It’s been a week since Clemson football’s fall camp opened up for the 2024 season. After head coach Dabo Swinney spoke to the media on Tuesday night, two words could be expressed by the group ahead of their first practice in full pads: their closeness and competition.
Like always with a fall camp, competition has continued to ramp up as each practice has occurred. Especially in the skilled positions of running back and wide receiver, Swinney was very vocal about the competition in almost every position.
“They’ve come out and competed each and every day,” he said. “So, still just lot to do, a lot to improve on, but they’re putting the work in.”
With the receivers, the Clemson head coach spoke a lot about the transition of freshmen Bryant Wesco Jr. and TJ Moore. Moore, who joined the roster this summer, has done more learning than performing, which is frequent with late-year enrollees. However, Swinney sees his hype.
“He’s natural,” he explained. “He’s natural like I’d hope he’d be. He’s got a lot to learn, I mean it’s a lot. He’s everything you want. He’s a natural when it comes to ball skills and things like that. He’s got a lot on his plate right now from a learning standpoint, but he competes every day and we just got to keep bringing him along.”
Dabo Swinney
Wesco is a little bit different, joining the Tigers in January and has had a few more months to progress than his freshman counterpart. Now 12 pounds heavier than he was before he stepped foot on campus, Swinney is ready to see him play in games.
“He’s had a solid few days,” he said. “There’s been a few balls I’d like to see him be a little bit more consistent . . another great, great kid that just loves to play and he’s coachable. We have two good young ones there, man. Wesco, for sure, he could go play today. He’s got that type of understanding like he knows what to do [and] he doesn’t bust assignments. He’s a locked-in kid.”
With the next practice being the first with full pads, it sparks the running back competition more than ever. Although Phil Mafah has been the RB1 from the start, the tailback who will be playing behind him is still up for debate with Swinney talking highly about every potential candidate.
With redshirt sophomore Keith Adams Jr., the Clemson head coach takes a “different” approach with the veteran of the group.
“He just makes plays,” he says. “He makes plays and he’s a tough kid. He’s more athletic than you think and is as strong as an ox. His confidence is really, really high.”
Swinney told the media that redshirt freshman Jarvis Green has been “banged up” and has missed many snaps, which makes the way for true freshman David Eziomume, who he has been very proud of through the transition from high school to college.
“I’m super proud of him because he had the furthest to go from where he was in the spring,” Swinney said. “He looks like the game has really slowed down for him, so I’m proud of him.”
He also says redshirt freshman Jay Haynes is someone that, “you notice him every single day.”
Competition also ensues on special teams, with kickers Nolan Hauser and Robert Gunn III going toe-to-toe for the placekicker spot in Week 1. As of Tuesday, Swinney gives the edge to Hauser but believes it could change anytime.
“I’d say Hauser is a little bit ahead right now,” he said. “They go back and forth. Robert was up the first couple of days, and whoever is up after each practice, that’s who goes out there first. They’re just competing.”
In addition on special teams, he has looked at the younger guys in terms of punt and kick return, but Swinney has not made an official decision on the start just yet.
It was an interesting season for Clemson football a season ago, going from 4-4 to winning five straight games to finish out the season. From what the Clemson head coach has seen, he believes that has brought the team “under one heartbeat.”
“We all get shaped by what we go through, and there are a bunch of kids on this team that finished well last season and carried that into the offseason,” Swinney said. “I think there is just really good leadership, lots of experienced guys who have taken it upon themselves to lead. It’s definitely a close team, for sure, and that’s how we want it around here.”
He hopes that this closeness drives the competition and work needed for a Week 1 upset against top-5 team Georgia, who may be one of the hardest opponents to face in the first week of the season. With two talented teams going at it on Aug. 31, Swinney hopes that the work that has been put in throughout this fall camp will drive the Tigers to an opening victory.
“When talent meets talent, it’s got to be more. Those are the things that make a difference,” he said. “They’ll [Georgia] have as much talent as anybody in the nation. You’re not going to out-talent Georgia, that’s for sure.”
