Tag: Will Taylor

Bresee, other injured Tigers ‘progressing well’

It’s been nearly two full months since Clemson’s football team concluded a spring that was missed completely or in part by more than 20 players recovering from injuries. Most of them, including star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, have been …

It’s been nearly two full months since Clemson’s football team concluded a spring that was missed completely or in part by more than 20 players recovering from injuries.

Most of them, including star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, have been recovering from injuries that occurred last season, but a couple of new injuries to freshmen Jeadyn Lukus (shoulder surgery) and Adam Randall (torn ACL) popped up during the spring, which ended April 9 with the Tigers’ annual Orange and White game.

Other than Randall, though, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he doesn’t anticipate anyone who was sidelined this spring to not be ready for the start of fall camp.

“It’s good to see them all heading in that direction, and hopefully come August, we can get through the summer and everybody is in a good spot,” Swinney said during Clemson’s Prowl & Growl stop in the Charleston area Tuesday. “If we’re halfway more healthy, it’s going to be a better year for us.”

Bresee, widely projected to be a high pick in next year’s NFL Draft, is nearly eight full months removed from surgery to repair his knee ligament. Bresee did some light running on the side during the spring, but Swinney said the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder has progressed to where “he’s moving and doing everything.”

“Everybody is progressing well,” Swinney added. “We had a lot of guys out. We only had one scholarship back this spring. (Receiver) E.J. (Williams) was out, and he’s getting back going. Obviously (receiver and punt returner) Will Taylor, he’s back going and you see what he’s doing already (with the baseball team). He’s just a natural. He’s got that it factor. That’s why he was kind of where he was heading early with us last year.”

As for Randall, Swinney said the first-year receiver is ahead of schedule in his rehab and is expected to be back at some point during fall camp. The fact that Randall’s tear was isolated to one ligament has helped with his recovery.

“It was best-case scenario for him and for us,” Swinney said.

Clemson’s dual-sport Will Taylor draws praise from Dabo Swinney

While Dabo Swinney waits for Will Taylor to return to football, Taylor’s play on the baseball field hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Clemson left fielder Will Taylor got his first action on the Tigers’ baseball team last weekend, and his performance caught the eye of Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney, who Taylor plays for in the fall as a quarterback and special teamer.

Coming off a torn ACL suffered in Clemson’s Oct. 2 matchup with Boston College, Taylor first returned to the baseball lineup against Georgia Tech on May 6. Through his first four games, the two-sport athlete has recorded six hits while batting .316.

“Awesome to see him make a contribution right away,” Swinney said. “I think baseball season is exactly what we see in football. That’s why you saw us put him out there, right out of the gate.”

On the football field, Taylor lined up at multiple positions as a freshman. Recruited as a three-star quarterback, Taylor had some snaps as a signal-caller last fall, but he has begun to fully transition to wide receiver. Meanwhile, he will continue to contribute on the baseball field as the Tigers make a late-season push for the ACC Tournament.

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Swinney works personally with Taylor to accelerate his transition to WR

COLUMBIA, S.C. -Dabo Swinney’s contact with Will Taylor isn’t limited to when the sophomore receiver comes over to the football facilities for a bite to eat. And while Clemson’s coach joked about the nature of his relationship with the two-sport …

COLUMBIA, S.C. —Dabo Swinney’s contact with Will Taylor isn’t limited to when the sophomore receiver comes over to the football facilities for a bite to eat.

And while Clemson’s coach joked about the nature of his relationship with the two-sport athlete out of Irmo’s Dutch Fork High School, he was serious when he talked about the progress that Taylor has made.

“I see him actually a good bit,” Swinney said during Wednesday’s Prowl and Growl tour in the Midlands. “I text with him quite often as well. I’m really just supporting him in his baseball role right now. He’ll be ready to roll once baseball’s over. I can’t wait to get him back out there.”

A receiver and punt returner for the football team, Taylor has spent the better part of seven months rehabbing his knee following reconstructive surgery. He sustained the injury during the football team’s win over Boston College on Oct. 2 — just five games into his collegiate career.

“It’s a shame he got hurt when he did because we were just really starting to transition him,” Swinney continued. “But, he’s in a good spot. He mentally continued on through the season and built a good foundation from a receiver standpoint. We spent a lot of one-on-one time together, actually, during the bowl prep. He and I were just doing some drill stuff, some technique stuff and really trying to teach him as we transition into receiver. He’s got a good foundation of our offense and got a good foundation for us.”

Swinney got the chance this past Sunday to watch Taylor take the diamond for the first time this season. Taylor went 5-for-12 at the plate this past weekend as Clemson swept Georgia Tech in a three-game set.

“It’s fun to see him back out there and awesome to see him make a contribution right away,” he said.

Taylor added two more hits in Clemson’s 7-5 loss to College of Charleston Tuesday.

There’s something about Taylor, who earned the nickname “Maverick” from former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, that both the football and baseball team(s) marvel at.

“I think baseball sees exactly what we see in football, that’s why you saw us put him out there right out of the gate,” Swinney said. “I don’t know when the last time I started a true freshman as a punt returner on the road in a game like that. That may be the first, but that’s how confident we were in him. He’s a unique competitor and really, really talented.”

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Grice powers Clemson over Georgia Tech

Clemson, S.C. – Caden Grice hit two home runs and a double to lead Clemson over Georgia Tech 12-9 Saturday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Geoffrey Gilbert got the start for the Tigers and pitched well going four innings giving up six hits, one …

Clemson, S.C. —  Caden Grice hit two home runs and a double to lead Clemson over Georgia Tech 12-9 Saturday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Geoffrey Gilbert got the start for the Tigers and pitched well going four innings giving up six hits, one run and one earned run.  Freshman Austin Gordon relieved Gilbert and pitched 3.0 innings giving up three hits, four runs and three earned runs.

 

Clemson stormed in front of the Jackets in the first inning.  Benjamin Blackwell reached on a throwing error.  Will Taylor singled to left advancing Blackwell to third.  Max Wagner was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  With one out Bryar Hawkins doubled down the left field line scoring Blackwell and Taylor.  Dylan Brewer singled to score Wagner.  Jonathan French laid down a perfect bunt to score Hawkins.  Caden Grice doubled to left to score Brewer and the Tigers led 5-0 after one.

The Jackets plated one run in the second with a solo home run.

Clemson added to the lead in the fourth.  Blackwell walked and then advanced to second on a grounder by Taylor.  Wagner grounded to the right side of the infield advancing Blackwell to third.  A wild pitch brought Blackwell home and the Tigers led 6-1.

In the fifth Clemson added some insurance runs.  Brewer walked and then stole second.  Grice hit a wind aided two-run home run to left and the Tigers led 8-1.

Grice did it again in the sixth inning.  With two outs Hawkins reached on an error.  Brewer singled advancing Hawkins to second.  French singled to right to score Hawkins.  Grice hit a three-run home run about nine rows up in the Chapman Grandstand.

Georgia Tech plated two in the top of the seventh and three in the top of the eighth.  The Jackets added three in the ninth with two more home runs to make the final score 12-9.

With the win Clemson moved to 30-17 overall and 8-14 in the ACC.  The Tigers go for the sweep Sunday at 1 PM.

 

Taylor’s ‘exciting’ return to action goes off without a hitch

Will Taylor’s long-awaited return required a little more patience from the freshman Friday night. Back on the field for the first time since tearing his ACL with the football team in early October, Taylor debuted with the Tigers’ baseball team as …

Will Taylor’s long-awaited return required a little more patience from the freshman Friday night.

Back on the field for the first time since tearing his ACL with the football team in early October, Taylor debuted with the Tigers’ baseball team as the designated hitter in the team’s series opener against Georgia Tech. Taylor, batting sixth in the lineup, stepped into the batter’s box against Tech right-hander John Medich in the first inning, but his first collegiate at-bat was put on ice after Max Wagner was thrown out trying to steal third to end the frame.

“Honestly, it was great for me because I got to see a good mix of his pitches,” Taylor said. “The at-bat didn’t count, so I got to do it again the next time.”

Taylor wasted little time against Medich to lead off the second. He smacked Medich’s second offering of the frame back through the box and sprinted down the baseline to finish off his first career hit, showing no ill effects from his surgically repaired right knee.

Taylor was officially back.

“It was very exciting,” Taylor said. “Hadn’t felt that excitement in about seven months. So it was good to be back out there, and hopefully we can keep this going.”

Clemson, fighting for its postseason life, picked up an important 9-3 win over the Yellow Jackets, and Taylor, who finished 1-for-4 with a run scored, became the first athlete at the school to play football and baseball in the same season since former defensive lineman and pitcher/first baseman D.J. Reader (2012-13), who’s now with the Cincinnati Bengals. A receiver and punt returner on the football team, Taylor had corrective surgery after sustaining the injury against Boston College on Oct. 2 and had been working his way back ever since.

Clemson baseball coach Monte Lee said a couple of weeks ago that Taylor was “getting close” to returning to competition for the Tigers. Once he was able to get through the team’s scrimmage Wednesday without any issues, Taylor said he knew he was ready to be put in the lineup.

“We knew this was exam week and we didn’t have a midweek game, so I was looking forward to the scrimmage we had on Wednesday,” Taylor said. “After Wednesday, I felt 100% confident I could go out here and play to the best of my ability (Friday).”

At this point, Taylor said he’s experiencing “very little” soreness in his surgically repaired knee and hopes he feels good enough to be back in the lineup when the teams go at it again Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Lee said the plan is to try to play Taylor in the field today and then alternate him between the two roles moving forward, though Lee added he will proceed with caution with his freshman outfielder.

“We want to see how he does,” Lee said. “This is not going to be a set-in-stone thing with Will. We have to see how does he feel (today)?”

Thanks to the help he said he’s gotten with his rehab from the training staffs in both sports, Taylor’s debut on the diamond was a success in more ways than one.

“They’ve done an unbelievable job getting me back this quick,” Taylor said. “It’s been long days and short weeks. I’m ready to get back out here playing and help this team win.”

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Taylor talks about his first baseball game as a Tiger

Clemson’s two-sport star Will Taylor played his first baseball for the Tigers Friday night. Following the 9-3 win over Georgia Tech Taylor and Anglin discuss the victory. Taylor talks about what it felt like to finally hit the field at Doug …

Clemson’s two-sport star Will Taylor played his first baseball for the Tigers Friday night.

Following the 9-3 win over Georgia Tech Taylor and Anglin discuss the victory.  Taylor talks about what it felt like to finally hit the field at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Watch: Clemson dual-sport athlete Will Taylor gets first career hit in debut

Clemson dual-sport athlete Will Taylor had a great start to his collegiate baseball career on Friday.

Dual-sport Clemson athlete Will Taylor got his first action as a member of the baseball team on Friday and took advantage of the opportunity.

The Tigers’ quarterback and special teamer served as Clemson’s designated hitter against the No. 21 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and delivered with a single grounder up the middle on his first at-bat.

Taylor had been recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Clemson football’s Oct. 2 matchup with Boston College. In the Tigers’ 9-3 victory, he finished 1-4 with one run and one hit.

On the football field last fall, Taylor averaged 10.7 yards on six punt returns and rushed for 20 yards on five attempts.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Taylor’s debut and first career hit.

Tigers smash Jackets 9-3

Clemson, S.C. – Will Taylor played his first baseball game for the Tigers Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson scored early and often as they cruised past Georgia Tech 9-3. Mack Anglin pitched a gem for the Tigers. Anglin went seven …

Clemson, S.C. — Will Taylor played his first baseball game for the Tigers Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.  Clemson scored early and often as they cruised past Georgia Tech 9-3.

Mack Anglin pitched a gem for the Tigers.  Anglin went seven innings and only gave up five hits, three runs and three earned runs.  Ty Olenchuk closed the door pitching the final two innings.

Clemson took the lead in the first inning.  Benjamin Blackwell worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Cooper Ingle singled to score Blackwell.  Max Wagner walked advancing Ingle to second.  Ingle went to third on a fly out to right.  Wagner then scored when Bryar Hawkins dribbled a ground ball to third.  After one the Tigers led 2-0.

In the third Clemson plated another run.  Blackwell hit a leadoff single to center and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  With two outs Blake Wright singled to score Blackwell.

Clemson added to the lead in the fourth.  Caden Grice walked and advanced to third on a Brewer double down the third base line.  Blackwell singled up the middle to score Grice and Brewer and the Tigers led 5-0.

In the fifth Hawkins hit a single to start the inning.  Jonathan French hit a two-run home run to center with two away and it was 7-0 Tigers.

Clemson wasn’t done.  Blackwell reached on an error and Wagner walked with one out.  Wright doubled down the left field line to score Blackwell.  Hawkins singled to score Wagner and the Tigers’ lead was stretched to 9-0.

The Jackets got on the board in the seventh when they plated three runs.

With the win Clemson moved to 29-17 overall and 7-14 in the ACC.  The Tigers and Jackets play the second game of the series Saturday afternoon at 3 PM.

Significant update on Will Taylor’s pending return

Will Taylor won’t have to wait much longer to return to action. Clemson’s dual-sport athlete hasn’t played a competitive game for the Tigers since the fall after tearing his ACL, but Taylor is set to make his debut for the baseball team this …

Will Taylor won’t have to wait much longer to return to action.

Clemson’s dual-sport athlete hasn’t played a competitive game for the Tigers since the fall after tearing his ACL, but Taylor is set to make his debut for the baseball team this weekend, a source tells The Clemson Insider. Taylor could see time as a designated hitter and outfielder beginning tonight when the Tigers host No. 21 Georgia Tech in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

A receiver and punt returner for the football team, Taylor has spent the better part of seven months rehabbing his knee following reconstructive surgery. He sustained the injury during the football team’s win over Boston College on Oct. 2 — just five games into his collegiate career. Clemson baseball coach Monte Lee said a couple of weeks ago that Taylor was “getting close” to returning after taking two days of live at-bats.

That time has come for a Clemson baseball team that could use the help. The Tigers (28-17, 6-14 ACC) begin the weekend with the second-worst record in ACC play with just three conference series remaining, putting them in jeopardy of missing out on the ACC Tournament later this month.

Congratulations! You did it! You graduated! Now is the time to preserve your diploma in a custom frame. Here at Clemson Variety & Frame, we build all our frames in-house – from the frame to the mats and etchings to the installation – to guarantee the quality. You worked hard for your degree. Trust us to show your diploma in the best light possible.

The latest on Will Taylor’s pending return

Clemson’s baseball team is inching closer to getting some help from one of its top freshmen for the stretch run. Outfielder Will Taylor is “getting close” to making his collegiate debut on the diamond, Clemson coach Monte Lee said Sunday. Lee said …

Clemson’s baseball team is inching closer to getting some help from one of its top freshmen for the stretch run.

Outfielder Will Taylor is “getting close” to making his collegiate debut on the diamond, Clemson coach Monte Lee said Sunday. Lee said Taylor, who had reconstructive ACL surgery in the fall after sustaining the injury with the football team, continues to make strides in terms of the amount of baseball activities he’s able to do at this point and will be assessed again this week.

“I don’t know if he’ll be available by next weekend (at Louisville), but he could be,” Lee said.

Lee said Taylor has now had two days of live at-bats and is a candidate to fill the designated hitter role whenever he returns. Taylor, in full uniform with no visible knee brace, even went behind home plate Sunday to catch the ceremonial first pitch before the Tigers’ series finale against Florida State.

The Tigers will take all the help they can get as they try to make a move among their ACC counterparts during the regular season’s final month. Clemson notched its second straight series win with Sunday’s win over the Seminoles and has won seven of its last nine games, though the Tigers still have one of the two lowest conference winning percentages among ACC teams.

Clemson needs to finish higher than that to qualify for the league’s 12-team tournament next month. The Tigers, who return to action Tuesday at home against Wofford, have four conference series remaining starting with their trip to Louisville, which is tied with Notre Dame atop the Atlantic Division standings.

“(Taylor) has been playing balls off the bat now for a couple of weeks,” Lee said. “He’s taken BP every day. He’s standing down in the bullpen every game. Every time we have a pitcher in the ‘pen warming up, he goes down there and stands in on him.

“We feel like he’s ready to put in there whenever physically he’s ready to go, so it’s going to be more of a decision on his part. But it’s getting close.”

A two-sport standout at Irmo’s Dutch Fork High School, Taylor bypassed the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft last summer to play football and baseball at Clemson. Taylor played five games for the football team last season before sustaining the injury.

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