The world around the Clemson football program was crumbling to pieces when Dabo Swinney sat at the podium following Clemson’s second straight loss, to N.C. State, which dropped the Tigers to 4-4 on the season. He proclaimed through the crescendo of doubters that better days were ahead.
Maybe Swinney was onto something.
Since that devastating loss to the Wolfpack, Clemson has won consecutive games against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech in dominant fashion, with those victories fueled by a bastion of true freshmen that have suddenly and at once burst onto the scene and let the college football world know that Clemson is not going anywhere.
The writing was on the wall all along, but not many people outside the inner circle of the Tigers’ program were taking the time to read it. Clemson’s 2023 recruiting class has shown since day one how good it is, and how much better things will be. Unfortunately, patience is a virtue that not enough people possess.
Peter Woods was the ballyhooed five-star defensively lineman and prize of the class. He has started from day one and been a force in the middle of the Tigers’ defensive line. T.J. Parker, the fast and physical defensive end, has been impossible to keep off the field. And on offense, there is Tyler Brown. The local wide receiver product from Greenville is Clemson’s second-leading receiver and its most dynamic downfield playmaker in the passing game.
In a class full of talent, other names are now making themselves known. Against Georgia Tech, 10 different true freshmen recorded a tackle. Clemson forced Yellow Jackets’ quarterback Haynes King into four interceptions. All four passes were pilfered by a freshman corner. With speed, physicality, and the natural skills to match, watching the Tigers’ freshman class is akin to looking into a crystal ball and seeing a future where Clemson football returns to its championship glory.
Swinney tried to tell everyone all along. Now, people are listening.
“I think really all these freshmen, offensive and defensive, that’s one attribute that I do love about this class. It’s a physical group,” said Swinney during a brief media availability on Wednesday. “It’s a naturally physical group, all of them, on both sides of the ball.”
Dabo Swinney
Swinney is right. There are playmakers everywhere in the 2023 class. Some of them have yet to have a chance to make an impact, but the entire group is permeated with potential.
Swinney mentioned receivers Ronan Hanafin and Noble Johnson, along with tight end Olsen Patt-Henry, and offensive linemen Harris Sewell, Ian Reed, and others. Sewell and Reed have seen their playing time increase in recent weeks with injuries up front, and those two have helped rejuvenate a unit that drew near-constant ire through the first eight games of the season. Running back Jay Haynes has flashed, too, scoring a pair of touchdowns this season. Tight end Josh Sapp is a playmaker of the future, with two touchdown receptions, including one last week.
But those are just the names on offense.
“It’s a really good group across the board,” added Swinney.
Dabo Swinney
On defense, the numbers are even more eye-popping. Woods and Parker have the flashiest stats. Parker has 25 tackles and four sacks. Woods has 17 tackles, but his ability to push around opposing offensive lines has allowed the Tigers’ front seven to stamp out opposing running backs all season.
It gets even better on the back end. While Clemson has suffered some injuries and attrition in the secondary in recent weeks, it has allowed the young guns of the group to take center stage with results that have been nothing short of electric.
Against Georgia Tech, interceptions were recorded by Avieon Terrell, Khalil Barnes, Kylon Griffin, and Shelton Lewis. Lewis’ pick was returned for a touchdown, Griffin thieved his second pass in as many weeks, and Barnes has been a show-stopper at cornerback from day one. Griffin only broke into the rotation two weeks ago against Notre Dame, filling in for the injured Sheridan Jones, and the Tigers’ pass defense never missed a beat.
As Kirk Herbstreit once quipped about Clemson, it is an embarrassment of riches.
There are even more freshmen waiting their turn, but it is coming. Up front there is A.J. Hoffler and Stephiylan Green, and more talent still stashed in the secondary with the likes of Robert Billings and Kylen Webb.
The best truly is yet to come, and right now many of the young players who will be catalysts of the resurgence are already knocking down the door.
“So, we’re excited about what we have,” Swinney said. “Obviously, you’ve seen some of them, but some of them you haven’t. The other thing that I love about this group is they are competitive.”
Dabo Swinney
If you have watched Clemson football at all over the past two weeks, Swinney’s last statement should be obvious.
