AUGUST CAMP: Monday Night Freshmen Nuggets & Practice Insider
By: Paul Strelow
(Unedited due to time constraints)
Clemson conducted its third August camp workout Monday afternoon.
Media were permitted to watch the opening five periods of practice, featuring a few position drills as well as special teams and warm-ups.
The threat of severe weather forced the team to stay in the indoor practice facility -- which limited what it could do, at least during our window.
Observations and insights from the fields:
One thing the Tigers have perhaps learned the last two years is you cannot have enough cornerbacks.
Injuries forced them to go trial-by-fire with Toriano Pride and Jeadyn Lukus as freshmen last year, and no matter how much upside each has, Clemson paid for having to put too much on their plate too early.
Furthermore, the Tigers have been quite shorthanded at corner both of the last two springs as players at the position have recovered from said injuries and offseason surgeries.
Clemson four-star true freshman cornerback Avieon Terrell of Atlanta, Ga. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Hence, after taking two corners a year for several years in a row, Mike Reed finally got to bolster his room by signing three apiece the last two cycles.
One of this year's signees, Shelton Lewis, jumped out for his performance in the spring.
This last week spelled the formal arrival of the two remaining signees in Avieon Terrell and Branden Strozier.
Pride and Lukus man the second-string jobs, and Lewis already has a leg up on next-in-line.
But Lukus was limited (green) jersey with an unspecified injury, reinforcing how quickly it can be next-up.
On Friday, Terrell has been opposite Lewis as the third-team corner in the defense vs. offense tempo drill. Both Terrell and Strozier worked third-team Monday.
We've long talked of Terrell being advanced technically through his extended training at the position as well as pedigree. And what we've seen through the first two practices supports it.
During the competitive team work, Terrell sniffed out a quick screen and blew it up, forcing quarterback Paul Tyson to swallow it and take a figurative sack.
On the next play, Terrell had perfect coverage on walk-on receiver Hamp Greene down the right sideline, and Tyson had nowhere else to go.
Terrell remains one we're tracking as a potential freshman used this season.
We also felt coming out of high school that Strozier would likely redshirt because of the need to add bulk to his slender frame.
He's probably not reached the point where he's totally ready in that regard. But we considered it a pleasant surprise to see how much he has already filled in.
Strozier weighed in at 182 pounds last week, which is more than a handful above his high school measurement and just three off that of starter Nate Wiggins -- with whom he's essentially the same height.
It just makes sense to redshirt at least one of the trio, and Strozier is the logical candidate.
========================
In addition to Lukus, receiver Brannon Spector joined the injury list as he did side conditioning work in a yellow jersey.
Freshman offensive lineman Ian Reed was an excused absence. Nothing to see there, as we understand it.
Beyond those influenced by injury or absences, not many changes to the first- or second-teams.
Tyson got the nod as the third-team quarterback over freshman Christopher Vizzina, whom we thought looked good in his reps Friday.
Freshman receiver Tyler Brown went out with the 2s because of Spector's absence and immediately nabbed a quick hit from Hunter Helms for a short gain.
Freshman safety Khalil Barnes continues working as the No. 2 nickel behind Andrew Mukuba.
Backup center Ryan Linthicum. (Tigerillustrated.com)
As mentioned Friday, Ryan Linthicum has consistently been used as the second-team center ahead of Trent Howard.
Former walk-on Domonique Thomas was the third running back used, and that's as far as the rotation got.
========================
A few notable plays from the tempo period ...
Antonio Williams almost made a leaping one-handed grab on a deep post from Cade Klubnik.
A delayed draw yielded a lengthy run for Will Shipley. Again, hard not to believe the spacing and coordination of this offense is going to make the line look quite a bit better.
Toriano Pride had good coverage on a deep ball from Helms to Cole Turner down the left sideline. Turner and Pride jostled for position and neither ended up getting a hand on it.
But the offense is taking its shots.
========================
Stay tuned to Tigerillustrated.com for additional updates, as Larry will report back after practice with further details from the evening.
LINK: New Clemson Nike Zoom Pegasus 40 Running Shoes!
By: Paul Strelow
(Unedited due to time constraints)
Clemson conducted its third August camp workout Monday afternoon.
Media were permitted to watch the opening five periods of practice, featuring a few position drills as well as special teams and warm-ups.
The threat of severe weather forced the team to stay in the indoor practice facility -- which limited what it could do, at least during our window.
Observations and insights from the fields:
One thing the Tigers have perhaps learned the last two years is you cannot have enough cornerbacks.
Injuries forced them to go trial-by-fire with Toriano Pride and Jeadyn Lukus as freshmen last year, and no matter how much upside each has, Clemson paid for having to put too much on their plate too early.
Furthermore, the Tigers have been quite shorthanded at corner both of the last two springs as players at the position have recovered from said injuries and offseason surgeries.
Clemson four-star true freshman cornerback Avieon Terrell of Atlanta, Ga. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Hence, after taking two corners a year for several years in a row, Mike Reed finally got to bolster his room by signing three apiece the last two cycles.
One of this year's signees, Shelton Lewis, jumped out for his performance in the spring.
This last week spelled the formal arrival of the two remaining signees in Avieon Terrell and Branden Strozier.
Pride and Lukus man the second-string jobs, and Lewis already has a leg up on next-in-line.
But Lukus was limited (green) jersey with an unspecified injury, reinforcing how quickly it can be next-up.
On Friday, Terrell has been opposite Lewis as the third-team corner in the defense vs. offense tempo drill. Both Terrell and Strozier worked third-team Monday.
We've long talked of Terrell being advanced technically through his extended training at the position as well as pedigree. And what we've seen through the first two practices supports it.
During the competitive team work, Terrell sniffed out a quick screen and blew it up, forcing quarterback Paul Tyson to swallow it and take a figurative sack.
On the next play, Terrell had perfect coverage on walk-on receiver Hamp Greene down the right sideline, and Tyson had nowhere else to go.
Terrell remains one we're tracking as a potential freshman used this season.
We also felt coming out of high school that Strozier would likely redshirt because of the need to add bulk to his slender frame.
He's probably not reached the point where he's totally ready in that regard. But we considered it a pleasant surprise to see how much he has already filled in.
Strozier weighed in at 182 pounds last week, which is more than a handful above his high school measurement and just three off that of starter Nate Wiggins -- with whom he's essentially the same height.
It just makes sense to redshirt at least one of the trio, and Strozier is the logical candidate.
========================
In addition to Lukus, receiver Brannon Spector joined the injury list as he did side conditioning work in a yellow jersey.
Freshman offensive lineman Ian Reed was an excused absence. Nothing to see there, as we understand it.
Beyond those influenced by injury or absences, not many changes to the first- or second-teams.
Tyson got the nod as the third-team quarterback over freshman Christopher Vizzina, whom we thought looked good in his reps Friday.
Freshman receiver Tyler Brown went out with the 2s because of Spector's absence and immediately nabbed a quick hit from Hunter Helms for a short gain.
Freshman safety Khalil Barnes continues working as the No. 2 nickel behind Andrew Mukuba.
Backup center Ryan Linthicum. (Tigerillustrated.com)
As mentioned Friday, Ryan Linthicum has consistently been used as the second-team center ahead of Trent Howard.
Former walk-on Domonique Thomas was the third running back used, and that's as far as the rotation got.
========================
A few notable plays from the tempo period ...
Antonio Williams almost made a leaping one-handed grab on a deep post from Cade Klubnik.
A delayed draw yielded a lengthy run for Will Shipley. Again, hard not to believe the spacing and coordination of this offense is going to make the line look quite a bit better.
Toriano Pride had good coverage on a deep ball from Helms to Cole Turner down the left sideline. Turner and Pride jostled for position and neither ended up getting a hand on it.
But the offense is taking its shots.
========================
Stay tuned to Tigerillustrated.com for additional updates, as Larry will report back after practice with further details from the evening.
LINK: New Clemson Nike Zoom Pegasus 40 Running Shoes!
