Swinney Camp Insider V
CLEMSON -- Big morning for quarterbacks, ditto for defensive linemen.
All things considered, that's where you'd want it to start at the Dabo Swinney Camp.
Let's just get right into it.
In terms of star power and physical stature, this figured to be the signature session for what Clemson attracts to camp at defensive line.
The headliner as far as billing goes was Birmingham (Ala.) Spain Park four-star defensive end Jared Smith.
Smith (6-5, 230) is every bit of his listing height-wise. You want bigger defensive ends -- as the Tigers do -- then he has the frame for it. But he's long, loose-limbed, and moves like a basketball player.
Plenty of room for technical development and strength gains. But these are the types the big boys go after.
Which, naturally, is where Clemson will have its work cut out.
Alabama will be difficult to beat, while UGA, Auburn and maybe even Tennessee, Florida and Florida State have seats at the table.
The Tigers have long been working to get Smith to visit, and he was accompanied on this trip by his mother.
It's a start.
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The other defensive lineman whom we think crosses the line for an offer in the near future is Saraland (Ala.) defensive tackle Antonio Coleman.
Coleman (6-2, 265) is going to profile in that undersized Tre Williams mold as far as body type. Not as sawed off as Tyler Davis, better than a Nyles Pinckney. But the three-star body who can reach four-star production.
Alabama offered in the spring and obviously is the suitor with whom Clemson would most have to deal with. Tennessee, Auburn and Ohio State are involved to varying degrees.
But the Tigers are in good graces at Saraland, and you'd like Nick Eason's chances of having Clemson legitimately in it.
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Another major defensive line visitor didn't work out, and that was Lake City (S.C.) four-star Amare Adams.
Adams (6-4, 275), ranked No. 28 overall, instead watched the session with his father.
Does he depart with an offer? Swinney makes those final calls.
What we do know is that Clemson likes Adams a lot. Character and talent, those boxes are checked.
Thus the staff laid a lot of love on Adams and his father before camp. Every defensive coach, and numerous support staffers, made their way over to spend a few minutes with them.
The Tigers aimed to send the message that Adams is wanted at Clemson.
We'll see where it goes from there.
South Carolina and UGA stand to be formidable regardless.
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This was also a banner day for quarterbacks.
We've mentioned five different notable 2025 prospects who'd be throwing today.
Not often we come away that impressed with an overall group.
From our viewing window, the one we liked the most was Kernersville (N.C.) East Forysth high-three star Bryce Baker.
Smooth would be the word we'd use for Baker (6-2, 185). Good feet, quality footwork, pretty ball, and the most consistently accurate thrower we saw.
Putting all those together in a camp setting doesn't mean you can play quarterback. But if we were to tab the guy we'd offer based on one workout, Baker would have been it.
Cases could also be made for either Dallas (Texas) Parish Episcopal high-three star Sawyer Anderson or Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catholic's Blake Hebert.
Anderson (6-0, 180) is neither tall nor big. So if specs matter as you project system fit, he's not your type. But Anderson can spin it, and that matters in an Air Raid hybrid. We could also tell he has a strong rapport with Garrett Riley.
Hebert got off to a rough start doing drills throwing into stationary nets.
Yet once receivers and routes were incorporated, the light came on, and his zip and natural arm strength surfaced. He's also a bigger, more durable kid.
We know Riley wanted to bundle them together -- along with Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt four-star Stone Saunders and Anderson (S.C.) Westside's Cutter Woods -- in order to foster competition and see who would rise to the top.
The dynamic brought out a lot of good in several of them.
Another who fared well was Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit 2026 quarterback Will Griffin, who already cites offers from Florida, FSU and Miami.
Griffin, as you'll tie together, is a teammate of Clemson linebacker commitment Drew Woodaz.
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The quarterbacks had a highly ranked junior wideout to which they threw as well.
Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School four-star Cameron Sparks worked out with the receivers.
Sparks (6-4, 210), ranked No. 29 in the country, is one of those prospects the industry thinks might be better off at linebacker or on defense because of his size.
You'll also connect that he plays at Baylor School for former South Carolina quarterback Erik Kimrey.
Tennessee, South Carolina, UGA, FSU and Auburn are among his offers.
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Among the others who competed Thursday morning were Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview four-star lineman Cortez Smith, Enterprise (Ala.) linebacker Eric Winters, Milton (Ga.) four-star tight end Ryan Ghea, Pensacola (Fla.) Catholic four-star receiver Koby Howard, Phenix City (Ala.) Central offensive lineman Mal Waldrop, Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day defensive tackle Walter Mathis Jr., Calhoun (Ga.) four-star tight end Emaree Winston.
Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep safety offer candidate Dallas Golden was also on hand.
One more workout this afternoon. Stay tuned to Tigerillustrated.com for our continued coverage.
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