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The good, the bad and the ugly from Clemson’s win over Wake Forest

Clemson closed out a fifth straight unblemished home slate Saturday with a dominant performance against No. 10 Wake Forest at Memorial Stadium. Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from the Tigers’ 48-29 win: The good Where has that offense been …

The good

Where has that offense been all season?

Whether it was driving the length of the field or turnovers that set them up with shorter ones, the Tigers took advantage of their opportunities in their best all-around performance of the season. Thanks in large part to the kind of red-zone execution Clemson coach Dabo Swinney called “incredible” afterward, Clemson started with a field goal and a touchdown on its first two possessions and got points on each of its final five, four of those being touchdowns. Will Spiers only punted once on a day in which the Tigers found the end zone six times en route to season-highs in points and yards (543).

Of course, the catalyst was a running game that also had its best performance of the season. With the Tigers back at full strength in the backfield, they racked up a whopping 333 yards on the ground and ripped off 6.2 yards per carry, doubling their average from an uninspiring showing against Connecticut the previous week. Kobe Pace, who had missed the previous six quarters, spearheaded it all with a career-high 191 yards and two scores on just 24 carries in his return. Will Shipley added 112 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 19 carries, giving Clemson multiple 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time since Travis Etienne, Lyn-J Dixon and Tavien Feaster all got there against Louisville in 2018.

And while the passing game didn’t have to do much with the way the Tigers ran the ball, Clemson produced some explosive plays through the air as D.J. Uiagelelei eventually settled in on a day in which the Tigers ran out a skeleton crew at receiver. Uiagalelei only attempted 19 passes but completed 11 of them, including five of his last six (his only miss during that stretch was an interception that bounced off the helmet of receiver Dacari Collins).

His final throw was a beauty of a deep ball to Beaux Collins, who made a one-handed grab before finishing off a 58-yard touchdown in the third quarter as part of a 137-yard day, a season-high for the freshman. Uiagalelei also turned in arguably his best play of the season when, despite still being braced up with that sprained right knee, he shed two would-be sacks before rolling out and eventually heaving a 52-yard bomb to Collins to set up Clemson’s first touchdown in the opening quarter.

Meanwhile, the defense did its thing against another potent offense that looked average at times against Clemson. Wake Forest, with its slow mesh point, came in as the second-highest scoring team in the FBS, but the Tigers attacked from the start and rarely relented their pressure. Clemson set the tone with four sacks of Sam Hartman in the first quarter and finished with seven, a season-high. Those contributed to holding the Demon Deacons to just 36 net rushing yards. Add that to the minus-21 UConn had, and those 15 net rushing yards are the fewest allowed by the Tigers in back-to-back games going back to 1954, according to the school.

Clemson also forced three turnovers, two of them deep in Wake Forest territory. And senior kicker B.T. Potter connected on both of his field-goal attempts, making him 8 for 8 since those three misses he had against Florida State late last month.

It all helped Clemson easily extend the nation’s longest active home winning streak to 34 games heading into next season.

The bad

Clemson could’ve hung half a hundred on the Demon Deacons if not for some of its own turnovers.

In addition to Uiagalalei’s lone interception, Pace fumbled in the first half while the Tigers were driving in Wake Forest territory. Clemson put it on the ground again inside the Demon Deacons’ 10 early in the third quarter when Wake defensive end Rondell Bothroyd got in the way of Uiagalelei’s pitch on an option play. The three turnovers tied a season-high for the Tigers, who’ve committed as many turnovers as they’ve forced this season (17).

The Tigers also allowed a season-high in passing yards (370). While some of that came with Clemson up big late in garbage time, Wake threw for 168 yards alone in the second quarter when the Tigers had a hard time getting off the field. The Demon Deacons converted five of its seven third downs in the quarter and reached the end zone on its next to last possession of the first half to trim Clemson’s lead to 17-10. Andrew Booth’s interception on Wake’s last possession kept that halftime lead intact before the Tigers began to take control.

The ugly

It’s hard to put anything about Clemson’s performance Saturday into this category, but fans might be at the point where they just want to look away from the Tigers’ injury situation.

The constant attrition is becoming comical in that department, particularly at receiver. Clemson already knew it would be without Frank Ladson Jr. (groin), Joseph Ngata (foot) and Justyn Ross (foot) at the beginning of the week. Then E.J. Williams, who’s already dealt with knee and thumb injuries, went down with an unrelated leg injury during practice Wednesday that Swinney had a hard time explaining afterward.

Swinney said he’s “got nothing” when asked how long Williams might be out, but that wasn’t the end of it. Swinney revealed freshman receiver Troy Stellato injured his heel during pregame warmups, leaving Beaux and Dacari Collins, walk-on Will Brown and Swinney’s sons, Will and Drew, as the primary group of receivers Saturday.

Defensive tackle Tre Williams went down at one point, though he’s been dealing with numerous injuries throughout the season and will need surgery once it’s over. Shipley and offensive lineman Walker Parks briefly left Saturday’s game but returned and finished.

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Clemson defensive player to miss remainder of season

During his Zoom conference call with reporters Sunday evening, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney announced that a defensive player will be out for the remainder of this season. Swinney said redshirt freshman defensive tackle Tre Williams will have to …

During his Zoom conference call with reporters Sunday evening, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney announced that a defensive player will be out for the remainder of this season.

Swinney said redshirt freshman defensive tackle Tre Williams will have to have surgery on both his shoulder and foot and is out for the rest of the year.

“He’ll be done now for the season,” Swinney said. “It’s been a miracle that he’s been able to play all year. He’s got to have shoulder surgery, he’s got to have foot surgery. He’s had a couple surgeries scheduled, but he really wanted to try to play as long as he could. But he’s definitely done now with his foot.

“So, really proud of him. … So, we’ll get him well, and what a great player he’s going to be. And thankful he was able to get 11 games of experience in this year because he didn’t get any hardly last year.”

Williams entered 2021 with four tackles (one for loss) in two career games. The Windsor, Conn., native had 10 tackles and a sack this season.

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Surgery awaits Clemson defensive player

During his Zoom conference call Sunday evening, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney told reporters that a defensive player will need to undergo surgery once the season is over. Swinney was asked for an update on redshirt freshman defensive tackle Tre …

During his Zoom conference call Sunday evening, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney told reporters that a defensive player will need to undergo surgery once the season is over.

Swinney was asked for an update on redshirt freshman defensive tackle Tre Williams, who has been playing hurt all year.

“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.

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TCI can confirm this defensive player out vs. Pitt

PITTSBURGH – The Clemson Insider can confirm that this defensive player will be out for today’s 3:30 p.m. game against Pittsburgh at Heinz Field. We spotted defensive tackle Tre Williams coming off the team bus, and the redshirt freshman has a boot …

PITTSBURGH — The Clemson Insider can confirm that this defensive player will be out for today’s 3:30 p.m. game against Pittsburgh at Heinz Field.

We spotted defensive tackle Tre Williams coming off the team bus, and the redshirt freshman has a boot on, so we don’t expect him to play.

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Grading Clemson’s defense through the first half of the season

Clemson won’t officially hit the halfway point on its 12-game regular season until after its game at Syracuse next week, but it’s close enough. With an open date to take a step back and evaluate where the Tigers are as a team, TCI is handing out …

Let’s hand out some grades for each position on defense through five games:

Defensive line

The front was expected to be the strength of the defense coming into the season given the mix of talent and depth the Tigers had there. Both have taken a hit because of some significant injuries, but the line is still holding its own.

Not many defenses would be able to lose both starting defensive tackles and keep rolling the way Clemson’s has. First, it was Tyler Davis who had to have surgery on his bicep that will keep him out until November. Then it was Bryan Bresee, who went down with a torn ACL against North Carolina State. Ruke Orhorhoro and Tre Williams have now become starters on the interior, and the Tigers have developed some depth with Darnell Jefferies, Etinosa Reubun and true freshman Payton Page having to be part of the rotation, too.

Meanwhile, the Tigers still have their numbers intact at end. Myles Murphy and Xavier Thomas (10 tackles for loss and six sacks) have been terrors off the edge while K.J. Henry, Justin Mascoll and Justin Foster (who’s also slid inside some) are there as well. Clemson has ranked in the top 30 nationally in points allowed, yards allowed and rush defense all season, and the front four is a big reason why. Grade: A

Linebackers

Clemson began the season with a strong blend of experience, athleticism and high football IQ at the second level of its defense. The first five weeks have shown the Tigers have more quality depth than they may have initially thought, too.

Super senior James Skalski and Baylon Spector, a fifth-year player, lead the Tigers in tackles with 80 combined stops. Skalski, whom the Tigers consider the heart and soul of the defense, showed his knowledge and instincts in a big way when he snuffed out Georgia Tech’s goal-line shovel pass late in that game to help preserve the victory. Spector has quietly been a productive player on the weakside.

If there’s a weakness for Skalski and Spector, it’s pass coverage. But sophomore Trenton Simpson helps there. The sophomore strong-side ‘backer has shown the physicality to play in the box and the speed to run with tight ends when needed. And then there’s LaVonta Bentley, a backup who hasn’t played like one when filling in for Skalski and Spector, who have been slowed by injuries at times. Bentley is fourth on the team with 24 tackles and has three tackles for loss. Grade: A-

Secondary

Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich have answered most of the questions about Clemson’s cornerbacks coming into the season. Both have not only played well in coverage, but they’ve been some of the ACC’s top tackling corners when attacking the line of scrimmage. Booth is the Tigers’ third-leading tackler (26 stops) while Goodrich is right behind him (23).

Goodrich has produced his stats in four games after not playing last week against Boston College with a groin injury, forcing Sheridan Jones into a starting role. Jones had seven tackles in that game.

Sixth-year senior Nolan Turner is holding down one safety spot while true freshman Andrew Mukuba has been a revelation for the Tigers at the other. Mukuba is tied with Goodrich in tackles and leads the team with four pass breakups. But there’s depth at the safety position, too, with Jalyn Phillips, Joseph Charleston and R.J. Mickens, who has two of the Tigers’ five interceptions.

The group hasn’t been perfect. Boston College threw for more than 300 yards last week. But the Tigers are still in the top 50 nationally in passing yards allowed (203 per game), and they’ve done it without nickel Malcolm Greene (shoulder injury) for the last two games. Grade: B+

Overall

Even with the attrition, the defense has been one of the ACC’s best and has carried Clemson while the offense gets things figured out. The Tigers have yet to allow more than 14 points in regulation, though depth will be something to watch going forward if injuries continue to mount. There isn’t a glaring weakness at any level of the defense. Grade: A

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Clemson vs. Boston College: Who has the edge?

No. 19 Clemson (2-2, 1-1 ACC) returns home Saturday for another Atlantic Division clash with Boston College (4-0, 0-0), a team the Tigers are hosting for a third straight year. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. on the ACC Network. …

Clemson’s offense vs. Boston College’s defense: One step forward, two steps back. That’s what the situation seems like with Clemson’s offense, which put together a lengthy touchdown drive on its second possession against North Carolina State last week only to not be heard from again until the fourth quarter. Clemson can’t run the ball against seemingly any look it gets from opposing defenses, which is hampering every other part of the offense. A young offense is going to get even younger with running back Will Shipley (leg injury) out. Phil Mafah, another true freshman, is likely to make his season debut and could give the Tigers a little more power in the running game at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, but the offensive line has got to get more push up front.

D.J. Uiagalelei is still fighting consistency throwing the ball, too. It won’t get any easier against a Boston College offense ranked in the top 30 nationally in points and yards allowed. The Eagles have also been a top-20 defense in terms of getting off the field, holding teams to just a 29.5% conversion rate on third down. Clemson’s offense has been average in that department (43.6%). If you’re a Clemson fan looking for some good news heading into this matchup, Uiagalelei had one of his most explosive — and his most efficient — passing performances last season against a Boston College defense that has nine of 11 starters back. He’ll need more from himself and a different supporting cast this time around. Advantage: Boston College

Clemson’s defense vs. Boston College’s offense: Clemson’s defense lost James Skalski to a bum shoulder early against N.C. State. Then star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee went out with a torn ACL. Ruke Orhorhoro and Tre Williams also got banged up on the interior of the defensive line, though they eventually returned. And still Clemson only allowed 14 points in regulation on the road against what’s been one of the ACC’s better offenses. Skalski is fine, according to Clemson’s coaches, and should be back in the lineup Saturday, but not having Bresee or Tyler Davis (bicep surgey) is a major blow.

Yet Clemson is only yielding 12 points per game (fifth nationally) and still ranks in the top 25 in the FBS in yards allowed. And it’s been difficult for teams to find running room against the Tigers (116.8 rushing yards allowed per game) even without their starting defensive tackle tandem. Clemson also gets to go against a backup quarterback, Dennis Grosel, who’s taken over the Eagles’ offense with Phil Jurkovec (hand injury) out. Grosel hasn’t been asked to do much (477 passing yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs in four games) with Boston College’s running game as effective as it’s been (220 yards per game), but that could change Saturday against a Clemson defense that’s still plenty talented. The question is, can the Tigers’ offense, which ran less than 50 plays in regulation and two overtimes, do its part in keeping the defense fresh after Clemson had to defend 96 plays last week? Advantage: Clemson

Special teams: B.T. Potter (1-2 FGs; 12-12 XP) began the season as one of the country’s top kickers while freshman Will Taylor (10.7-yard average on six returns) has given Clemson’s punt return game a jolt, though neither has gotten many chances. Will Spiers (41.8 yards punt) has already punted 21 times and has been solid, but Boston College’s Grant Carlson could be a field-flipping weapon for the Eagles at 46.6 yards per punt. Travis Levy has only returned three kickoffs for Boston College, but one of them was for a touchdown. Advantage: Draw

Bottom line: As the first two conferences games have shown, the way Clemson is playing offensively is making for much more even matchups against teams the Tigers are superior to in talent. If this game were being played as Chestnut Hill, I’d pick Boston College. But Clemson’s won 30 straight games at home, and the Tigers’ defense is going up against a less experienced quarterback it should be able to bait into a mistake or two if they can slow down the Eagles’ running game. That helps Clemson squeak this one out.

Prediction: Clemson 20, Boston College 17

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Clemson’s DTs adopting ‘next man up’ mentality

It is no secret that Clemson’s defense has had its fair share of injuries, the most recent being defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, who sustained a season-ending ACL tear in the Tiger’s double overtime loss to NC State last weekend. While the loss of both Tyler Davis and Bryan Bresee early in the season is hard to swallow, veteran safety Nolan Turner has no doubt his teammates will take it in stride with a “next man up” mentality.

“Guys are going to step up,” Turner said on Tuesday. “We have plenty of guys that can play at d-tackle, and you know with him and TD [Tyler Davis] down, guys are going to step up: Tré [Williams], Ruke [Orhorhoro], ET [Etinosa Reuben], you know, all of those guys. I’m excited to watch them come in and compete, you know, it’s the next man up, and they’re very capable of being great players and they’ve shown that playing the last few weeks, so I’m excited to see those guys come in and play.”

Head coach Dabo Swinney has already seen the effects of guys stepping up in the absence of Bresee and Davis. With Tré Williams and Ruke Orhorhoro stepping into the starting roles at d-tackle, Swinney is pleased with the progress they have made so far.

“They’ve all gotten better,” Swinney said. “Obviously Ruke has gotten some great experience, Tré’s had his moments. He’s a little undisciplined at times, [but] a first-year player that didn’t really get to play last year. He’s one of those guys that’s incredibly active and you see him a lot, but he’s not always in the right spot and can be undisciplined with his eyes and things like that, so he’s still becoming a more disciplined guy within the scheme, but as far as just being disruptive and all that… he’s a natural.”

Payton Page and Ruke Orhorhoro have also continued to catch Swinney’s eye and will contend for playing time at the d-tackle position this season.

“Payton Page is getting better and better. He’s still a true freshman and he’s got a lot to learn, especially when you’re going against a team like this, but I’m really pleased with ET. I think he’s making a move. He’s making some good steps forward and he’s quietly, even last week, he’s really started to show some good signs in the last couple of weeks, so he’s a guy that I’m very encouraged by.”

While it is disappointing not having what he consider’s to be two of the top defensive tackles in the country in Bresee and Davis this fall, the breadth of experience these younger guys are getting is huge, something Swinney believes will benefit his team far beyond this season.

“Yeah, it’s disappointing that you don’t have a Tyler Davis or a Bryan Bresee,” Swinney said. “These are two of the best players in the nation, but moving forward, the experience that we are getting with these guys, those guys will be back next year, that’s gonna pay off for us. For guys like ET, because he’s just not played a lot of football, he played two years of high school football, then he’s been hurt, he’s had all kinds of issues since he’s been here, so he’s finally now healthy, but then getting the opportunity. Now with injuries, he’s taking advantage of it, so I’m encouraged with ET. I’m excited to see how he’s going to develop over the rest of the season.”

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Injuries, fatigue take their toll on Clemson’s defense

RALEIGH, N.C. – Clemson’s defense has been one of the best in the country early in the season despite a few nicks and bruises along the way. The list of players banged up on that side of the ball grew considerably Saturday. It played a significant …

RALEIGH, N.C. — Clemson’s defense has been one of the best in the country early in the season despite a few nicks and bruises along the way.

The list of players banged up on that side of the ball grew considerably Saturday. It played a significant role in the group wearing down by the end of Saturday’s double-overtime loss to North Carolina State at Carter-Finley Stadium.

The seventh-ranked Tigers headed to the neighboring state knowing they would be without defensive tackle Tyler Davis, who underwent surgery on his bicep Tuesday that will keep him out indefinitely. On Saturday, other injuries started early and came often.

The first was middle linebacker James Skalski, who appeared to injure his shoulder in the first quarter. The senior briefly returned but continued to grab his arm in pain. Skalski threw his helmet a couple of times on the sideline in apparent frustration and exited permanently not long after, shedding his pads and watching the majority of the game from the sideline while Kane Patterson filled in.

Then came other hits to the defensive line, none of which were more impactful than Bryan Bresee’s injury. The sophomore defensive tackle went down in pain to his leg early in the third quarter with the game still tied at 7. Bresee limped off the field with the help of medical personnel and draped a towel over his head, signaling the end of his day. He had ice on his knee while sitting on the bench.

“It has a cumulative effect,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “We’ve got to be more efficient so we can get off the field, but guys had to really bite down and take more reps that we’d like them to take.”

Even some of those filling in for Davis and Bresee went down, leaving the Tigers’ depth scarce on the interior of the defensive line as the game wore on. Etinosa Rueben and true freshman Payton Page were in the game together at one point in the second half after Tre Williams and Ruke Orhorhoro were injured, though Williams and Orhorhoro returned to finish the game.

But having to rely on less frontline players up front combined with another lethargic showing from an offense that had six three-and-outs in a seven-possession span (not counting a kneeldown before halftime) at one point, fatigue eventually took over. Clemson defended 96 plays while N.C. State’s defense played just 49 snaps, which left the Tigers’ defense on the field a whopping 41 minutes, 48 seconds in regulation.

“We just got worn down with their time of possession and the amount of plays,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “We’ve got a bunch of guys hurt. My heart just breaks for those guys. We’ve got a physically hurt team and mentally hurt team right now.”

By the time the Wolfpack scored a touchdown in each overtime period, the only FBS defense that hadn’t allowed an offensive touchdown coming into the day had surrendered four. N.C. State had 233 of its 386 yards after halftime and had a couple of chances to break a 14-all tie late in the fourth quarter with drives setting up field goals that were missed.

“We had a chance to win the game at the end because of their resolve,” Venables said of his unit.

Swinney said he didn’t have an update on the status of Bresee or Skalski afterward, but it’s clear the Tigers now have concerns on both sides of the ball.

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Promising safety has multiple connections to Clemson

Avon (CT.) Avon Old Farms School 2024 safety KeShawn Adams was among some of the nation’s top prospects who traveled to the Dabo Swinney camp earlier this summer. The Clemson Insider recently checked back in on Adams, who continues to hear and …

Avon (CT.) Avon Old Farms School 2024 safety KeShawn Adams was among some of the nation’s top prospects who traveled to the Dabo Swinney camp earlier this summer.

The Clemson Insider recently checked back in on Adams, who continues to hear and receive interest from Clemson. In his conversation with TCI, Adams (6-0, 190) self-described himself as a “ballhawk and a student of the game.”

Clemson impressed Adams from the start, especially with Swinney ensuring that everything would be “position-specific.” That made Adams happy because it forced him to focus on improving his game, rather than the combine aspect.

“The safeties coach, Coach Mickey Conn, said he really liked my patience,” Adams added. “He liked that I was only Class of ‘24, so I’m really young with a lot of potential. I talked to (cornerbacks coach) Mike Reed a lot because while safety is my main position, sometimes I can play nickel, I can play corner.”

Adams had the chance to meet Swinney. He shook his hand and the two conversed for a bit.

He left with the impression that Clemson is definitely interested in him.

“Yeah, 100 percent. I know that it was definitely hard because, at that time, I didn’t have any offers,” he said. “It would have been hard for Clemson to be my first offer, but I know that God-willing, down the road, I’m only going into my sophomore season. I’ll be back there soon and an offer will definitely be something that they give me the chance at earning down the road.”

Conn told Adams that Clemson would be keeping in touch, knowing that this season of high school football is his first. His freshman season was canceled due to COVID. Adams believes his recruitment will start picking up once he’s able to show what he’s made of on the field this season.

“What I’m really, really big on and what I’m most excited for right now is being able to get film,” he said. “I already have a solid group of colleges that are showing interest in me, with Clemson being one of them…it’s just a testament to my hard work and all the hours I’ve put in. Once I get some film, they’ll definitely be reaching out to me.”

In addition to Clemson, Notre Dame is another school that’s standing out in Adams’ recruitment. Notre Dame recently reached out to Adams’s coaching staff and set an unofficial visit for the Fighting Irish’s Nov. 20 matchup against Georgia Tech. He’s also been in contact with both Rutgers and Penn State.

“Notre Dame and Clemson are top-2 right now,” he said. “Whenever I get information from them, whether it’s from my coaches or this right now with Clemson. I’m just always happy because these are some of my dream schools, some of my colleges that I really want to go to. I definitely think it’s going to be a battle.”

Right now, Adams is going to do his best to come down to a game in The Valley this season. Though, with Avon Old Farms playing its games on Saturdays, that makes it all the more difficult. That being said, he may have to wait until the end of his sophomore season to get back on campus.

What type of feedback did Adams get back from Conn and Reed during his time at the Swinney camp?

“Coach Conn said that he really liked my patience. He was surprised when I told him that I was a safety,” Adams said. “He was looking at me and thought that I was a corner. When I told him that I was a safety, he was definitely pretty happy about that.”

According to Adams, Conn is familiar with his high school because it’s the same program that produced Taisun Phommachanh, Clemson’s backup quarterback.

Adams knows Phommachanh’s brother, Tyler, more than he knows him, he said. Still, he was amazed that Taisun had already been medically cleared just a mere four months after rupturing his Achilles.

“I was really excited for him,” Adams said when asked about Phommachanh’s incredible recovery. “The other day I was watching (Clemson’s) spring game and he got them all the way down (the field). He made a really good pass. He got them all the way down to the 10. Then he got hurt…he’ll definitely get some playing time this year. He’s only a sophomore.”

Adams’ connection to the program extends beyond Phommachanh. He referred to Clemson redshirt defensive tackle Tré Williams as his “big brother.” Williams, a native of Windsor (CT.) took Adams on a campus tour and showed him around the facilities.

Adams met Williams through the Supreme Athlete Mentoring and Youth Coaching Program.

What has he heard from the big defensive tackle about Clemson?

“He’s told me it’s the place to be,” Adams said. “Obviously, in his opinion and in my opinion, it’s the No. 1 university in the world, as far as football, just as far as everything. That’s somewhere that you definitely want to be. You get there, you are gonna have, everybody who’s a four-star, five-star. You’re gonna have players competing. That’s just making you better as a player. You want to get with the best of the best to prove that you belong there with them.”

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Defensive line meets expectations in Clemson’s first scrimmage

As Myles Murphy assessed how Clemson’s defensive line performed Saturday, the Tigers’ defensive end rattled off a long list of players that impressed him. Once he was done, nearly every first- and second-teamer had been mentioned. “Everybody stood …

“Everybody stood out today,” said Murphy, a freshman All-American a season ago. “Got in the backfield, kind of just retraced the entire offensive line into the backfield and got pressure on the quarterback.”

It seemed fitting given just how interchangeable the Tigers are becoming at one of the deepest and most talented positions on their roster.

Clemson returns every starter along the defensive line, seven linemen in all who have started at least one game and five ends that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he considers starters, so it’s no secret the Tigers expect to have one of the nation’s most formidable defensive fronts this fall.

The group got its first live reps over the weekend during the Tigers’ first scrimmage of fall camp, one in which the defense got the better of the offense inside Clemson’s indoor practice facility. Regardless of which personnel groupings it had on the field, the line set the tone for the defense’s performance as expected, Swinney said.

“I was super, super impressed with those guys (Saturday),” Swinney said. “What I was hoping I would see is no dropoff, and it didn’t matter really how I ran the scrimmage as far as the groups, I didn’t see any dropoff. I thought those guys really all played well.

“We created some pressure. Some (tackles for loss). Some sacks. I thought both groups played to the standard that we talked about. That’s fun to see defensively.”

With Xavier Thomas and Justin Foster back in the fold — both seniors opted to return to Clemson for another season — the Tigers can go two- and sometimes three-deep with experience at defensive end and have rotated accordingly throughout camp. Thomas, Foster, Murphy, Justin Mascoll and K.J. Henry have bounced back and forth between the ones and twos and continued to do so in the scrimmage.

Senior Tyler Davis and sophomore Bryan Bresee, another freshman All-American, are entrenched as the top interior linemen. Swinney also mentioned fellow defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro for his performance in the scrimmage, noting Orhoro, who’s spent most of camp getting second-team reps, is at a point in his development where “he shows up” every time he’s on the field.

Clemson seems to be building more depth on the inside even with some defensive tackles unavailable for the time being. Redshirt freshman DeMonte Capehart and sophomore Etinosa Reuben were held out of the scrimmage with undisclosed injuries, but Tre Williams and Darnell Jeffries made their presence felt in the scrimmage while true freshman Payton Page also got some reps.

Orhorhoro and Williams are both healthy again after injuries derailed their seasons early a year ago. Swinney referred to Williams’ performance Saturday as “awesome.”

“It was good to see Tre get in there and make some plays,” Swinney said. “Darnell had a nice play.”

Clemson will need to solidify more of that depth on the interior, but the weekend scrimmage went a long way in confirming the Tigers don’t have too many concerns when it comes to their defensive line.

“We’ve got a lot of talented guys there,” Swinney said, “and I like the chemistry I’m seeing from that group.”

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