composite)

Previous school: Oscar Smith (Virginia) High

Early enrollee? Yes

The skinny: The highest-rated safety signee in Clemson’s recruiting class, Covil got a head start on his collegiate career by going through the spring as an early enrollee and immediately impressed coaches and teammates with his instincts and physicality at the position. He’s quickly gained a reputation as a thumper who isn’t afraid to throw his body around but also showed an ability to hold up in coverage, most notably in the spring game when he intercepted starting quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and returned the pick 31 yards to set up a touchdown.

“Y’all are going to hear about (Covil) a lot,” Mukuba said this spring.

Clemson still has a good amount of experience on the back end of its defense even with Nolan Turner no longer around. Jalyn Phillips is in line to take over as Turner’s successor at free safety while Andrew Mukuba was a freshman All-American at strong safety. R.J. Mickens is also back as is Landen Zannders (shoulder) and Tyler Venables (hip), who should be back at full strength this fall after either missing the spring or being limited while recovering from injuries. But Covil got up to speed with first-year coordinator Wesley Goodwin’s system this spring and showed enough from a talent standpoint that he could find himself part of the safety rotation sooner rather than later.

 

8 players who improved their stock this spring

Clemson’s spring football season is in the books, culminating with the team’s Orange and White game over the weekend. Here are eight players who improved their stock during the Tigers’ 15 spring practices: Phil Mafah Mafah was left with the majority …

Clemson’s spring football season is in the books, culminating with the team’s Orange and White game over the weekend.

Here are eight players who improved their stock during the Tigers’ 15 spring practices:

Phil Mafah

Mafah was left with the majority of the first-team reps at running back with Will Shipley and Kobe Pace still recovering from injuries. By all accounts, the rising sophomore took advantage of the opportunity.

Mafah was the biggest back on the roster last season at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, so he gives the Tigers’ backfield a different dimension in that aspect. And, according to running backs coach C.J. Spiller, Mafah is in the running as the best pass-catcher Clemson has at the position. Spiller said Mafah also showed more confidence this spring now that he’s more comfortable with the playbook and with his assignments, particularly when it comes to pass protection.

“I think he’s taken a gigantic step in his game,” Spiller said.

Mafah got 68 carries in nine games as a true freshman last season, but the former four-star signee has improved his overall game to the point where he could form a regular three-man rotation with Shipley and Pace in the fall.

Xavier Thomas

It’s rare that a starter can improve his stock all that much, but Clemson’s veteran defensive end is doing it.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney recently joked he would’ve lost money betting that Thomas would still be part of the Tigers’ program at this point, but the fifth-year senior appears to be getting closer and closer to the form that once made him a blue-chip recruit. In a little more than a year, Thomas has gone from contemplating giving up football to dropping close to 40 pounds and rediscovering the skill set that makes him one of the best players on a defensive line loaded with talent.

Defensive ends coach Lemanski Hall said he felt last season was “the best version” of Thomas, though Thomas didn’t necessarily agree. Thomas, who said he wants to drop roughly 10 more pounds after going through the spring near 265, said there’s still a higher level of performance he can reach that nobody has seen during his college career.

“You’ll see,” Thomas said. “I can’ really put it into words, but you’ll see it for sure.”

Thomas gave a glimpse of that during the spring game. He showed strength and explosiveness off the edge in routinely getting into the backfield and could be primed for a breakout final season for the Tigers.

Brannon Spector

Spector made his return to the field for the first time in a year this spring after COVID-19 complications forced him to miss all of last season. He underwent an operation in December to help alleviate some breathing problems, which had Spector questioning at one point whether or not he would be able to play football again.

But Spector went through the spring seemingly with those issues behind him.

The brother of former Clemson linebacker Baylon Spector, the younger Spector got most of the first-team reps at slot receiver with E.J. Williams (knee) still recovering from an injury this spring. Spector’s speed and explosiveness returned with him, something Clemson sorely missed from the slot position a season ago. Receivers coach Tyler Grisham likened that part of Spector’s game to former Clemson receiver Hunter Renfrow, and offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter said he saw enough from Spector to know he’ll be part of the receiver rotation this fall.

“Whether he’s a starter or a rotated guy, he’s going to play plenty as long as he keeps improving like this,” Streeter said.

Spector has 19 receptions in 14 career games.

Nate Wiggins

Repping behind the likes of Andrew Booth, Mario Goodrich and Sheridan Jones at cornerback, Wiggins played in 11 games last season as a freshman reserve. But with Booth and Goodrich off to the NFL, Wiggins is primed for a much bigger role this fall after a strong spring.

At 6-foot-2, Wiggins is as rangy as any left on the roster, which, as of this spring, included just four scholarship corners. Clemson will get some reinforcements from signees once the fall rolls around, but Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Wiggins has taken the kind of step in his development he hoped to see from him as Wiggins transitions from Year 1 to Year 2.

“Just talent wise, he’s as good as we’ve signed here,” Swinney said. “We’re still kind of polishing him up, but he’s a really, really good football player.”

Payton Page

Perhaps no player on Clemson’s roster has undergone as drastic of a physical transformation as Page, who’s lost roughly 50 pounds.

Playing closer to 330 pounds this spring, Page put himself in position to be a more consistent part of the rotation up front. The rising sophomore defensive tackle got 76 snaps over 12 games last season, but coaches heaped praise on Page throughout the spring for his work ethic and improved mobility on the interior of the defensive line.

“Let me tell you, Payton Page has made a move,” Swinney said during the ACC Network’s broadcast of the spring game.

Exactly how extensive it will be remains to be seen with Bryan Bresee, Tyler Davis, Ruke Orhorhoro, Tre Williams and others still around at the position, but it sounds like Page won’t have to wait much longer for his role to increase.

Andrew Mukuba

Mukuba introduced himself to college football with an All-America freshman season at safety, but the 6-0, 185-pounder is increasing his value to the Tigers’ defense with his versatility.

Mukuba repped at every position in the secondary this spring as Clemson prepares to utilize him in multiple ways this fall. Mukuba said he moved closer to the line of scrimmage to play the Sam/nickel spot in the Tigers’ dime package during the spring, and most of his reps in the spring game came at corner. He had five tackles and two pass breakups.

Most of his reps are still likely to come alongside Jalyn Phillips at strong safety once games start this fall, but the possibilities are seemingly endless as to where he could line up from one play to the next. Mukuba finished last season fifth on the team in tackles (54) and tied for the team lead in pass breakups (9).

“Mukuba’s a special player,” safeties coach Mickey Conn said.

Toriano Pride and Sherrod Covil

You could also throw cornerback Jeadyn Lukus in here to complete the freshman defensive back trio. But whereas Lukus’ spring was cut short because of a shoulder injury, Pride and Covil went through the entire spring and made a strong case to immediately join the rotation this fall.

There’s a bigger need at corner with the low numbers there, which should help Pride (and Lukus) get on the field sooner. But Pride, who had a pick-six in Clemson’s second spring scrimmage, also impressed with a skill set that made him a highly sought-after prospect coming out of the St. Louis area.

“As advertised,” Swinney said of Pride.

Pride drew the start for the Orange team in the spring game and tied for the team lead with seven tackles, including two for loss. Meanwhile, Covil earned a reputation among his coaches and teammates this spring as a thumper at the safety position, but the 6-0, 190-pounder also intercepted D.J. Uiagalelei in the spring game, the only pick of the day.

“You can tell (Pride and Covil) are really good at football,” Phillips said. “They’re coming, making some noise and making plays.”

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

Freshmen defensive backs part of secondary’s mob identity

Clemson’s defensive line isn’t the only part of the team adopting an identity for itself this year. While the group up front is referring to itself as The Avengers, the back end of the defense is going with The Mob. As for why the secondary came up …

Clemson’s defensive line isn’t the only part of the team adopting an identity for itself this year.

While the group up front is referring to itself as The Avengers, the back end of the defense is going with The Mob. As for why the secondary came up with that specific nickname for itself, rising senior safety Jalyn Phillips said the reason is simple.

“Just a group of (defensive backs) that’s just some savages,” Phillips said. “Relentless.”

And there are a pair of freshmen that are fitting that moniker to a T.

Sherrod Covil and Toriano Pride are two of the three defensive backs that enrolled in January after signing with Clemson in this year’s recruiting cycle. Cornerback Jeadyn Lukus is the other, but the Mauldin native is out for the rest of the spring after recently undergoing shoulder surgery.

With Malcolm Greene also still recovering from a shoulder procedure, Pride is one of just four scholarship corners available for the Tigers the rest of the spring. Meanwhile, Covil is repping with Phillips, R.J. Mickens and Andrew Mukuba at safety.

“You can tell they’re really good at football,” Phillips said. “They’re coming in, making some noise and making plays. … Those young guys are really coming in prepared.”

The two have particularly impressed with their aggression at their respective positions. Defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin has noted Covil’s physicality and ball-hawking tendencies, something his teammates were also quick to point out about the 6-foot, 190-pounder.

“Y’all are going to hear about him a lot,” Mukuba said. “He’s relentless. He doesn’t care. He’ll come down and hit you. He’s laying the wood. I like Sherrod a lot. I like his game.”

Added Phillips, “He doesn’t care what size you are or how big you is. He’s coming with a purpose.”

As for Pride, the depleted numbers at corner have given the St. Louis native more opportunities to get quality reps during his first spring with the Tigers. Pride isn’t the biggest corner at 5-11 and 185 pounds, particularly compared to most of the receivers he’s lining up against in practice. Joseph Ngata, Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins are all 6-3 or taller.

But those that rep alongside Pride daily said he’s usually able to make up for what he lacks in size with strong technique and a tenacious mindset. Pride flashed some of his playmaking ability during the Tigers’ second scrimmage earlier in the week when he had one of the defense’s two pick-sixes. Mukuba said the defense was in zone coverage on the play and that Pride “had good eyes” in intercepting the pass and taking it the other way.

“He runs with the twos sometimes guarding guys like Ngata, Dacari and Beaux,” Mukuba said. “He’s smaller than them, but he doesn’t back down from no competition or any type of competitiveness. He’ll go out there, play hard and play big. Even though he’s a small guy, he’ll go out there and play hard. That’s what I like about him. And he’s really physical for a guy his size.”

Based on everything he’s seen so far this spring, Mukuba said, of all the corners on Clemson’s roster, he’d pick Pride to win more one-on-one matchups than not.

“I feel like wherever he came from, they prepared him for this moment,” Mukuba said. “He’s been out here balling.”

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

‘Focused’ freshman impressing on the back end of Clemson’s defense

Clemson has a mix of holdovers and newcomers competing this spring for spots on the two-deep in a secondary that’s had plenty of turnover. One of those fresh faces has impressed with one particular facet of his game. Safety Sherrod Covil Jr. is …

Clemson has a mix of holdovers and newcomers competing this spring for spots on the two-deep in a secondary that’s had plenty of turnover. One of those fresh faces has impressed with one particular facet of his game.

Safety Sherrod Covil Jr. is going through his first spring with the Tigers after signing with Clemson in December and enrolling early. Like most true freshman, first-year defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin acknowledged Covil has some catching up to do mentally in certain areas, but the 6-foot, 195-pounder doesn’t mind throwing his body around.

Rising senior cornerback Sheridan Jones called Covil a striker who’s always “coming down and hitting.” Goodwin echoed Jones’ sentiment, saying Covil’s physicality had stood out through the Tigers’ first nine practices.

“When that ball is throw in the flat, he can close,” Goodwin said. “He’s getting there with bad intentions.”

A four-star recruit who was selected to the Under Armour All-American Game, Covil developed a reputation as a ballhawk on the back end during his prep days in Virginia playing for Oscar Smith High, where he helped the school win consecutive Class 6A state championships as a junior and senior. Covil was one of two safeties to sign with Clemson during the 2022 recruiting cycle, but he’s the only one already on campus as a mid-year enrollee.

He’s joined a position group that also includes upperclassmen Jalyn Phillips, R.J. Mickens and Tyler Venables as well as rising sophomore Andrew Mukuba. But it no longer includes veteran Nolan Turner, one of three starters the Tigers have to replace in the secondary.

Turner, who manned the free safety spot, exhausted his eligibility last season, and Phillips may have the upper hand on that starting job after making six spot starts a season ago. But Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and his coaching staff have shown they will play the best players regardless of age of experience.

Mukuba, who enrolled early last year, worked his way into the starting lineup at strong safety for the first game last season and held on to his spot at the top of the depth chart for most of the season. He tied for the team lead in pass breakups and finished fifth in tackles en route to freshman All-America honors.

Whether or not Covil will make a similar impact in Year 1 remains to be seen, but Goodwin said it won’t be for a lack of trying on the youngster’s part.

“He loves being out here,” Goodwin said. “He loves the daily grind of practice. Comes with the right mindset. He’s got a lot growing in areas to do, too, coming in as a mid-year, but he’s a focused kid. He grinds every day he comes out here, loves the game and loves the process.”

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

Mutual interest between Clemson, former teammate of current Tigers’ freshman

There is mutual interest between Clemson and a talented cornerback in the class of 2024, who has a connection to the Tigers. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) four-star Asaad “BJ” Brown II has heard from Clemson quite a few times and is hopeful that an …

There is mutual interest between Clemson and a talented cornerback in the class of 2024, who has a connection to the Tigers.

Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) four-star Asaad “BJ” Brown II has heard from Clemson quite a few times and is hopeful that an offer will be coming his way soon.

“I just know that the offer is coming,” Brown told The Clemson Insider. “I just finished my sophomore year, so I’m just waiting for it to officially come from Coach (Mike) Reed.”

Being that Brown is a sophomore, he can’t communicate directly with Clemson’s cornerbacks coach, though Reed has made it known that the Tigers are seriously interested in him. Brown has also heard the same thing from his now-former teammate, Sherrod Covil, Jr.

“That’s my dog,” he said of Covil. “We ain’t just friends, we are family. To play with him, especially in his last year, I consider it an honor because I’m now following behind in his footsteps.”

Covil (6-0, 190) signed with Clemson during the early signing period and officially enrolled last month. He’s already adapting to life as a freshman and will soon undergo his first spring practice as a Tiger.

“He said it felt like family to him,” he added. “That’s why he went. Of course, he tells me about the facilities and things like that, which is great to hear. But for right now, I’m just waiting for the (offer) to come through, but I’m definitely ready to come see and visit.”

Brown will get the opportunity to visit Clemson this spring. He said that he will definitely make it a priority to not only pay his former teammate a visit but to see what The Valley entails and has to offer. 

Brown is intrigued by Reed’s reputation as a talent developer. It’s evident in his work with guys like AJ Terrell and Trayvon Mullen, who now play for the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively, and most recently with Andrew Booth, Jr. and Mario Goodrich, who are bound to be top draft choices come April’s draft.

“I just know that he does develop talent,” he said of Reed. “I’m just looking forward to building a relationship with him.”

While Brown looks to build relationships with college coaches, he’s also looking to build off Oscar Smith’s back-to-back state titles. As he previously stated, he’s following in Covil’s footsteps, and with that comes the added responsibility of leadership. He’s already taken on that leadership role, as he strives to help Oscar Smith earn a third-straight championship.

“I’m always working,” Brown said. “Right now, what I’m doing is getting some of my teammates that work, so we can go ahead and three-peat next year. It starts now. I don’t want to wait until the season to start before I assume that role. I’m assuming that role now.”

This past season, Brown was able to showcase his talent, but at the same time, he was able to see what he needs to work on in the offseason. Brown predicates his game on his speed and ball skills. He also doesn’t want you to forget about his track background.

“I mean, I feel like I’m a student of the game,” Brown said when asked to describe himself as a player. “I enjoy playing the (cornerback) position. I feel like I can play anywhere in the secondary. I had a good season this year. I gave up no touchdowns and only gave up one pass. I guess I’m doing something right.”

Brown (6-0, 175) has caught the eye of several high-profile universities and has already earned upwards of 20 offers from Power 5 program. Though, right now, he’s focused on his training and getting better each and every day.

“What’s given is easily taken,” he said. “Right now, I’m just focused on doing everything I can to keep these offers and get more.”

Brown was honest in what he’s searching for in a school at the next level. This offseason’s coaching carousel opened up his eyes to what he’s ultimately going to base his decision on when it comes time to sit down and decide on his future.

Though, he obviously has some time before he’ll even be thinking about that.

“Truthfully, I’ve seen so many coaching changes right now, so I have made it a priority of mine not to fall in love with the coaching staff, but actually fall in love with the school,” Brown said.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Departures have one position on Clemson’s defense in familiar position

In a move that was expected, Clemson is losing another key cog on defense. Now it’s a case of deja vu in terms of where one position in the Tigers’ secondary is heading into next season. Andrew Booth on Sunday made official his intention to skip his …

In a move that was expected, Clemson is losing another key cog on defense. Now it’s a case of deja vu in terms of where one position in the Tigers’ secondary is heading into next season.

Andrew Booth on Sunday made official his intention to skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. The rangy, athletic cornerback is widely projected to be a first-round pick in April after finishing his Clemson career with 68 tackles, 14 passes defended and five interceptions.

Booth’s early entry into the professional ranks means the Tigers are losing both of their starting corners. Mario Goodrich, a true senior, could’ve opted to use his COVID year to return to Clemson for a fifth season, but he’s also headed for the draft following a breakout season that earned him first-team all-ACC honors, a distinction he shared with Booth.

Of course, neither of those recent decisions came as a surprise.

A former five-star recruit, Booth put together his best season in a Tiger uniform with four pass breakups and a team-best three interceptions in 11 games. By the middle of it, he was being pegged as a high draft pick. Goodrich finished second on the team with eight pass breakups and two interceptions and earned a Senior Bowl invite, a good indication he was turning pro before he eventually made it official.

The pair was part of a defense that finished second nationally in points allowed and fourth in the ACC against the pass this season, solidifying a position that had questions heading into it.

None of the uncertainty was about Booth’s talent as he often teased coaches and fans alike with highlight-reel interceptions during his first two seasons at Clemson, but inconsistency and nagging injuries kept him off the field for chunks at a time. Clemson had hopes that Booth could be a lockdown corner heading into the season, but Clemson coach Dabo Swinney often referred to the fact that Booth had to be available in order to do so.

Meanwhile, Derion Kendrick’s dismissal from the team following the 2020 season left an unexpected vacancy at the other corner spot. Playing behind the likes of future first-round pick A.J. Terrell, Sheridan Jones, Kendrick and Booth during his first three seasons on campus, Goodrich had only started four games for the Tigers before winning that job and morphing into one of the nation’s top corners this season.

Now that Booth and Goodrich are on the way out, Clemson finds itself needing to solidify the position once again. The good news for the Tigers is they still have some experience there heading into the spring.

Jones is a favorite to regain one of the starting jobs after finishing with 24 tackles and four pass breakups as the Tigers’ third corner this season. Jones is also the only corner currently on next season’s roster that’s ever started a game on the outside in college, starting eight games during Clemson’s run to the College Football Playoff last season as a sophomore.

Sophomores Fred Davis and Malcolm Greene and true freshman Nate Wiggins are the only other scholarship corners that have played a game at Clemson. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Greene is Clemson’s primary nickel, so, barring the addition of a transfer, Davis and Wiggins will be the leading candidates for the other starting job on the outside. Davis has played in 20 career games so far while Wiggins appeared in 11 this season.

One of the Tigers’ top signees, former Mauldin High standout Jeadyn Lukus, will join the competition this spring. Ranked in the 247Sports Composite as the 39th-best prospect in the 2022 recruiting cycle, the 6-2 Lukus will add the kind of length and athleticism at the position that could immediately push for a spot in the rotation. If nothing else, Lukus and fellow corner signee Toriano Pride will provide depth at a position that needs it.

Time will tell if Clemson will be able to answer those questions this time around as affirmatively as Booth and Goodrich did before moving on.

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

Future Tiger hopes to be half as good as Clemson legend

Clemson signed a hard-hitting safety with elite ball skills as a part of its 2022 recruiting class. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) four-star Sherrod Covil, Jr. inked with Dabo Swinney’s program on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period …

Clemson signed a hard-hitting safety with elite ball skills as a part of its 2022 recruiting class.

Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) four-star Sherrod Covil, Jr. inked with Dabo Swinney’s program on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period for class of 2022 football recruits.

Fair or not, some Tigers fans have already started to draw comparisons to a former Clemson legend in Brian Dawkins.

Covil understands the weight of those comparisons, claiming that if he could be half the safety that Dawkins was, he would be good with that. Dawkins, of course, is one of the best safeties of his generation and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Nobody is anointing Covil just yet, but there’s no denying his potential.

“This is what a safety should look like when you watch this guy play when you watch him run and you watch him tackle,” Swinney said during his National Signing Day press conference.

Christmas is right around the corner.  Once again Clemson Variety & Frame is ready to make it a special holiday for your favorite Tiger.

Order today to make sure your gift arrives in time for Christmas.