The offensive side of the ball has been a point of contention for the Clemson football team. Complaints on play calling, quarterback decisions, the wide receiver core, and much more came flying in from all sides. It’s evident, however, that the Tigers have dialed into upgrading and executing their offensive play.
On Wednesday, March 8, head coach Dabo Swinney took to the press to answer questions about the receivers’ performances and the efficiency and tempo of the game on offense. A consistent topic of conversation is freshman wide receiver Bryant Wesco, who has been turning heads at Spring Practice.
“He’s a natural,” Dabo said of Wesco. “Rarely, from a talent standpoint, are you shocked when they get here as far as running, jumping, athleticism, change of direction. I think the biggest thing for him that’s a plus for him that’s not always the case with guys is that he has a mentality to go with it. He’s got a mindset and he’s a very mature, young player.”
Not only has Wesco been a hot topic, but the entire offense has also been hot. Swinney continued to sing praises for his offensive talents, including Adam Randall, who has been dealing with a quad injury, and Troy Stellato, who seemed to be dealing with an injury.
“He had three or four really good days,” Dabo said of Randall. “I’m really pleased with him. He kind of picked up where he left off, he finished the season with a lot of confidence, and he’s carried that into the offseason. He’s been off to a really good start with Spring Ball.”
“Troy’s always banged up. Always. I’ve never seen him when something is not hurting him but he battles through. He’s a tough kid.”
Through the early stages of Spring Practice, the upcoming receiving core shows an abundance of promise. Sitting at 5th in the ACC last year in passing and rushing yards per game, the Tigers seek to shoot up to the top of the conference yet again. With the loss of Will Shipley to the upcoming NFL Draft, the running back room that dominated the majority of offense last year will take a loss. Regardless of Shipley’s departure, Swinney sees a large amount of potential with Phil Mafah and the rest of the runners, discussing Jay Haynes, Keith Adams, Jarvis Green and others.
“That’s a position that all of those guys have flashed,” Dabo said of the running backs. “We’re excited about [Jay Haynes’] potential but we just got to have him available…it’s been a great opportunity for those other guys, and they’ve all taken advantage of it. Keith Adams, he’s improving every day and he’s just different, he’s different than all those other guys.”
“Jarvis, he’s a natural. He’s just a natural running back. I mean, this kid, everything he does just comes fluid to him. He catches the ball naturally. He’s not the biggest guy but he plays big. The guy’s a Gatorade Player of the Year in the state, played in a great program, well coached, tough. He’s a really good football player.”
With the confidence and performance soaring high early in the spring, the Clemson Tigers offense is showing promise of stardom for the upcoming fall season. Another position that has created questions around the Clemson community is at quarterback. It’s hard to match up to past performers like Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence, but Cade Klubnik’s inconsistent play and connection with his receivers last season created doubt. However, Swinney has been impressed with him and his play of recent
“Cade has been awesome. You see the growth, you see the confidence, you see the maturity in him. We are just trending in a good direction and just got to keep it going.”
Clemson’s training continues during the spring practice, with significant growth, development, and changes still ahead.
