Wednesday signing-day nuggets
----------Dabo Swinney just finished his last stop on the Signing-Day circuit, visiting with the media before getting back to preparations for Iowa State.
A few of the more notable items:
*** Said they definitely need a running back by February. Need a corner. Need a safety. Would like at least one on each side. One of biggest needs is another LB. Depending on what happens with current roster on DL, hopefully will add another DL as well. In a pretty good spot there unless some guys they anticipate coming back don’t come back. But hard to predict nowadays.
*** Asked if he anticipates signing anyone else in the early signing period: Says anything can happen, but doesn’t anticipate that happening over the next three days.
*** Said it’s way too early to have a ballpark number on how many they think they will sign in the 2023 class. The extra COVID year threw that out of whack, among other factors. He’s committed to his current guys. A month-to-month deal, based on current situation. Can’t predict who’s going to want to have that extra year, and it’s hard to ask them now what their plans will be next year.
*** Said XT could certainly come back. Xavier hasn’t said anything officially. Said KJ Henry could come back. Anything can happen between now and the bowl game. Going to save them a spot, just in case.
*** Klubnik is special. He’s magic is kind of what I see. He reminds me so much of Deshaun. Cade probably faster than Deshaun but very similar skill sets. Biggest thing is he’s out there playing in front of 30,000-plus people and has unbelievable poise and presence and command. It looks like college teams out there, the way the programs are run in Texas. He’s a winner. He’s a big-time winner.
*** I asked him if Cade is capable of pushing DJ for starting job. He said you never know until you see him here and how he adjusts to a lot of factors, but they’re really blessed to have two talents like DJ and Cade.
*** Will Taylor will be at WR from here on out. Will always be available at QB if they need him.
*** Said you can’t find two quarterbacks elsewhere as good as Hunter Helms and Billy Wiles. Both of them will be on scholarship. We’ve got to keep those guys for sure.
*** Said the two OL are physically ready. Hard to find guys that look like them. They’re advanced physically. We’ll see where they are mentally. Had them both in camp, so we have a good understanding of who they are. Love their passion about everything that goes into being a good football player. Going to be roommates.
*** Woodaz very similar to Isaiah Simmons coming out of high school. Probably more coordinated than Simmons at same stage. Said Simmons was more like a giraffe putting it all together. This kid has been a QB, has been a very versatile guy. Very physical.
*** Said Klubnik will probably get here around 185 pounds, and the idea will be for him to get to around 200 by the season. Similar to Deshaun Watson's progression in 2014 after his mid-year arrival.
*** I asked him how Clemson might be adapting to the new NIL landscape. He said Clemson really can’t do much beyond educating them on how to handle it, etc. Said they are in the process of building the Clemson Athletics Branding Institute (CAB) inside the football facility, but they can’t facilitate business deals between athletes and businesses. “That’s not our lane.”
*** Said the portal is a "never-ending deal." They evaluate that every single day. But it's got to be the right fit. Most of those kids aren't playing where they are. "We feel good about our roster right now." Going to start with recruiting HS players, and if they have a gap they'll keep all their options open. Portal is open for business until May 1, and it could be something they have to deal with all the way up until then.
*** The three who aren't coming mid-year are Antonio Williams, Josh Sapp and Woodaz.
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