Dabo Swinney just had a 50-minute session with the media to wrap up his annual golf outing. Some of the notables:
-- Said Ammon Lakip's recent arrest was his first mistake at Clemson. Said he "never had a minute's problem with Ammon." Said he embarrassed the team and made a bad mistake, but "I'm not going to throw him away because he made a mistake."
"If he handles his business, he'll have a chance to learn and grow from it."
-- Said Alex Spence has "worked his butt off" this summer. Said Spence was recruited to help Clemson win championships.
"If we have to, we'll just go for it. Nothing wrong with giving it to Deshaun Watson one more time."
-- He's bullish on the tight ends and says he thinks they'll be the surprise of 2015 (and for the record, Dabo has successfully forecast similar ascents for the secondary and defense in 2014 and 2013, respectively). Said he's going to challenge this group personally like he did the defensive line two years ago, when he called them the weak link of the team. Said Jordan Leggett is primed to have a really big year if he can stay on the field. He's in a better spot mentally heading into his junior year.
-- Confirmed that Jay Jay McCullough is on some thin ice, as we've told you recently. Said he's back with the team but still owes Dabo some discipline for some academic missteps back in the spring. Said he's had a "decent summer" but he's not really counting on him because he doesn't want to get his hopes up.
"But if he makes his mind up and he's committed to being a great player, he'll be a great player."
-- Said Germone Hopper had a "solid" offseason but still needs to show he's fully committed. Said Artavis Scott isn't as talented as Hopper, but he's a better player because he's more committed.
"You get what you earn. ... Tremendous improvement, but still a work in progress."
-- Said Jay Guillermo "has to go earn it" because his competition has separated during his time away. Said Guillermo will cross train between center and both guard spots.
-- He thinks T.J. Green is primed for a big year. Said he will be a major factor on kickoff return. Said the return game has underachieved and must be much better.
-- He likes the look in the eye of Cordrea Tankersley.
-- Said Charone Peake "looks the best I've seen of him -- ever."
"Body is in great shape, mind, confidence. No knee brace. He's flying."
Said Peake is a big-time talent and he thinks he shows it this season.
-- Thinks the secondary can be dominant this season, and he hopes that provides assistance while the guys up front are growing up.
-- Said Shaq Lawson might be the best defensive lineman they've signed in his 13 years here, and there have been a lot of good ones come through during that period.
"This guy is committed. He's a grinder, a workhorse," Swinney said.
-- Said the defense, particularly the front seven, has to get lucky and avoid some injuries to starters in the first half of the season. Said there are some first-year guys who will blossom by midseason but who aren't ready to be thrust into prominent roles just yet.
-- Said Ammon Lakip's recent arrest was his first mistake at Clemson. Said he "never had a minute's problem with Ammon." Said he embarrassed the team and made a bad mistake, but "I'm not going to throw him away because he made a mistake."
"If he handles his business, he'll have a chance to learn and grow from it."
-- Said Alex Spence has "worked his butt off" this summer. Said Spence was recruited to help Clemson win championships.
"If we have to, we'll just go for it. Nothing wrong with giving it to Deshaun Watson one more time."
-- He's bullish on the tight ends and says he thinks they'll be the surprise of 2015 (and for the record, Dabo has successfully forecast similar ascents for the secondary and defense in 2014 and 2013, respectively). Said he's going to challenge this group personally like he did the defensive line two years ago, when he called them the weak link of the team. Said Jordan Leggett is primed to have a really big year if he can stay on the field. He's in a better spot mentally heading into his junior year.
-- Confirmed that Jay Jay McCullough is on some thin ice, as we've told you recently. Said he's back with the team but still owes Dabo some discipline for some academic missteps back in the spring. Said he's had a "decent summer" but he's not really counting on him because he doesn't want to get his hopes up.
"But if he makes his mind up and he's committed to being a great player, he'll be a great player."
-- Said Germone Hopper had a "solid" offseason but still needs to show he's fully committed. Said Artavis Scott isn't as talented as Hopper, but he's a better player because he's more committed.
"You get what you earn. ... Tremendous improvement, but still a work in progress."
-- Said Jay Guillermo "has to go earn it" because his competition has separated during his time away. Said Guillermo will cross train between center and both guard spots.
-- He thinks T.J. Green is primed for a big year. Said he will be a major factor on kickoff return. Said the return game has underachieved and must be much better.
-- He likes the look in the eye of Cordrea Tankersley.
-- Said Charone Peake "looks the best I've seen of him -- ever."
"Body is in great shape, mind, confidence. No knee brace. He's flying."
Said Peake is a big-time talent and he thinks he shows it this season.
-- Thinks the secondary can be dominant this season, and he hopes that provides assistance while the guys up front are growing up.
-- Said Shaq Lawson might be the best defensive lineman they've signed in his 13 years here, and there have been a lot of good ones come through during that period.
"This guy is committed. He's a grinder, a workhorse," Swinney said.
-- Said the defense, particularly the front seven, has to get lucky and avoid some injuries to starters in the first half of the season. Said there are some first-year guys who will blossom by midseason but who aren't ready to be thrust into prominent roles just yet.
