Tag: Tyler Davis

Clemson has the best front seven in college football

Clemson’s front seven is the most dangerous in college football.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program have had some of the best defenses in college football history in his tenure as the Tigers’ head coach.

Heading into the 2022 college football season, while there are many questions about how the Clemson offense will look, fans already know what to expect out of this defense. Though Brent Venables has moved on to Oklahoma, newly appointed defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin has more than enough talent in this defense to keep the unit one of the best in the nation.

For the defense, it all starts with the front seven. Of all the college football programs across the country, according to CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee, Clemson is the front seven in college football.

Here’s what Sallee had to say about the Tigers front seven:

1. Clemson Tigers

If coach Dabo Swinney’s crew is going to get back to the top of the college football world this year, it’ll be on the heels of one of the best defenses — personnel-wise — that he’s ever produced. Superstar Bryan Bresee will anchor the middle of the line of scrimmage and, when healthy, is the top defensive lineman in the country. Add Xavier Thomas and K.J. Henry at edge, and the line should be devastating. The linebacking corps will be led by Trenton Simpson, who had 64 tackles, 12.5 which were for a loss, last season. The only real question here is if the success former defensive coordinator Brent Venables had during his tenure in the upstate can be replicated by new defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin.

Sallee has some solid points but left out some pieces that make this front seven look even more dangerous.

First and foremost, Myles Murphy is arguably the best player on this defense, so it was a little shocking to see the star edge rushers’ name left out of Sallee’s comments. He is a projected top fifteen pick in the 2023 NFL draft right now and will contend with Bresee to be the first Tiger off the board.

Another key piece of this front seven he didn’t mention is the big guy in the middle, Tyler Davis. A player with an incredibly high ceiling, Davis will be looking to prove a lot to NFL scouts this season.

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Athlon Sports predicts loaded group of Tigers to be on All-ACC teams

Coming off the 2021 season that produced 10 Clemson players featured on an All-ACC team, the expectation is that there will be even more Tigers receiving that honor in 2022.

Between the three official 2021 All-ACC teams, Clemson had 10 players honored as some of the conference’s most productive talents last year. Despite three of those players having left for the NFL, in 2022, that number of selections could still increase.

Shortly after Athlon Sports released its 2022 top-25, it has also released 2022 All-Conference teams. In his prediction, Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassan believes Clemson will have 13 selections, with eight of them being placed on a first-team.

Although All-Conference selections can be difficult to predict, here is the criteria Athlon Sports examined.

These are based on how players will perform in 2022. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2022 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year. Also, team strength does not play a role in selections. These are the best individual players at each position in the league for ’22.

With its 13 selections, Clemson was second among teams in Lassan’s predictions, with Pittsburgh’s 14 selections being the highest in the conference. Miami, North Carolina State, Wake Forest and North Carolina also had double-digit selections. In last year’s predictions, Clemson led the way with 15 selections.

With the criteria for the predictions established, here is every Tiger featured on Athlon Sports’ 2022 All-ACC teams.

Analyst breaks down why Clemson is best bet to win the ACC

Clemson’s season kicks off in less than 100 days, and oddsmakers are expecting the Tigers to bounce back in 2022 after missing the ACC Championship game last season.

After winning the previous six titles, Clemson didn’t appear in the ACC Championship game in 2021, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers aren’t still the team to beat.

According to Tipico Sportsbook, Clemson is -120 to win the ACC title in 2022, with Miami and North Carolina State behind at +600 and +900, respectively.

Although -120 is a step down from Clemson’s 2021 preseason odds of -300, CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson believes the Tigers are still the best bet to win the conference, and here’s why.

It is extremely unlikely that the Tigers will rank dead last in the ACC in passing efficiency like they did in 2021, a season that still saw Dabo Swinney’s team finish 10-3 thanks to one of the nation’s best defenses. That defensive front should still be among the best in the country, and even league-average passing from D.J. Uiagalelei (or freshman phenom Cade Klubnik) should be the difference in flipping at least a couple of those losses in the other direction. Clemson’s “down year” had no bad losses, so the bounce-back season absolutely should include an ACC Championship.

Clemson returns all of its defensive line starters from 2021, including defensive tackle Bryan Bresee who missed the majority of last season because of a torn ACL. Along with Bresee, defensive tackle Tyler Davis and defensive ends Myles Murphy, K.J. Henry and Xavier Thomas will be a tough group to contain for opposing offenses.

As for the offense, Swinney remained committed to Uiagalelei as the team’s starter after the spring game, so he will be taking the first-team snaps under center as of now. Even if Klubnik eventually takes over, as Patterson points out, Clemson’s offense should be healthier and much improved, paving the way for a potential return to Charlotte, North Carolina in December for a shot at the conference title.

Plenty of Clemson love from this ESPN NFL draft analyst

This NFL draft analyst is high on multiple Clemson players as prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft. This week, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his 2023 Big Board and position rankings (subscription required), unveiling who he sees as the top 25 overall …

This NFL draft analyst is high on multiple Clemson players as prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft.

This week, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his 2023 Big Board and position rankings (subscription required), unveiling who he sees as the top 25 overall prospects in next year’s draft class and ranking the top players at every position.

Kiper has three Clemson standouts ranked as top-25 overall prospects, with Clemson junior defensive tackle Bryan Bresee the highest on Kiper’s Big Board at No. 6.

“Bresee, a five-star recruit in the Class of 2020, tore his left ACL in September and played in just four games, but I was impressed with his tape,” Kiper wrote. “He locates the ball really well and explodes into the backfield at the snap to disrupt throwing lanes and find ball carriers. He’s aggressive and hustles on every snap. He can be a major force inside at the next level. This is an extremely talented group of defenders at the top, but don’t count out Bresee as a potential top-three pick.”

Clemson junior defensive end Myles Murphy, meanwhile, is ranked No. 17 on Kiper’s Big Board.

“Murphy has 11 sacks and four forced fumbles in two seasons for the Tigers, showing off his ability to get after quarterbacks off the edge,” Kiper wrote. “He has a quick burst out of his stance and can close quickly off the corner. Murphy also plays the run pretty well; he’s a solid all-around player. Clemson also moved him inside at times, so that versatility will help his stock. He could rise if he finishes at the quarterback more in 2022.”

Clemson junior linebacker Trenton Simpson also cracked Kiper’s top 25, checking in at No. 25.

“Simpson is the third Clemson front-seven prospect in this top 25,” Kiper wrote. “He had some impressive 2021 tape, showing explosion at the snap and range when he needs to track a ball carrier. He had 12.5 total tackles for loss. He could be an off-ball linebacker or play as a traditional 3-4 outside linebacker. Simpson has some power as a pass-rusher too.”

Clemson senior Tyler Davis also appeared on Kiper’s Big Board, with Kiper ranking him as the No. 10 defensive tackle in the 2023 draft class.

Kiper ranks Bresee No. 2 among defensive tackles and Murphy as the second-best defensive end in the 2023 class, while Simpson is ranked as the No. 3 linebacker in the class by Kiper.

Clemson defender featured in top 10 on Fox Sports’ 2023 NFL Draft big board

Another big board has a Clemson Tiger as one of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Fans should expect a Clemson Tiger to hear his name called early in the 2023 NFL Draft.

With other big boards and early mock drafts already featuring multiple Tigers, Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee recently made Fox Sports’ top 20 prospect list.

Although he only played in four games in 2021 due to injury, Bresee still had a tremendous impact when on the field, as he finished with 13 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception. As a freshman, he had 23 total tackles and four sacks, earning him ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020.

Here’s what Fox Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang had to say about Bresee, who Rang ranked as the No. 8 prospect.

Given that he missed most of last season due to a torn ACL and has played in just 15 college games, listing Bresee (bruh-ZEE) this high this early is pretty bold. But the flashes are ultra-bright with Bresee, who signed with Clemson as the top-rated overall prep prospect, according to some recruiting sites.

A big man, Bresee is blessed with a rare combination of explosive power and flexibility to both strong-arm and slither his way through the line of scrimmage.

Coming off a torn ACL, Bresee will have to prove he is healthy enough to replicate his past success, but if he’s able to accomplish that feat, expect an NFL team to draft him early in round one next April.

Packers TE Tyler Davis catches eye of special teams coach Rich Bisaccia

Packers TE Tyler Davis played roughly 65 percent of the team’s special teams snaps a year ago, and new coordinator Rich Bisaccia was impressed with his work.

The Green Bay Packers think they found an ascending young player at tight end in Tyler Davis, who caught the eye of new special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia and could become a core player for Bisaccia in 2022.

Last month, general manager Brian Gutekunst said he thinks the Packers “really have something” in Davis, who was signed off the Indianapolis Colts practice squad in late September of last year and went on to play in 14 games for the Packers in 2021.

“As his opportunities grew, not only in games but in practice, I think we might have something there. So I’m excited about that,” Gutekunst said when asked about the tight end group following the draft.

Matt LaFleur added more intrigue on Tuesday. The Packers coach said Bisaccia, a long-time coordinator of special teams in the NFL, was especially impressed with Davis when he took the job in Green Bay.

“He certainly made his mark on special teams,” LaFleur said. “I know he’s a guy that Rich was really excited about when we hired him, just what he can bring. He’s a guy that’s going to give you great effort each and every snap, and he can really run.”

At his pro day before the 2020 draft, Davis ran the 40-yard dash in 4.71 seconds at 252 pounds.

Last season provided a glimpse at what Davis can do on offense and special teams. He played 121 snaps on offense and caught four passes, including a 22-yarder from Aaron Rodgers against the Ravens in Baltimore. He mostly played on special teams, seeing 232 snaps for the third unit, or roughly 65 percent of the Packers’ total special teams snaps in 2021.

LaFleur said Davis kept improving and made the most of his opportunities during his first season in Green Bay.

“Tyler is a guy that I didn’t know a whole lot about when we acquired him. It was just something you could see each day when we were out there as he was learning the offense and getting his reps on the scout team. Then he got forced into play, and I thought he did a hell of a job,” LaFleur said.

Davis’ ability to play a dual role at tight end and participate on several special teams groups gives him a tremendous opportunitiy to make the 53-man roster, especially with Robert Tonyan still recovering from an ACL injury.

As is the case with all young players, Davis – a sixth-round pick of the Jaguars in 2020 – needs to keep improving.

“He’s a young player that needs to continue to learn and develop and show us what he can do.”

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Clemson lands atop of ESPN’s future defense power rankings

Despite multiple veteran departures from last season, Clemson’s defense is still poised to be one of the nation’s best over the next three seasons.

After allowing the second-fewest points per game in the FBS last season, Clemson’s defense has the talent, experience and potential to be one of the nation’s best units in 2022 and beyond.

Between a loaded defensive line that returns all of its starters from 2021 to a fast and dynamic linebacker room, head coach Dabo Swinney has plenty of defenders that have NFL potential.

With the departure of several coaches, including former defensive coordinator Brent Venables, the Tigers’ defense has entered into a new era. Although coaching and roster changes often have a negative impact on teams, there’s reason to believe Clemson’s past defensive success will continue for years to come.

According to ESPN college football analyst Adam Rittenberg, Clemson has the greatest potential to be a top-tier defense for the next three seasons. He ranked Clemson above last nation’s top defense, Georiga, among others like Wisconsin and Alabama.

Here’s what Rittenberg had to say about the Tigers’ defense.

2021 future defense ranking: 1

Scouting the Tigers: In a close race for the top spot, Clemson leads off the rankings for the second consecutive year. The unit loses two outstanding cornerbacks (Mario Goodrich and Andrew Booth Jr.), mainstays at linebacker (James Skalski, Baylon Spector) and longtime coordinator Brent Venables. Still, the outlook remains extremely promising. Clemson’s defensive line has been a strength through the CFP era and will remain that way, especially in 2022 as All-America candidates Bryan Bresee, Tyler Davis and Myles Murphy all return. The line got a bonus boost as end Xavier Thomas, a two-time third-team All-ACC selection, is back for one final season. There’s veteran depth at end with seniors K.J. Henry and Justin Mascoll, who last season combined for seven sacks and 15 quarterback pressures. Tackle Ruke Orhorhoro in 2021 had 42 tackles, eight for loss, and should continue to add playing time, along with classmate Etinosa Reuben, sophomore Payton Page and others.

A look at Clemson’s top 2023 draft prospects

The paint is still drying on this year’s NFL Draft, which saw two former Clemson players have their names called over the last three days. But it’s never too early to look ahead to next year. With that said, here’s a look at some of the Tigers’ top …

The paint is still drying on this year’s NFL Draft, which saw two former Clemson players have their names called over the last three days. But it’s never too early to look ahead to next year.

With that said, here’s a look at some of the Tigers’ top 2023 draft prospects:

DT Bryan Bresee

The crown jewel of the Tigers’ heralded 2020 recruiting class, Bresee’s time at Clemson figures to be over after his third season with the program. He has 48 tackles. 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in his first 16 games for the Tigers.

Those stats as an interior lineman indicate just how much of a handful Bresee is for opposing offensive lineman with his combination of size, athleticism and agility. He was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year as a freshman and a third-team all-ACC selection last season despite only playing four games.

Seemingly the only question left regarding Bresee is will he be the same player coming back from the torn ACL that cut his sophomore season short? If he’s back to anything close to his old form, the nation’s former No. 1 recruit could be one of the first players taken in next year’s draft. 247Sports projects Bresee to be the fifth overall pick.

DE Myles Murphy

If Bresee isn’t the first Clemson player taken in next year’s draft, it might be Murphy, another former blue-chip recruit who’s on a similar three-and-out college trajectory.

Murphy has been as advertised since signing with the Tigers as a consensus five-star prospect in 2020. With an ideal 6-5, 275-pound frame that could also be used on the interior at the next level, Murphy led Clemson in sacks (7) and tackles for loss (14) this past season. He’s got 94 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and five forced fumbles so far in his career.

Another strong season off the edge could vault Murphy into the top half of next year’s first round if he’s not there already in the eyes of NFL decision-makers. The Sporting News ranks Murphy as the top end prospect for next year.

LB Trenton Simpson

Another likely three-and-out talent at Clemson, Simpson is an elite prospect at the second level of the defense. The 6-2, 230-pounder is a fast, explosive athlete who can be used in a variety of ways.

Clemson used him as their Sam/nickel ‘backer the last two seasons, where he proved to be one of the Tigers’ top edge rushers. He ranked second on the team in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (6) this past season while adding three pass breakups. He already has 10 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss in 25 career games.

Simpson made the switch to Will linebacker this spring in a move Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said was best for his future in the sport, though it will be fascinating to see how NFL teams decide to use his skill set. He’s capable of lining up on the inside in a 4-3 scheme or on the edge in a 3-4 defense. The Sporting News ranks Simpson as the top linebacker prospect for next year.

DE KJ Henry

Another member of Clemson’s loaded defensive line, Henry is an edge defender that can do a little bit of everything. The 6-4, 260-pounder has 88 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and five pass breakups over 44 games, including 10 starts.

Henry is coming off a season in which he posted career-highs in tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (4.5). Increasing his sack numbers in his final season with the Tigers could improve his draft stock.

DE Xavier Thomas

Thomas’ gradual return to his old form after nearly walking away from football has been well-documented. Now it’s about maximizing potential for Clemson’s fifth-year senior.

Thomas could’ve gone pro after last season and likely seen his name come off the board at some point this year, but Thomas said it wouldn’t have been as soon as he would have liked. He insisted his best football is still ahead of him, something he hopes to show NFL teams during his final season with the Tigers.

A former five-star recruit, Thomas has 27.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks at Clemson. He had 27 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season along with a team-high 17 quarterback hurries. It’s not crazy to think the 6-2, 260-pounder could be used as an end in a 4-3 defense or an edge-rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

DT Tyler Davis

Bresee’s running mate on the interior of the defensive line, Davis has been a mainstay in the starting lineup since arriving on campus in 2019.

At 6-2 and 300 pounds, Davis possesses the athleticism and mechanics to play different techniques in the trenches. He’s missed time the last couple of seasons because of injuries, which could be a concern for NFL teams, but Davis still earned first-team all-ACC honors a season ago after recording 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks in nine games.

OL Jordan McFadden

While most of Clemson’s top next-level talent lies on the defensive side of the ball, McFadden is an experienced offensive lineman that could provide an NFL team with versatility up front.

McFadden is entering his third year as a starter. The first was at right tackle before McFadden moved over to left tackle this past season, starting all 25 games during those seasons. He was a second-team all-ACC performer a season ago.

McFadden has held up well on the edges despite not having prototypical size for the position (6-2, 310 pounds). He could slide inside at the next level. Swinney said McFadden has even practiced some at center. The ability to play multiple positions will only make McFadden a more appealing option for teams in need of a lineman at the next level.

QB DJ Uiagalelei

Uiagalelei is behind the others on the list in terms of his development, but there’s no denying the physical talent.

The Tigers’ signal caller, once a five-star recruit himself, has prototypical size as a pocket passer (6-4, 240 pounds), and there may not be a quarterback that’s eligible for next year’s draft with a stronger arm. Uiagalelei can make every throw on the field rather easily.

Of course, whether or not those passes are on the mark more often than not is the biggest question for Uiagalelei heading into his junior season. He’s thrown for 3,160 yards in 23 games but has just four more touchdown passes than interceptions at this point in his career.

Inconsistent accuracy and decision-making at times plagued Uiagalelei last season in particular when he completed just 55% of his passes with more interceptions than touchdown passes. If Uiagalelei can make significant strides in those areas this fall, though, his draft stock could skyrocket.

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Tyler Davis is betting on himself heading into next season

Headed back to Clemson for his senior season, Tyler Davis is betting on his talent to solidify draft stock.

The 2023 NFL draft has the potential to be a massive one for Clemson football, with a deep pool of great players in position to declare. Of all the players the Tigers may have in that pool of talent, senior defensive tackle Tyler Davis is the player with the widest possibility of outcomes.

After a breakout freshman season back in 2019, Davis looked like a sure thing to be a first-round selection when he could become eligible to declare for the NFL draft. The last two seasons however have been difficult for the defensive tackle as he missed a lot of time due to injury.

Dealing with the injury problems, had he declared this season, Davis likely could have seen his draft stock suffer due to uncertainty around his capability of staying healthy.

Returning to Clemson for a final season, Tyler Davis is betting on himself as a big year with the Tigers could elevate his draft stock resolidifying himself as a first-round pick.

According to NFL Mock Draft Database, Davis is currently their 117th ranked player on their 2023 NFL draft consensus big board though this doesn’t tell the whole story. They, too, see a path for Davis to improve his draft capital this season, giving him a peak rank of eleven.

If he can show NFL scouts that he can stay healthy, the sky is the limit for the guy. One more year at Clemson could prove to do wonders for Tyler Davis.

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What we learned from Clemson’s spring game

From Clemson’s biggest concern to a potential all-time position group, we learned a good bit from Saturday’s spring game.

College football spring games give a glimpse to fans of what’s to come next season, and Clemson’s Orange vs. White game on Saturday was no exception.

The cold, windy game in Memorial Stadium featured stout defensive outings that gave the two offenses problems all throughout the White team’s 15-7 victory over the Orange team.

“The best thing is to be exposed and gain experience, and so, we had some guys get that today,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said after the game. “It was tough conditions but a lot of fun.”

One spring game that is essentially an open scrimmage should be taken with a grain of salt, but here are some things we learned from Saturday’s matchup.

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