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THURSDAY CLEMSON FOOTBALL INSIDER
By: Paul Strelow
We need to talk.
You've got questions, we've got answers or opinions.
In this popular feature, Tigerillustrated.com digs into recruiting- and team-related topics broached by our subscribers.
Off we go ...
Legit Cyborg: Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson four-star defensive line commitment Peter Woods is going to be a beast. Any chance he could stay at defensive end? Especially if we’re able to get Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett four-star defensive tackle Kayden McDonald -- that could be the best DT haul in the nation. Could Woods potentially be playing defensive end to help get the “best four” on the field?
PAUL: I don't have a verified weight on Woods right now. But folks around his high school program are saying he's pushing 300 pounds, and colleagues who have scouted him this season have suggested the same.
Heading into mid-September, Clemson remains in good shape with Suwanee (Ga.) 4-star defensive tackle target Kayden McDonald.
Woods is still playing defensive end for his high school, and at a high level.
But he projects as an interior defensive lineman. Christian Wilkins played it in part because Clemson simply didn't have attractive alternatives, and that's the only way I see it being considered.
TMcGrady1: Did Florida's win over Utah significantly raise its chances with McDonald? I know they had a summer uptick in recruiting, and I have also seen recent predictions for Cormani McClain and FSU commit Rod Kearney to UF. Makes me think something is in the NIL waters there and that early winning against Utah and possibly Kentucky/Tennessee could give them even more momentum.
PAUL: Are the Gators gathering recruiting momentum overall? Yeah.
On that matter, it's been interesting to see the love/hate relationship the fan base has shown to Billy Napier's recruiting over his initial months; talk about a lack of patience and perspective.
As for McDonald, I don't have any information indicating the Gators have picked up steam with him.
If he had gone to their game, as was considered, maybe. But McDonald reportedly went instead to the Ole Miss game to watch his brother Jayden, who plays linebacker for Troy.
Florida has legitimately piqued his interest. But in a relationship game, I'd still take Clemson over the field.
rk_tiger: What do you think the issues are with our receiver corps? Coaching, drills, talent, will/grit, schemes/routes, too many low-percentage throws?
PAUL: This will invariably prompt some to again frame me as a Tyler Grisham apologist, and if that's your takeaway, so be it. I think Grisham needs a few years to show us who he is as a coach. Moreover, I believe one of the toughest judgments to render is how much credit or blame to give coaches. It's a results business, and yet rationale and common sense show the argument to be much more nuanced.
Rarely is the issue just one thing, and that applies in this instance. A lot of factors add up.
You could start by summarizing that probably a couple of them aren't what they were thought to be, whether from Clemson's standpoint and/or the industry.
Can coaching change that? Absolutely ... sometimes. But Grisham wasn't the one who recruited a few who should be delivering now, or who were counted upon before transferring after last season. And at some point, players are who they are.
Again, it's a tricky proposition to separate evaluation from acquisition from development.
Does Grisham get full credit for Antonio Williams if he continues his rapid ascension, and Adam Randall if he bursts onto the scene?
Which brings me to this: Among Clemson's returning receivers, with whom have you seen an alpha presence? That guy who demonstrates durability and resolve, the fight, the determination and the will power to win and to dominate.
That's where solving the problem starts, in my opinion. Clemson didn't have player leadership at the position last year, and the absence of the aforementioned traits permeated the room.
All those other factors you listed -- offensive design, quarterback inaccuracy, shortcomings at other positions, composition of the receiver group as far as skill set and lack of speed or shiftiness -- yeah, that all has contributed to the neutering.
The arrow continues to point upward on 4-star true freshman wide receiver Antonio Williams. (AP)
It's sad that we've overused the phrase "got that dog in him" to where its lost its bite.
But that's what I come back to with this receiver group.
My high school basketball coach once half-slapped me in the huddle, telling me I needed to "play mean." He was right, and I'm glad he did it.
Playing mean comes naturally for some but cannot be faked or cultivated by others.
WRU needs the return of receivers who play mean -- whether that comes through recruiting, through culture and coaching or simply through making a few plays to build confidence.
bryan1545: Any chance Tomarrion Parker commits after his unofficial this weekend? Or do you anticipate him to follow through with his other visits?
PAUL: I cannot say with certainty that Parker won't pull the trigger if the spirit moves him. So there's a chance, sure.
Odds are quite strongly against that happening, though.
I think he wants to take some more of his official visits -- Penn State got his only one during the summer -- and Tennessee, Florida and Texas A&M are jockeying for the latest dates possible.
Because Clemson is going to get the final one, and that realistically is when this recruitment advances toward public resolution. The Oct. 22 game against Syracuse has been mentioned, but that's by no means set in stone.
I could see it transpiring later, although the Tigers would preferably get it done on that date and on a weekend where they didn't have an opponent the likes of which they have for their November home games.
cedceb: With many of our commits already having taken their official visit in June, is it correct to assume Clemson will host a large unofficial visit contingency this fall for commits and their families?
PAUL: I suspect the majority will be in for the Miami game in November, pending kickoff time as well as high school playoff obligations.
What makes it easier this class is the vast majority of the commitments are within convenient driving distance.
Andrewb32: Cade Klubnik is better than DJ Uiagalelei. It’s obvious. He runs the offense the way it is designed to be run. It was the smoothest drive all night the minute he stepped on the field. He was confident. He looked like a freshman ready to take off.
I know that we all like DJ here as a person, but at some point it’s time to put the best player out there. I understand that Dabo Swinney says that it has to be a knockout punch to take the job from the starter. I agree with that. Cade might not have landed the knockout blow Monday night, but he made it where the coaches have to give him the ball before mop-up duty comes next week I believe. He gave me hope that we wouldn’t waste another generational defense the way we did last year. This coaching staff has no choice but to let this kid run out there and play. He is a jolt of energy anywhere he goes.
To me, this team will be his and this league will be his after October 1. Curious to know what you think?
PAUL: Let me run a highlighter over your own phrasing. "At some point it's time to put the best player out there."
That's the operative line.
You know, maybe just maybe, we aren't to the point yet where Klubnik is the better player.
More upside, or the guy who raises Clemson's ceiling to the all-important level? I can make those arguments pretty easily, too.
Does Klubnik deserve to supplant Uiagalelei right now? No, and that's where fans often put the cart before the horse -- or just are in a vastly different seat than the coaches who have to deal with the personal and locker room ramifications of their decisions.
Our numerous contacts with no dog in the quarterback fight were adamant through preseason camp that Klubnik was not better than Uiagalelei yet, nor was he ready. One garbage time series against Georgia Tech doesn't and shouldn't totally change that status.
The charisma Klubnik displayed Monday night are what both we and the coaches have expected from him since his recruitment. Furthermore, they obviously saw the energy he brought to the field. Whether they say it or not, they recognize and know.
But Dabo Swinney operates in the now, and that has always been his mode of operation. Escorting potential to the front of the line is a slap to those who have put in the time plus can be detrimental to the young player, hurting both team culture and character development. Thus why roles and playing time must be earned, and that requires time.
Does four-star true freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik draw snaps in the first half of this weekend's game? (Getty)
This may well end in Klubnik seizing the reins midseason, and I think the coaches are aware of that as a realistic outcome.
But whereas plenty of fans want to expedite that, discard the current player and be on to the next possible big thing, those on the inside reasonably conclude that you have to let it play out. The truth will become clear, so to speak.
As mentioned, there are a bunch of players in the locker room who want Uiagalelei to succeed. Put the Uiagalelei we saw in the Georgia Tech second half with improvement around him, and his stock goes up. Klubnik delivers excitement, no doubt. But if you're talking fear of wasting the defense, Clemson staffers would likely argue that turnovers and costly mistakes -- of which youth are more prone, and which Klubnik's style is susceptible to -- are their greater concern.
All of which adds up to why I think an eventual change is certainly possible. Just not inevitable. The gulf isn't nearly as large as it was from Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson to those they supplanted.
But once you start giving Klubnik a predetermined series early in games, you're raising the temperature under Uiagalelei's feet. And I think they've been trying to avoid that dynamic under the belief that's not the route by which they'll get the best out of him.
Yet what we observed in the second half Monday further validated belief that Clemson is going to get upgraded quarterback performance this season.
Either Uiagalelei continues the trajectory he flashed, or Klubnik is eventually going to be given the chance to put his imprint on the offense.
Maybe Wake Forest with Sam Hartman back presses the issue. But it feels like how things go in that first half against N.C. State are going to set the course, and we will have to wait until then to find it out.
SHOP HERE for CLEMSON Nike Pick-A-Player NIL Football Jerseys: https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/DVxoDn
THURSDAY CLEMSON FOOTBALL INSIDER
By: Paul Strelow
We need to talk.
You've got questions, we've got answers or opinions.
In this popular feature, Tigerillustrated.com digs into recruiting- and team-related topics broached by our subscribers.
Off we go ...
Legit Cyborg: Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson four-star defensive line commitment Peter Woods is going to be a beast. Any chance he could stay at defensive end? Especially if we’re able to get Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett four-star defensive tackle Kayden McDonald -- that could be the best DT haul in the nation. Could Woods potentially be playing defensive end to help get the “best four” on the field?
PAUL: I don't have a verified weight on Woods right now. But folks around his high school program are saying he's pushing 300 pounds, and colleagues who have scouted him this season have suggested the same.
Heading into mid-September, Clemson remains in good shape with Suwanee (Ga.) 4-star defensive tackle target Kayden McDonald.
Woods is still playing defensive end for his high school, and at a high level.
But he projects as an interior defensive lineman. Christian Wilkins played it in part because Clemson simply didn't have attractive alternatives, and that's the only way I see it being considered.
TMcGrady1: Did Florida's win over Utah significantly raise its chances with McDonald? I know they had a summer uptick in recruiting, and I have also seen recent predictions for Cormani McClain and FSU commit Rod Kearney to UF. Makes me think something is in the NIL waters there and that early winning against Utah and possibly Kentucky/Tennessee could give them even more momentum.
PAUL: Are the Gators gathering recruiting momentum overall? Yeah.
On that matter, it's been interesting to see the love/hate relationship the fan base has shown to Billy Napier's recruiting over his initial months; talk about a lack of patience and perspective.
As for McDonald, I don't have any information indicating the Gators have picked up steam with him.
If he had gone to their game, as was considered, maybe. But McDonald reportedly went instead to the Ole Miss game to watch his brother Jayden, who plays linebacker for Troy.
Florida has legitimately piqued his interest. But in a relationship game, I'd still take Clemson over the field.
rk_tiger: What do you think the issues are with our receiver corps? Coaching, drills, talent, will/grit, schemes/routes, too many low-percentage throws?
PAUL: This will invariably prompt some to again frame me as a Tyler Grisham apologist, and if that's your takeaway, so be it. I think Grisham needs a few years to show us who he is as a coach. Moreover, I believe one of the toughest judgments to render is how much credit or blame to give coaches. It's a results business, and yet rationale and common sense show the argument to be much more nuanced.
Rarely is the issue just one thing, and that applies in this instance. A lot of factors add up.
You could start by summarizing that probably a couple of them aren't what they were thought to be, whether from Clemson's standpoint and/or the industry.
Can coaching change that? Absolutely ... sometimes. But Grisham wasn't the one who recruited a few who should be delivering now, or who were counted upon before transferring after last season. And at some point, players are who they are.
Again, it's a tricky proposition to separate evaluation from acquisition from development.
Does Grisham get full credit for Antonio Williams if he continues his rapid ascension, and Adam Randall if he bursts onto the scene?
Which brings me to this: Among Clemson's returning receivers, with whom have you seen an alpha presence? That guy who demonstrates durability and resolve, the fight, the determination and the will power to win and to dominate.
That's where solving the problem starts, in my opinion. Clemson didn't have player leadership at the position last year, and the absence of the aforementioned traits permeated the room.
All those other factors you listed -- offensive design, quarterback inaccuracy, shortcomings at other positions, composition of the receiver group as far as skill set and lack of speed or shiftiness -- yeah, that all has contributed to the neutering.
The arrow continues to point upward on 4-star true freshman wide receiver Antonio Williams. (AP)
It's sad that we've overused the phrase "got that dog in him" to where its lost its bite.
But that's what I come back to with this receiver group.
My high school basketball coach once half-slapped me in the huddle, telling me I needed to "play mean." He was right, and I'm glad he did it.
Playing mean comes naturally for some but cannot be faked or cultivated by others.
WRU needs the return of receivers who play mean -- whether that comes through recruiting, through culture and coaching or simply through making a few plays to build confidence.
bryan1545: Any chance Tomarrion Parker commits after his unofficial this weekend? Or do you anticipate him to follow through with his other visits?
PAUL: I cannot say with certainty that Parker won't pull the trigger if the spirit moves him. So there's a chance, sure.
Odds are quite strongly against that happening, though.
I think he wants to take some more of his official visits -- Penn State got his only one during the summer -- and Tennessee, Florida and Texas A&M are jockeying for the latest dates possible.
Because Clemson is going to get the final one, and that realistically is when this recruitment advances toward public resolution. The Oct. 22 game against Syracuse has been mentioned, but that's by no means set in stone.
I could see it transpiring later, although the Tigers would preferably get it done on that date and on a weekend where they didn't have an opponent the likes of which they have for their November home games.
cedceb: With many of our commits already having taken their official visit in June, is it correct to assume Clemson will host a large unofficial visit contingency this fall for commits and their families?
PAUL: I suspect the majority will be in for the Miami game in November, pending kickoff time as well as high school playoff obligations.
What makes it easier this class is the vast majority of the commitments are within convenient driving distance.
Andrewb32: Cade Klubnik is better than DJ Uiagalelei. It’s obvious. He runs the offense the way it is designed to be run. It was the smoothest drive all night the minute he stepped on the field. He was confident. He looked like a freshman ready to take off.
I know that we all like DJ here as a person, but at some point it’s time to put the best player out there. I understand that Dabo Swinney says that it has to be a knockout punch to take the job from the starter. I agree with that. Cade might not have landed the knockout blow Monday night, but he made it where the coaches have to give him the ball before mop-up duty comes next week I believe. He gave me hope that we wouldn’t waste another generational defense the way we did last year. This coaching staff has no choice but to let this kid run out there and play. He is a jolt of energy anywhere he goes.
To me, this team will be his and this league will be his after October 1. Curious to know what you think?
PAUL: Let me run a highlighter over your own phrasing. "At some point it's time to put the best player out there."
That's the operative line.
You know, maybe just maybe, we aren't to the point yet where Klubnik is the better player.
More upside, or the guy who raises Clemson's ceiling to the all-important level? I can make those arguments pretty easily, too.
Does Klubnik deserve to supplant Uiagalelei right now? No, and that's where fans often put the cart before the horse -- or just are in a vastly different seat than the coaches who have to deal with the personal and locker room ramifications of their decisions.
Our numerous contacts with no dog in the quarterback fight were adamant through preseason camp that Klubnik was not better than Uiagalelei yet, nor was he ready. One garbage time series against Georgia Tech doesn't and shouldn't totally change that status.
The charisma Klubnik displayed Monday night are what both we and the coaches have expected from him since his recruitment. Furthermore, they obviously saw the energy he brought to the field. Whether they say it or not, they recognize and know.
But Dabo Swinney operates in the now, and that has always been his mode of operation. Escorting potential to the front of the line is a slap to those who have put in the time plus can be detrimental to the young player, hurting both team culture and character development. Thus why roles and playing time must be earned, and that requires time.
Does four-star true freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik draw snaps in the first half of this weekend's game? (Getty)
This may well end in Klubnik seizing the reins midseason, and I think the coaches are aware of that as a realistic outcome.
But whereas plenty of fans want to expedite that, discard the current player and be on to the next possible big thing, those on the inside reasonably conclude that you have to let it play out. The truth will become clear, so to speak.
As mentioned, there are a bunch of players in the locker room who want Uiagalelei to succeed. Put the Uiagalelei we saw in the Georgia Tech second half with improvement around him, and his stock goes up. Klubnik delivers excitement, no doubt. But if you're talking fear of wasting the defense, Clemson staffers would likely argue that turnovers and costly mistakes -- of which youth are more prone, and which Klubnik's style is susceptible to -- are their greater concern.
All of which adds up to why I think an eventual change is certainly possible. Just not inevitable. The gulf isn't nearly as large as it was from Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson to those they supplanted.
But once you start giving Klubnik a predetermined series early in games, you're raising the temperature under Uiagalelei's feet. And I think they've been trying to avoid that dynamic under the belief that's not the route by which they'll get the best out of him.
Yet what we observed in the second half Monday further validated belief that Clemson is going to get upgraded quarterback performance this season.
Either Uiagalelei continues the trajectory he flashed, or Klubnik is eventually going to be given the chance to put his imprint on the offense.
Maybe Wake Forest with Sam Hartman back presses the issue. But it feels like how things go in that first half against N.C. State are going to set the course, and we will have to wait until then to find it out.
SHOP HERE for CLEMSON Nike Pick-A-Player NIL Football Jerseys: https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/DVxoDn
