AUGUST CAMP: Sunday Update II
By: Paul Strelow
Clemson reconvened this weekend after taking several days to mentally and physically reset before hitting the stretch run of August camp.
Dabo Swinney has said the Tigers will devote some resources the next few days to Furman preparation before totally turning the page to the Sept. 5 opener against Georgia Tech.
The coaching staff is in the process of setting its unofficial depth chart and paring down to a two-deep that will receive the bulk of practice reps going forward.
In part 2 of this feature, we look at five players who have raised their stock over the last week.
This installment features the defense:
DE'MONTE CAPEHART
There might not be a better feel-good tale this preseason than Capehart, who has labored through two opening years of injuries and setbacks.
Former Rivals100 defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart is having his best off-season to date in a Clemson uniform. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Finally healthy and able to build a little momentum, Capehart has flashed raw power in beating double-teams with some frequency in scrimmages.
What that means as far as cracking a rotation featuring Bryan Bresee, Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro remains to be seen. But with Tre Williams sidelined, the door is at least open for others to steal a role.
TYLER VENABLES
For starters, we aren't so sure the younger Venables doesn't hold superior media gatherings than most coaches. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.
Moreover, it cannot hurt that someone with Venables' apparent maturity and perspective is close friends with DJ Uiagalelei and Bryan Bresee, among others.
Yet it's also evident Venables is a trusted piece of the defensive puzzle because he handles a range of assignments and understands the big-picture concepts so well.
KEVIN SWINT
Xavier Thomas' foot injury leaves Clemson with three defensive ends who've played a lot of ball in Myles Murphy, K.J. Henry and Justin Mascoll. Swinney and defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin labeled them all starters.
Our bet is that Murphy and Henry log the quantity of snaps befitting first-stringers, with Swint stepping in as the true benefactor in playing time.
Swint distinguished himself as the clear No. 5 end in the final stages of last season, and this is his chance to demonstrate the gap between him and Mascoll isn't all that substantial.
CADE DENHOFF
The other player who moves up a notch is Denhoff.
Denhoff had been lumped with fellow redshirt freshman Zaire Patterson behind Clemson's six veterans at the position.
But Denhoff has surpassed Greg Williams in the line, as Goodwin said he has made considerable strides in reshaping his body and picking up the system.
Worth noting given the clear-out at the position after this season.
Former four-star recruit Toriano Pride is currently positioned to draw more snaps than any other defensive true freshman in 2022. (Tigerillustrated.com)
TORIANO PRIDE
Pride's interception in the second scrimmage came against third-teamers, so some context is warranted.
Our inclination is that in the early going, Clemson will go with the reserves it trusts in Fred Davis and Malcolm Greene.
That's a compliment to the maturation and steps those two have taken.
Because Pride continues to show the advanced technical and playmaking abilities that have drawn favorable reviews since his arrival.
The Tigers aren't just going to throw freshmen corners to the wolves. That's not their standard mode of operation.
But we believe Pride's time is coming this season.
MARKED DOWN officially-licensed CLEMSON gear at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
By: Paul Strelow
Clemson reconvened this weekend after taking several days to mentally and physically reset before hitting the stretch run of August camp.
Dabo Swinney has said the Tigers will devote some resources the next few days to Furman preparation before totally turning the page to the Sept. 5 opener against Georgia Tech.
The coaching staff is in the process of setting its unofficial depth chart and paring down to a two-deep that will receive the bulk of practice reps going forward.
In part 2 of this feature, we look at five players who have raised their stock over the last week.
This installment features the defense:
DE'MONTE CAPEHART
There might not be a better feel-good tale this preseason than Capehart, who has labored through two opening years of injuries and setbacks.
Former Rivals100 defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart is having his best off-season to date in a Clemson uniform. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Finally healthy and able to build a little momentum, Capehart has flashed raw power in beating double-teams with some frequency in scrimmages.
What that means as far as cracking a rotation featuring Bryan Bresee, Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro remains to be seen. But with Tre Williams sidelined, the door is at least open for others to steal a role.
TYLER VENABLES
For starters, we aren't so sure the younger Venables doesn't hold superior media gatherings than most coaches. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.
Moreover, it cannot hurt that someone with Venables' apparent maturity and perspective is close friends with DJ Uiagalelei and Bryan Bresee, among others.
Yet it's also evident Venables is a trusted piece of the defensive puzzle because he handles a range of assignments and understands the big-picture concepts so well.
KEVIN SWINT
Xavier Thomas' foot injury leaves Clemson with three defensive ends who've played a lot of ball in Myles Murphy, K.J. Henry and Justin Mascoll. Swinney and defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin labeled them all starters.
Our bet is that Murphy and Henry log the quantity of snaps befitting first-stringers, with Swint stepping in as the true benefactor in playing time.
Swint distinguished himself as the clear No. 5 end in the final stages of last season, and this is his chance to demonstrate the gap between him and Mascoll isn't all that substantial.
CADE DENHOFF
The other player who moves up a notch is Denhoff.
Denhoff had been lumped with fellow redshirt freshman Zaire Patterson behind Clemson's six veterans at the position.
But Denhoff has surpassed Greg Williams in the line, as Goodwin said he has made considerable strides in reshaping his body and picking up the system.
Worth noting given the clear-out at the position after this season.
Former four-star recruit Toriano Pride is currently positioned to draw more snaps than any other defensive true freshman in 2022. (Tigerillustrated.com)
TORIANO PRIDE
Pride's interception in the second scrimmage came against third-teamers, so some context is warranted.
Our inclination is that in the early going, Clemson will go with the reserves it trusts in Fred Davis and Malcolm Greene.
That's a compliment to the maturation and steps those two have taken.
Because Pride continues to show the advanced technical and playmaking abilities that have drawn favorable reviews since his arrival.
The Tigers aren't just going to throw freshmen corners to the wolves. That's not their standard mode of operation.
But we believe Pride's time is coming this season.
MARKED DOWN officially-licensed CLEMSON gear at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
