Much more in the coming days, as we stagger coverage from today's Dabo Swinney Golf Outing, but several notes and nuggets:
**** Albert Huggins will begin fall camp at defensive tackle where he left off in the spring. Coach Brooks reiterated that it was a big deal to Huggins to begin at defensive end. But he came to the staff and requested a look at defensive tackle. Coach Brooks stated that while Huggins has the athletic ability to play end and may help out at end, he believes his ceiling is higher at defensive tackle.
Huggins is currently 285 pounds. He actually trimmed down a notch, but added (good) weight this summer and toned up.
Said Brooks: "He looks great. He looks great."
**** Coach Brooks said that five-star Christian Wilkins will begin at defensive tackle on day one of fall camp. He stated that athletically he could work at end, but long-term he believes tackle is where he's best suited.
**** The arrow has continued to point upward on Carlos Watkins. In fact Coach Brooks saw him in the weight room this morning at 6 a.m. He believes Watkins is getting back to his old self both physically and mentally. Watkins, at this time, is still the No. 2 tackle in the overall rotation.
**** Brooks said he left spring evaluating Scott Pagano as the No. 3 defensive tackle and that remains status quo. He said Pagano is a player the staff intends to "count on heavily" this fall. Brooks calls Pagano an extremely hungry football player. He shared with me that the other day Pagano was in his office and said, 'I'm going to get one of those guys' starting jobs.'
**** Brooks said that he's also been pleased with the progress of reserves Rod Byers and Jabril Robinson, stating that both will be factors this season.
**** Coach Hobby told me that red-shirt freshman end Richard Yeargin is now up to 250 pounds. That's significant, because he arrived at just 215 last year. Martin Aiken, btw, has actually dropped some weight over the last 12-18 months and is at this time roughly 230. I asked Coach Hobby how much of a concern this was and he simply stated that the pressure isn't on him. It's on Aiken. He pointed out that Aiken very much wants to be a part of the two-deep, so we look forward to following his progress in fall camp.
**** Asked what he likes about Austin Bryant, he said this: "Fell in love with his film. Love his length. He's natural at a lot of things. Good pass rusher."
**** Asked what he likes about Clelin Ferrell: "He strikes people. He can really run. He's cleared for fall camp, but all of them will wear a knee brace (because he wants everyone healthy)."
**** Shaq Lawson is at 270 pounds currently and that's about where they want him to be.
"That guy loves football. He's got great practice habits," said Hobby.
Much more later today.
**** Albert Huggins will begin fall camp at defensive tackle where he left off in the spring. Coach Brooks reiterated that it was a big deal to Huggins to begin at defensive end. But he came to the staff and requested a look at defensive tackle. Coach Brooks stated that while Huggins has the athletic ability to play end and may help out at end, he believes his ceiling is higher at defensive tackle.
Huggins is currently 285 pounds. He actually trimmed down a notch, but added (good) weight this summer and toned up.
Said Brooks: "He looks great. He looks great."
**** Coach Brooks said that five-star Christian Wilkins will begin at defensive tackle on day one of fall camp. He stated that athletically he could work at end, but long-term he believes tackle is where he's best suited.
**** The arrow has continued to point upward on Carlos Watkins. In fact Coach Brooks saw him in the weight room this morning at 6 a.m. He believes Watkins is getting back to his old self both physically and mentally. Watkins, at this time, is still the No. 2 tackle in the overall rotation.
**** Brooks said he left spring evaluating Scott Pagano as the No. 3 defensive tackle and that remains status quo. He said Pagano is a player the staff intends to "count on heavily" this fall. Brooks calls Pagano an extremely hungry football player. He shared with me that the other day Pagano was in his office and said, 'I'm going to get one of those guys' starting jobs.'
**** Brooks said that he's also been pleased with the progress of reserves Rod Byers and Jabril Robinson, stating that both will be factors this season.
**** Coach Hobby told me that red-shirt freshman end Richard Yeargin is now up to 250 pounds. That's significant, because he arrived at just 215 last year. Martin Aiken, btw, has actually dropped some weight over the last 12-18 months and is at this time roughly 230. I asked Coach Hobby how much of a concern this was and he simply stated that the pressure isn't on him. It's on Aiken. He pointed out that Aiken very much wants to be a part of the two-deep, so we look forward to following his progress in fall camp.
**** Asked what he likes about Austin Bryant, he said this: "Fell in love with his film. Love his length. He's natural at a lot of things. Good pass rusher."
**** Asked what he likes about Clelin Ferrell: "He strikes people. He can really run. He's cleared for fall camp, but all of them will wear a knee brace (because he wants everyone healthy)."
**** Shaq Lawson is at 270 pounds currently and that's about where they want him to be.
"That guy loves football. He's got great practice habits," said Hobby.
Much more later today.
