Thursday P.M. Spring Practice Insider & Freshmen Nuggets
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
A few thoughts and insights on Clemson's spring practice, which began Wednesday:
**** As Paul explored yesterday evening, certainly Bryant Wesco is an object of intrigue as the 2024 Tigers go through their opening paces.
The freshman surely flashes and shows some shake and explosion out of his breaks. But the slight frame was the first thing that jumped out to me.
Dabo Swinney came over to exchange pleasantries while we were watching practice, and in the five or so minutes of small talk I brought up Wesco.
The head coach said the Texas product reminds him of the "string bean" Nuk Hopkins was out of the box upon arrival at Clemson.
Yes, before long Hopkins was a physical specimen. But when he first arrived in 2010 he was quite skinny.
Swinney is certainly optimistic about Wesco, as everyone in the program is. But it sounds like his physical development makes him a longer-term proposition than, say, Sammy Watkins coming in right away and showing without a doubt he was the best player on the field.
Clemson true freshman wide receiver and former Rivals100 member Bryant Wesco. (Tigerillustrated.com)
TJ Moore is considerably more physically developed than Wesco, and he of course arrives over the summer.
We'll be able to share more on this in the coming days, but Moore has already made a big impression on this team even if he's not here with the team.
The Tampa product has been on campus quite a bit. He hasn't strapped on a Clemson helmet yet, but he already has a presence here. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
**** Several of the receivers look spry and healthy.
Yes, Tyler Brown's absence for the spring was one of the noteworthy items yesterday as he continues to recover from foot surgery.
But the lack of attrition is like night and day compared to last spring, when Garrett Riley and Cade Klubnik had to deal with a decimated receiving corps that was missing Adam Randall, Beaux Collins and others.
When we last saw him, Antonio Williams was pushing through the pain to play in the Gator Bowl and make substantial contributions. Now the limp is gone and he's apparently healthy after having gotten past a high ankle sprain and turf toe.
Tink Kelley had to shut it down in the middle of the season to undergo surgery on his groin, an ailment that he carried from his days at Daniel High.
He looked healthy and quick during the opening practice.
Cole Turner is also healthy from everything we've gathered. He ran out with the second-team offense during the tempo period, joining Kelley and Ronan Hanafin. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
**** For as long as Swinney went on about Peter Woods playing defensive end this season -- and there's no reason to think he won't play there a good bit -- it was interesting that Woods continued to occupy a spot in stretching and warm-ups with the defensive tackles.
Trent Howard was also cited among the candidates for the vacant starting center job, along with Ryan Linthicum and Harris Sewell.
We didn't see Howard get any reps as center either in team work or the drills during which the centers separated from the guards and tackles.
Our hunch remains that given his practice experience at center through the years, the veteran is a break-glass option should the spring simply not go as hoped for the other candidates.
Swinney also mentioned freshman Elyjah Thurmon in the equation.
That is more if the Tigers are in desperate need of a body to which to turn.
Simply, you have to be older to be a college starting center based on the knowledge and strength required, and the Tigers haven't gone young at the position in decades.
Which would make even Sewell quite the outlier if he wins the job.
It's Linthicum versus Sewell over the haul these next five weeks, if not beyond. -- PAUL STRELOW
Tigerillustrated.com will have more from spring practice throughout the day.
From The Tiger Fan Shop: Clemson olive jerseys available HERE!. All other Clemson jerseys and baseball apparel available HERE.
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
A few thoughts and insights on Clemson's spring practice, which began Wednesday:
**** As Paul explored yesterday evening, certainly Bryant Wesco is an object of intrigue as the 2024 Tigers go through their opening paces.
The freshman surely flashes and shows some shake and explosion out of his breaks. But the slight frame was the first thing that jumped out to me.
Dabo Swinney came over to exchange pleasantries while we were watching practice, and in the five or so minutes of small talk I brought up Wesco.
The head coach said the Texas product reminds him of the "string bean" Nuk Hopkins was out of the box upon arrival at Clemson.
Yes, before long Hopkins was a physical specimen. But when he first arrived in 2010 he was quite skinny.
Swinney is certainly optimistic about Wesco, as everyone in the program is. But it sounds like his physical development makes him a longer-term proposition than, say, Sammy Watkins coming in right away and showing without a doubt he was the best player on the field.
Clemson true freshman wide receiver and former Rivals100 member Bryant Wesco. (Tigerillustrated.com)
TJ Moore is considerably more physically developed than Wesco, and he of course arrives over the summer.
We'll be able to share more on this in the coming days, but Moore has already made a big impression on this team even if he's not here with the team.
The Tampa product has been on campus quite a bit. He hasn't strapped on a Clemson helmet yet, but he already has a presence here. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
**** Several of the receivers look spry and healthy.
Yes, Tyler Brown's absence for the spring was one of the noteworthy items yesterday as he continues to recover from foot surgery.
But the lack of attrition is like night and day compared to last spring, when Garrett Riley and Cade Klubnik had to deal with a decimated receiving corps that was missing Adam Randall, Beaux Collins and others.
When we last saw him, Antonio Williams was pushing through the pain to play in the Gator Bowl and make substantial contributions. Now the limp is gone and he's apparently healthy after having gotten past a high ankle sprain and turf toe.
Tink Kelley had to shut it down in the middle of the season to undergo surgery on his groin, an ailment that he carried from his days at Daniel High.
He looked healthy and quick during the opening practice.
Cole Turner is also healthy from everything we've gathered. He ran out with the second-team offense during the tempo period, joining Kelley and Ronan Hanafin. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
**** For as long as Swinney went on about Peter Woods playing defensive end this season -- and there's no reason to think he won't play there a good bit -- it was interesting that Woods continued to occupy a spot in stretching and warm-ups with the defensive tackles.
Trent Howard was also cited among the candidates for the vacant starting center job, along with Ryan Linthicum and Harris Sewell.
We didn't see Howard get any reps as center either in team work or the drills during which the centers separated from the guards and tackles.
Our hunch remains that given his practice experience at center through the years, the veteran is a break-glass option should the spring simply not go as hoped for the other candidates.
Swinney also mentioned freshman Elyjah Thurmon in the equation.
That is more if the Tigers are in desperate need of a body to which to turn.
Simply, you have to be older to be a college starting center based on the knowledge and strength required, and the Tigers haven't gone young at the position in decades.
Which would make even Sewell quite the outlier if he wins the job.
It's Linthicum versus Sewell over the haul these next five weeks, if not beyond. -- PAUL STRELOW
Tigerillustrated.com will have more from spring practice throughout the day.
From The Tiger Fan Shop: Clemson olive jerseys available HERE!. All other Clemson jerseys and baseball apparel available HERE.
