As spring break takes hold of Clemson, football practice is put on hold for a week, giving players a much-needed break before they hit the field again. But that doesn’t mean there’s no talk of football in the air. In fact, this week, we caught up with ESPN CFB Analyst Tom Luginbill to get his take on Clemson’s football program and their upcoming 2023 season.
Luginbill is no stranger to college football, having spent years analyzing and commentating on games across the country. As a former college quarterback himself, he brings a unique perspective to his analysis, one that has earned him respect and admiration from football fans everywhere.
Q&A W/Tom Luginbill
What do you think about the hiring of Garrett Riley, and what impact do you think he has on this Clemson offense?
“I think Coach Riley is going to bring a different tempo and up beat pace to the offense. You are going to see a lot of backfield action and they are going to spread the field horizontally and vertically to create space in the run game within the box. It is a tried and true college scheme that has been successful everywhere it’s been employed, and it is very quarterback friendly. Make no mistake. This isn’t the air raid. They will want to run the football.”
With a challenging schedule ahead, which games do you think will be the toughest tests for the Tigers this season?
“Getting Florida State early is important. They have closed the gap and are now playing with better players and most importantly, more confidence. On the road at Miami and on the road at NC State will also be challenging.”
What are your thoughts on Dabo Swinney’s coaching style, and how has it contributed to the success of the program?
“Consistency is the key with Dabo Swinney. The foundation has been laid, and an expectation has been set with the consistent message over a period of time creates structure, discipline, and everybody knowing where they stand, and what their role is. It is one thing to build a program. It’s an entirely different thing to sustain success at a high-level and it’s tough to do that without a consistent message.”
Clemson has a strong history of producing NFL talent. Who are some of the players on this year’s roster that you could see making an impact at the next level?
“Will Shipley, Tyler Davis, Antonio Williams, Ruke Orohrohro, Nate Wiggins, Andrew Mukuba, Toriano Pride, Jeadyn Lukas.”
What do you think Clemson needs to do in order to return to the College Football Playoff this upcoming season?
“Consistently, productive quarterback play.”
What do you think sets Clemson apart from other college football programs, and how does that impact the team’s performance both on and off the field?
“The University as a whole, made a commitment to their greatest revenue producer to ensure not only are they relevant in football, but they are relevant as a university, including academics and all sports teams. Not all universities are willing to do that. From the top down, there’s an understanding that football is going to drive the economic bus at Clemson. Once they made that commitment, everything started skyrocketing, including but not limited to applications for enrollment, actual enrollment, increased commerce within the community, upgrades to facilities, athletic or otherwise, etc. etc.”
What’s one moment/play/game that comes to mind when you think of Clemson Football?
“The play Tahj Boyd made against LSU in the peach bowl that got Clemson over the hump.”
