Tag: Tre Williams

4-star D.C. edge rusher with connection to Tigers dishes on Clemson offer

Things have come full circle for David Ojiegbe. The four-star edge rusher out of St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) High School announced an offer from Clemson, while he was on campus for the Tigers’ Elite Visit Day on Saturday. “It means a lot,” …

Things have come full circle for David Ojiegbe.

The four-star edge rusher out of St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) High School announced an offer from Clemson, while he was on campus for the Tigers’ Elite Visit Day on Saturday.

“It means a lot,” Ojiegbe told The Clemson Insider. “It feels pretty good that they think I’m part of the guys that can play there. It felt pretty good getting that offer.

“They showed me great hospitality and they showed me a great time. I definitely appreciate the offer. I appreciate Coach Dabo Swinney talking to me, talking to my uncle, talking to my uncle, It definitely felt great.”

Ojiegbe had a sense that it was coming, but he just wanted it to be finalized. Lemanski Hall sealed the deal when he offered him in person. 

“I met Coach Dabo and I met Coach Wesley (Goodwin), so it was definitely a good experience,” he said. “Definitely saw them practice, got a feel for the coaching staff, got a feel for the vibe at Clemson and it definitely felt good. I liked it a lot.”

Clemson was already in good standing with Ojiegbe before Clemson’s defensive ends coach presented him with a scholarship Saturday. With that being said, where do the Tigers stand in his recruitment, now that he has an offer in hand?

“They still stand pretty high, definitely,” he said.

In his conversation with Clemson’s defensive ends coach Saturday, Ojiegbe had a chance to pick his brain and get some good knowledge from him. He talked with Hall about his coaching style, what he expects, the transition from high school to college and what else Ojiegbe can work on going forward. 

“I definitely like his coaching style,” Ojiegbe said of Hall. “He’s a player’s coach and he’s just for the players too. He just knows his players and cares about his players. I definitely like his style.

Clemson’s practices are similar to what Ojiegbe says he does at St. John’s, so feels like he’d fit in pretty well. Having the opportunity to see Xavier Thomas and KJ Henry up close and personal at practice made him appreciate their games even more. 

Ojiedge concluded that being able to watch Clemson’s practice was the highlight of his campus visit, in addition to hearing Swinney’s presentation, which lasted over two hours. All of the prospects on campus were really engaged and locked in the entire time he was talking.

“Just him being real with us and telling us everything about his program,” Ojiegbe said. “Him speaking about his life definitely had a big impact on me and just being as genuine as possible. It was a cool experience and I liked what I heard. Everything he said was very real. It felt very genuine and it sounded like everything came from the heart.”

Ojiegebe’s connection to the program is that he’s a former teammate of Clemson redshirt sophomore tackle Tré Williams, with whom he has a close relationship. He had the chance to catch up and check in with Williams, who he hasn’t talked to in a while. Williams, of course, isn’t currently practicing right now, as he recovers from multiple offseason surgeries.

“He was there when I got offered,” Ojiegbe said of his former high school teammate. “He was definitely excited.”

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‘Time for something new’: Clemson’s defensive line adopts different superhero identity

Four years later, Clemson’s defensive line is taking on different identities to fight offenses. In sticking with the superhero theme, K.J. Henry preferred to call it something else. “They showed us the ropes, so we know how to fight off crime,” …

Four years later, Clemson’s defensive line is taking on different identities to fight offenses. In sticking with the superhero theme, K.J. Henry preferred to call it something else.

“They showed us the ropes, so we know how to fight off crime,” Clemson’s veteran defensive end said. “We know how to do it the right way.”

They, of course, was a reference to the Power Rangers, the collective name adopted by college football’s most formidable defensive front. That group, which spearheaded the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense in helping Clemson capture its most recent national title in 2018, was headlined by future first-round draft picks Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins.

This year’s line, which again could be college football’s best in 2022, is calling itself The Avengers, a nod to Marvel Comics’ popular fictional team of superheroes. Henry admitted the idea came about after the group kept getting asked if it was going to take on an identity of its own.

“We felt like we had great excitement for the guys coming back,” Henry said. “A lot of hoorah for what we could do this year. Obviously we had a great example in the Power Rangers, but it’s time for something new. So that’s kind of what we came up with.”

The belief that this year’s defensive front could be just as formidable as what Clemson had a few years back is rooted in the fact that the Tigers are returning their entire two-deep up front on a defense that yielded the second-fewest points in the country. The Tigers also ranked in the top 15 nationally in sacks and tackles for loss.

And the group has its share of star power, too. 

Clemson could have multiple defensive linemen taken early in the 2023 NFL Draft with end Myles Murphy and tackle Bryan Bresee the strongest first-round candidates. Murphy, a former five-star signee, led the Tigers in sacks and tackles for loss last season while Bresee, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2020 recruiting cycle, was a freshman All-American before a torn ACL cut his sophomore season short after four games.

Henry and fellow end Xavier Thomas, former blue-chip recruits themselves, also have next-level aspirations as does Bresee’s running mate on the interior, Tyler Davis, a three-year starter heading into his senior season. And while senior end Justin Mascoll doesn’t get as much fanfare, the 6-foot-4, 260-pounder, who’s started 11 games in his career, could also hear his name called during next year’s draft.

“We’ve got four guys at (defensive) end that, this time next year, are going to be getting ready to head off to the NFL,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “To know we’ve got all four of those guys back for one more year is a blessing. We’ve got a chance to be really, really special in that defensive line when we get everybody back together.”

Bresee will be limited this spring as he continues to work his way back from two injuries – the 6-5, 300-pounder also had offseason shoulder surgery – as will backup tackle Tre Williams (shoulder), leaving most of the reps on the interior to Davis, Ruke Orhorhoro, Etinosa Reubuen, Payton Page and DeMonte Capehart for now. With Bresee injured, Orhorhoro started the final nine games this past season and finished with 42 tackles and eight tackles for loss. 

Clemson has nine defensive linemen back from last year’s team that have started at least one game, seven of those with multiple starts. The Tigers ranked seventh nationally against the run (96.3 yards allowed per game), ninth in sacks (3.23) and 15th in tackles for loss (7.1).

As for the specific Avengers identities each lineman will be adopting, Henry said he’s Captain America. He said he’d leave it to his teammates to reveal their characters, which seemed to happen via social media Wednesday night in response to Henry’s tweet asking the group to assemble.

Most of the linemen’s responses can be seen in the Twitter thread below:

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Eason plans to take hands-on coaching approach a step further

It’s been nearly a decade since Nick Eason played a down of competitive football, but Clemson’s 41-year-old assistant coach claims he’s still got it. He doesn’t want the Tigers’ defensive linemen to take his word for it. Rather, Eason plans to show …

It’s been nearly a decade since Nick Eason played a down of competitive football, but Clemson’s 41-year-old assistant coach claims he’s still got it.

He doesn’t want the Tigers’ defensive linemen to take his word for it. Rather, Eason plans to show them.

To say Eason takes a hands-on approach to coaching is an understatement. Eason, a former all-ACC defensive lineman at Clemson who returned to his alma mater as defensive tackles coach last month, will take to the field in his new role for the first time next month when the Tigers begin spring practice.

And he may not always be wearing tennis shoes when he does.

“Every once in a while, I’ll wear cleats to practice and we’ll get after it together,” Eason said recently during Clemson’s national signing day radio show. “That’s one thing I take pride in. I’ll actually get out there and work with the players. And they love to see that.”

Eason had an opportunity to return to Clemson when former defensive tackles coach Todd Bates left to join Brent Venables’ staff at Oklahoma, bringing 17 years worth of NFL playing and coaching experience with him. Drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2003, Eason played for three teams over a 10-year playing career and most recently coached in the NFL in 2020 with the Cincinnati Bengals.

He got his first taste of college coaching last season at Auburn, where he also coached the defensive line. In regards to his coaching style, Eason said he thinks of himself as a teacher first.

“I’m going to be demanding, not demeaning,” Eason said.

At times, that will include being an active participant in practice despite the fact he hasn’t played since his final season with the Arizona Cardinals in 2012.

“I’m going to come out to practice with a lot of great energy,” Eason said. “I’m going to do some of the drills with them. Not all of them, but I’ve still got a little juice in the tank to show them how it’s done.

“We’ll have a lot of fun. We’re going to encourage each other, and we’re going to challenge each other across the board. My voice will be heard. You’ll know I’m out there.”

Eason is inheriting what should be one of college football’s top defensive lines next season. The Tigers are set to return their entire two-deep up front after ranking in the top 15 nationally in points allowed, yards allowed, sacks and tackles for loss.

On the interior, Eason will work with defensive tackles Tyler Davis and Bryan Bresee, who’s still working his way back from ACL surgery in the fall. Clemson is also returning Ruke Orhorhoro, Etinosa Reuben, Tre Williams, Payton Page and Demonte Capehart at the position.

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Tre Williams, star DT and … camera man?

It would seem somehow defensive tackle Tre Williams got a hold of Clemson Football’s camera at workouts this past week. And hilarity ensued. “They don’t put championship rings on smooth fingers, so we’ve got to build them calluses. Ya feel me?” …

It would seem somehow defensive tackle Tre Williams got a hold of Clemson Football’s camera at workouts this past week. And hilarity ensued.

“They don’t put championship rings on smooth fingers, so we’ve got to build them calluses. Ya feel me?” Williams said in a video from Clemson Football.

Check out the clip below:

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Big-time 4-star DL with Clemson connection ‘definitely excited’ for upcoming visit

Lemanski Hall stopped by the high school of a pass-rusher that he’d previously been in contact with. Clemson’s defensive ends coach was checking in on St. John’s High School (Washington, D.C.) four-star David Ojiegbe, who recently rekindled his …

Lemanski Hall stopped by the high school of a pass-rusher that he’d previously been in contact with.

Clemson’s defensive ends coach was checking in on St. John’s High School (Washington, D.C.) four-star David Ojiegbe, who recently rekindled his relationship with the Tigers and already has a connection to the program.

Ojiegbe is supposed to be in attendance for Clemson’s Elite Prospect Day on Saturday, March 5.

“I’m definitely excited to come down to Clemson and see how it is,” he said. “I’m excited to see how it is and see how the culture is down there.”

Ojiegbe is also excited to see his former teammate, Clemson defensive tackle Tré “Groovy” Williams, with who he has a close relationship. With that being said, what has Williams told him about Clemson?

“He was talking about how good it is, the culture and how he likes it,” Ojiegbe said. “He said it’s very good down there and you’re gonna be pushed. So, it sounds pretty good to me. I’m just definitely waiting to see when I get down there. I like what he was telling me, though.”

As for his relationship with Hall, Ojiegbe is starting to build a bond. They first got in contact when he was a sophomore, but their conversations were few and far between. Now, their relationship is growing as they’ve been able to talk with each other more often.

In his conversations with Hall, Clemson’s defensive ends coach has compared Ojiegbe to a current Tiger in Xavier Thomas. 

“I definitely like the way that he plays,” Ojiegbe said. “He’s very aggressive, very physical and very nasty. I like his get off the ball, he’s a big guy, but he’s moving. I look at him like ‘He can go.'”

Ojiegbe (6-4, 245) saw his recruitment pick up during January, as he added offers from Kansas, Morgan State, Duke, UConn, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Toledo, Marshall, North Carolina and was re-offered by the new staff at the University of Miami. He’s also added offers from Jackson State and Akron this month.

“It definitely feels surreal, it doesn’t even feel real,” Ojiegbe said regarding his recruitment taking off. “It feels good that (my hard work) is paying off, but it also makes me want to grind harder because I know there’s more to get. I haven’t reached anything yet. I still have to go to college and produce. So, I definitely still want to grind harder and I can always achieve more.”

Ojiegbe already listed plenty of offers before the start of 2022. Now, the nation’s No. 20 ranked edge rusher per the 247Sports Composite, has nearly 30 scholarship offers in hand.

Though he didn’t take visits last month, in addition to Clemson, he plans on visiting UNC, South Carolina and Oregon in March. As far as his recruitment is concerned, Ojiegbe is in an evaluation mode. He wants to go on these visits and see where he’s at. Right now, his goal is to commit prior to the start of his senior season, in either June or July.

“So these next visits I take, just evaluating the schools, evaluating where I fit in the scheme, how the coaches like me, our relationship and how they talk to me really, is gonna be a big factor,” he said.

This past season, Ojiegbe helped St. John’s capture a championship, while leading them to an 11-0 record. He led the WCAC with 17.5 sacks and was named first-team All-Met. He didn’t get to break the sack record his junior year, but he’s looking to surpass the league record of 19.5 sacks in his senior campaign.

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One area in which Clemson’s defensive line could top 2018 group

As far as defensive lines go, the group Clemson tormented opponents with during its most recent national championship run set the bar high. Affectionately known as the Power Rangers, the Tigers’ front four in 2018 was one of the best in college …

As far as defensive lines go, the group Clemson tormented opponents with during its most recent national championship run set the bar high.

Affectionately known as the Power Rangers, the Tigers’ front four in 2018 was one of the best in college football’s modern era. The group, headlined by Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins, led the charge for a defense that topped the country in points allowed (13.1 per game) and also ranked in the top 5 nationally in total defense, rush defense, tackles for loss and sacks. Ferrell, Lawrence and Wilkins were each selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft while the other starter up front, Thomas Austin, was a fourth-round pick that year.

Yet Clemson coach Dabo Swinney believes there’s one area in which his current defensive line could have that group beat.

“We’re going to have a little more depth than maybe we had in ‘18,” Swinney said. “I think the front-line guys, we’ve got some similarities. But this group has got a chance to have deeper, experienced depth.”

Swinney has good reason for that opinion.

Much like that 2018 season, Clemson’s No. 2 scoring defense this past season was spearheaded by arguably the top defensive line in the ACC. And that was with Tigers playing most of the season without star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (torn ACL).

Clemson finished seventh nationally in total yards allowed and eighth against the run. The Tigers also ranked ninth in sacks (3.2) and 15th in tackles for loss (7.1), both of which ranked in the top 4 in the ACC. And Clemson has virtually every significant contributor back up front.

As expected, sack leader Myles Murphy and Bresee, both sophomores, are returning for what could be their third and final seasons at Clemson. They’ll be joined by Tyler Davis, KJ Henry and Xavier Thomas, who may have been the biggest surprise with his decision to return for a sixth year.

Ruke Orhorhoro was more than serviceable filling in on the interior of the line alongside Davis. His 42 tackles were second-most among Clemson’s defensive linemen this past season, and he added eight tackles for loss. With a healthy Bresee set to slide back into the starting lineup this fall, that will move Orhorhoro back to being a backup.

With Henry, Orhohoro, Etinosa Reuben (or Tre Williams) and Justin Mascoll also back in the fold, Clemson is keeping its entire two-deep along the defensive line intact. Nine defensive linemen on the current roster have started at least one game at Clemson.

That’s not including sophomore defensive end Kevin Swint, who played in 10 games as a reserve this past season, or defensive tackles Payton Page and Demonte Capehart, who got their feet wet as freshmen. Freshmen defensive ends Cade Denhoff and Zaire Patterson are coming off redshirt seasons, and Clemson recently added another lineman to the crop in the 2022 recruiting cycle with the signing of Lanett (Alabama) four-star defensive tackle Caden Story.

“We’ve got a great group,” Swinney said. “This has got a chance to be as good as we’ve ever had in the defensive line if they will work and do what they need to do to play and perform at the level they’re capable of.”

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Clemson defensive lineman gives update on his surgery

Injuries hit Clemson harder this season than any year during Swinney’s time at Clemson. Thursday morning defensive tackle Tre Williams took to Twitter to give the latest on his recent surgery. Second and final surgery was a success! Ready for the …

Injuries hit Clemson harder this season than any year during Swinney’s time at Clemson.  Thursday morning defensive tackle Tre Williams took to Twitter to give the latest on his recent surgery.

On November 14 Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney talked about how Williams would need surgery after playing with multiple injuries this season.

“He’s just banged up,” Swinney said. “He’s something, man. That kid is amazing. There’s not many people that would have been able to do what he’s done this year because he’s been hurt. Outside of the first two games, he’s been hurt all year. He just kind of keeps showing back up every week. So he’s, again, one of those guys that we’ll see where he is tomorrow.”

“Definitely will have some postseason surgery waiting on him, no doubt about that,” Swinney added.

Williams was credited with a half sack in Saturday’s win over UConn and entered the game with 12 total tackles, including 2.5 for loss and a half sack, and seven quarterback pressures over the previous nine games.

Final 2021 football stats leaders for every SEC team

Razorbacks Wire runs down the final stat leaders for each SEC team from the 2021 football season.

The 2021 football season was another banner campaign for the Southeastern Conference.

The Georgia Bulldogs outlasted the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship Game, and six SEC teams landed among the final top 25 of the AFCA Coaches Poll.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy, and Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson led the nation with 17½ sacks.

The Ole Miss Rebels won 10 games under Lane Kiffin. The Arkansas Razorbacks won nine games, including victories over Texas, Texas A&M and Penn State, under Sam Pittman.

With all that in mind, Razorbacks Wire compiles the 2021 season leaders in passing, rushing, receiving, tackling, sacks and interceptions for all 14 SEC teams below.

Also see:
• Ranking the SEC football coach salaries

The SEC Wires network:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Tennessee

5 recruits new co-defensive coordinator and defensive tackles coach Todd Bates landed at Clemson

Todd Bates is joining Oklahoma’s staff as OU’s co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach. Who are the top five recruits he’s landed?

Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables is adding one of the nation’s best defensive line recruiters to his first staff, Todd Bates.

Bates is Oklahoma’s associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator and run defense and will coach defensive tackles.

Bates earned Rivals’ Recruiter of the Year award for his work with Clemson’s 2020 recruiting class.

Here’s a look at the top-five recruits according to 247 Sports that Bates landed while operating as the primary recruiter at Clemson.

Clemson’s latest coaching vacancy an appealing one

The last time Dabo Swinney had some vacancies on his coaching staff, he didn’t have any shortage of suitors. Discussing the departure of longtime coordinators Brent Venables and Tony Elliott last month, Swinney said he had “absolutely incredible …

The last time Dabo Swinney had some vacancies on his coaching staff, he didn’t have any shortage of suitors.

Discussing the departure of longtime coordinators Brent Venables and Tony Elliott last month, Swinney said he had “absolutely incredible interest” from people interested in those jobs, understandable considering the success the Tigers have had in recent years. But Swinney said he decided to promote Brandon Streeter and Wesley Goodwin to the roles within 30 seconds of those jobs coming open and didn’t formally interview any external candidates.

“But it’s been cool, too, because I’ve been able to communicate with a lot people,” Swinney said then. “Been good to catch up with some folks. Had some good conversations.”

Clemson’s latest vacancy should be just as appealing.

Less than a week removed from the Tigers’ Cheez-It Bowl win over Iowa State, Todd Bates has decided to jump ship. Bates has served as Clemson’s defensive tackles coach since joining Swinney’s staff in 2017, but he’ll join Venables in Oklahoma, where he’s also expected to take on co-coordinator duties.

But whether Swinney decides to promote from within or change things up and make an outside hire, whoever is next to oversee the interior of Clemson’s defensive line will take over not only a talented position but one of the deepest on the roster heading into the offseason.

Clemson’s defense was as good as it’s ever been under Venables this season, finishing second nationally in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed. To put the Tigers’ performance into even more perspective, particularly up front, Clemson ranked second in the ACC in sacks (3.23 per game) and 14th nationally in tackles for loss (7.1) despite playing most of the season without the best of the bunch on the interior.

Bryan Bresee, the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit coming out of Damascus (Maryland) High during the 2020 recruiting cycle, only played four games of his sophomore season after tearing his ACL against North Carolina State back in September. Including him, Clemson is in line to return its top seven interior defensive linemen, five of which were four- or five-star recruits.

The only loss at the position – at least for now – is Darnell Jefferies, who has officially entered the transfer portal as a graduate student after getting passed up on the depth chart this season. Jefferies tallied just one tackle in six games in his final season in a Clemson uniform.

Clemson also went four games without another NFL Draft hopeful up front in Bresee’s running mate, Tyler Davis. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder underwent bicep surgery just three games into the season but returned to play the final seven, further solidifying the middle of a defense that allowed just 96.3 rushing yards per game, good for seventh-fewest in the FBS.

Davis will be back next season as will Ruke Orhorhoro, who thrived in Bresee’s absence. Orhorhoro moved into the starting lineup after Bresee’s injury and finished with 36 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The attrition also created more opportunities for younger players like Etinosa Reuben and Tre Williams, who turned in their most significant contributions at Clemson to this point. The duo combined for 24 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

True freshman Payton Page, a former top-100 recruit, finished out the regular rotation on the interior, appearing in 12 games. The biggest body among the group, the 6-4, 335-pounder had two tackles in the bowl win. There’s also redshirt freshman DeMonte Capehart, who would’ve been a bigger part of the rotation if not for a knee injury that slowed him for most of the season.

Clemson hasn’t signed anymore defensive linemen on the interior to its 2022 recruiting class and likely won’t given the numbers it already has at the position. Those already on the roster just need someone to continue coaching them, which shouldn’t be too hard to find.

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