Today marked the first full scrimmage of Clemson’s spring practice, and head coach Dabo Swinney had positive things to say about the team’s performance. In particular, Swinney praised freshman defensive tackle Peter Woods, comparing him favorably to former Tiger stars Bryan Bresee and Christian Wilkins when they were freshmen.
Swinney noted that Woods played 7A football in Alabama and won four state championships in a row at Thompson High School, demonstrating his high level of play. Swinney even went so far as to say that Woods is ahead of Bresee and Wilkins in terms of development as a player.
But Woods wasn’t the only player to impress Swinney. He also spoke highly of midyear enrollees Vic Burley and Stephiylan Green, who both hail from Georgia high schools. According to Swinney, all three players have been well-coached and have not been overwhelmed by the transition to college football.
Overall, Swinney was pleased with the team’s energy and competitiveness throughout the first week of spring practice. He credited the team’s leadership and coaching staff for maintaining a high level of spirit and motivation.
Swinney also had positive things to say about the team’s new offensive coordinator, noting that they’ve installed a lot of the offense and have been procedurally clean. Despite having seven scholarship receivers out of practice, Swinney was encouraged by the team’s ability to catch on to the new system.
During Clemson’s scrimmage, there were some standout performances and notable players mentioned by Coach Swinney. One of those players was Tristan Leigh, who was praised for being self-aware and dedicated to improving himself. He was described as someone who “wants it more than anyone else”
The team is also rotating several players at the guard positions, with Dietrick Pennington, Bryn Tucker, Ryan Linthicum, Trent Howard, and Mitchell Mayes all getting opportunities. The coaches seem to be keeping an open mind about the starting lineup and are giving everyone a chance to prove themselves.
Another player who made an impact in the scrimmage was Josh Sapp, who made some impressive plays. Zaire Patterson also had a noteworthy play with a pick-six on a tipped ball.
However, the team is still struggling with consistency at kicker and punter, with Coach Swinney admitting that they are “constantly inconsistent.”
Backup quarterback Christopher Vizzina also received praise for his performance, with head coach Dabo Swinney saying that he made some impressive plays and has a strong arm.
The team will have meetings on Thursday before taking a break for spring break. They’ll resume practice on March 28th. With a strong start to spring practice and promising young talent on the roster, Clemson football looks poised for success in the upcoming season.
