AUGUST CAMP: Sunday Nuggets
By: Paul Strelow
A week of August camp is in the books, culminating in Saturday's opening stadium scrimmage.
The Tigers return to practice Monday and will work out three straight days before breaking for a long weekend.
In this feature, we look at five players who have raised their stock through Clemson's first eight camp practices.
This installment features the offense:
BLAKE MILLER
It's one thing to look the part physically and generate praise based on long-term upside.
It's another to step in as a freshman and earn first-team snaps early in your first preseason camp, with coaches moving veterans around in order to get you on the field.
Four-star true freshman offensive lineman Blake Miller has wasted no time making a bid for substantial playing time. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Especially when you're an offensive lineman.
Let's not go so far as to think Miller is manhandling star defensive linemen, as that's not the case.
But he is making a strong case to be the team's fifth-best offensive lineman.
Coaches and teammates alike have been stunned at his advanced skill set along with his work ethic and mean streak, which manifested in Miller rolling out with the starters again Saturday.
Miller will invariably experience growing pains. But it is hard to see him falling off the fast track to an immediate contributing role -- at a minimum.
ANTONIO WILLIAMS
You don't know what you have until newcomers start competing with their older peers and coaches see their shiny new toys for the first time in their new environment.
We suspected Williams might bring something different to the table in the receiver group, and that has arguably been affirmed in the early going.
Williams has flashed his quickness and shiftiness, and we've been impressed by what we've seen from his ball skills and the presence he adds in the middle of the field.
Brannon Spector is the starting slot, and a healthy E.J. Williams as well as maybe a tight end will chew up some of the inside pass-catcher snaps.
Sophomore tight end Jake Briningstool is expected to have a seat at the table in Clemson's passing game this fall after just three receptions last season. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Williams is making a bid, though, to be weaved into the rotation with spot snaps right out of the gate. He looked comfortable with the 1s late in Saturday's scrimmage and nearly broke a punt return for a touchdown.
JAKE BRININGSTOOL
Subscribers are aware this observer has unhealthily championed Briningstool as a difference-maker in the passing game once the stars aligned -- those stars being the passer and the system.
We got a taste of what Briningstool could offer down the seam during the spring game, and observers to Saturday's scrimmage witnessed another sampling for his receiving prowess.
Briningstool otherwise has had more of a quiet camp as far as accolades and attention.
Our bet that is both to keep the carrot dangled for him as well as to not alert opponents as to what's to come.
DOMONIQUE THOMAS
The Union (Ky.) College transfer walk-on got our attention early in the spring, but we admittedly didn't think much of it when he ran well in the April spring game -- the ghost of Paul Macko and other former spring game stars still haunt many a journalist.
But Thomas turned heads again in Saturday's scrimmage, which bears noting as Clemson has struggled a bit with running back recruiting for a second consecutive cycle.
Folks immediately notice Thomas' quads, which has spawned the nickname "Quadzilla" from teammates.
The Tigers have three quality recruited scholarship running backs ahead of him, and it warrants mentioning that Will Shipley has starred in camp.
Former walk-on back and Ohatchee (Ala.) native Dominique Thomas. (Tigerillustrated.com)
The Alabama native came to Clemson as a midyear enrollee after his mother and grandparents were killed in a March 2021 tornado.
Swinney awarded Thomas a scholarship on Saturday, and his tragic story will likely gain notoriety if and when he logs mop-up action this season.
Yet the redshirt sophomore is emerging as one to watch as a depth guy as his career advances.
DJ UIAGALELEI
Opinions vary on how Uiagalelei's scrimmage rated. From all we've gathered, there were signs of improvement as well as some repeats of last year's shortcomings.
Here's something we give a lot of weight:
Last week, offensive lineman Marcus Tate called Uiagalelei the hardest-working player on the team. We've picked up returns through others around the team who have genuinely been impressed with him not only in the first week of camp but through summer workouts.
That doesn't automatically resolve Uiagalelei's issues.
But we give Uiagalelei ample credit for earning greater respect through his progression with work ethic.
Uiagalelei moved so much better Saturday, and we believe his game would benefit substantially if he demonstrates the ability to be more of a running threat.
40% OFF Clemson Nike shoes at The Tiger Fan Shop now! Direct link to the SALE HERE!
By: Paul Strelow
A week of August camp is in the books, culminating in Saturday's opening stadium scrimmage.
The Tigers return to practice Monday and will work out three straight days before breaking for a long weekend.
In this feature, we look at five players who have raised their stock through Clemson's first eight camp practices.
This installment features the offense:
BLAKE MILLER
It's one thing to look the part physically and generate praise based on long-term upside.
It's another to step in as a freshman and earn first-team snaps early in your first preseason camp, with coaches moving veterans around in order to get you on the field.
Four-star true freshman offensive lineman Blake Miller has wasted no time making a bid for substantial playing time. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Especially when you're an offensive lineman.
Let's not go so far as to think Miller is manhandling star defensive linemen, as that's not the case.
But he is making a strong case to be the team's fifth-best offensive lineman.
Coaches and teammates alike have been stunned at his advanced skill set along with his work ethic and mean streak, which manifested in Miller rolling out with the starters again Saturday.
Miller will invariably experience growing pains. But it is hard to see him falling off the fast track to an immediate contributing role -- at a minimum.
ANTONIO WILLIAMS
You don't know what you have until newcomers start competing with their older peers and coaches see their shiny new toys for the first time in their new environment.
We suspected Williams might bring something different to the table in the receiver group, and that has arguably been affirmed in the early going.
Williams has flashed his quickness and shiftiness, and we've been impressed by what we've seen from his ball skills and the presence he adds in the middle of the field.
Brannon Spector is the starting slot, and a healthy E.J. Williams as well as maybe a tight end will chew up some of the inside pass-catcher snaps.
Sophomore tight end Jake Briningstool is expected to have a seat at the table in Clemson's passing game this fall after just three receptions last season. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Williams is making a bid, though, to be weaved into the rotation with spot snaps right out of the gate. He looked comfortable with the 1s late in Saturday's scrimmage and nearly broke a punt return for a touchdown.
JAKE BRININGSTOOL
Subscribers are aware this observer has unhealthily championed Briningstool as a difference-maker in the passing game once the stars aligned -- those stars being the passer and the system.
We got a taste of what Briningstool could offer down the seam during the spring game, and observers to Saturday's scrimmage witnessed another sampling for his receiving prowess.
Briningstool otherwise has had more of a quiet camp as far as accolades and attention.
Our bet that is both to keep the carrot dangled for him as well as to not alert opponents as to what's to come.
DOMONIQUE THOMAS
The Union (Ky.) College transfer walk-on got our attention early in the spring, but we admittedly didn't think much of it when he ran well in the April spring game -- the ghost of Paul Macko and other former spring game stars still haunt many a journalist.
But Thomas turned heads again in Saturday's scrimmage, which bears noting as Clemson has struggled a bit with running back recruiting for a second consecutive cycle.
Folks immediately notice Thomas' quads, which has spawned the nickname "Quadzilla" from teammates.
The Tigers have three quality recruited scholarship running backs ahead of him, and it warrants mentioning that Will Shipley has starred in camp.
Former walk-on back and Ohatchee (Ala.) native Dominique Thomas. (Tigerillustrated.com)
The Alabama native came to Clemson as a midyear enrollee after his mother and grandparents were killed in a March 2021 tornado.
Swinney awarded Thomas a scholarship on Saturday, and his tragic story will likely gain notoriety if and when he logs mop-up action this season.
Yet the redshirt sophomore is emerging as one to watch as a depth guy as his career advances.
DJ UIAGALELEI
Opinions vary on how Uiagalelei's scrimmage rated. From all we've gathered, there were signs of improvement as well as some repeats of last year's shortcomings.
Here's something we give a lot of weight:
Last week, offensive lineman Marcus Tate called Uiagalelei the hardest-working player on the team. We've picked up returns through others around the team who have genuinely been impressed with him not only in the first week of camp but through summer workouts.
That doesn't automatically resolve Uiagalelei's issues.
But we give Uiagalelei ample credit for earning greater respect through his progression with work ethic.
Uiagalelei moved so much better Saturday, and we believe his game would benefit substantially if he demonstrates the ability to be more of a running threat.
40% OFF Clemson Nike shoes at The Tiger Fan Shop now! Direct link to the SALE HERE!
