Draft Scout Clemson Player News, College Football: Clemson

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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Clemson

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10/30/21 - Will Shipley, Jr/2024, Clemson + More +

After his mistakes in a loss to Pitt, five-star freshman tailback Will Shipley vowed he'd prove he was capable of becoming a dependable and prominent part of Clemson's offense. Shipley came through on that promise, rescuing the Tigers against Florida State. "For me personally, I'm always happy to do what I can to help this team win," Shipley said. Shipley was stung by a couple of noteworthy miscues in Clemson's 27-17 loss at Pitt a week ago including a drop of a potential touchdown after he'd gotten behind the defense. This time, Shipley led the way to bail out Clemson's struggling offense with a pair of touchdowns, including the go-ahead score from 21 yards out with 2:53 left for a 30-20 victory over Florida State on Saturday.

Shipley told teammates before the go-ahead drive the didn't want a tying field goal, but to put the game away. "That's exactly what we did," he said. Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott believes Shipley's fire can sweep up the whole unit that's had its struggles this season including against the Seminoles. "It was good to show everybody else he's got the heart of a champion," Elliott said of Shipley. The Seminoles (3-5, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) were poised to snap Clemson's nearly five-year streak of success at home after Jermaine Johnson's 6-yard fumble recovery TD put them ahead 20-17 halfway through the fourth quarter. - Clemson/AP College Football

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RB Will Shipley, Clemson
News Source: Clemson/AP College Football
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10/25/21 - James Skalski, rSr/2022, Clemson + More +

OCT 25 ACC CO-LINEBACKER OF THE WEEK: James Skalski, Clemson, Sr., LB, Sharpsburg, Ga.,...Registered a career-high 18 tackles in the Tigers' loss at Pitt, tied for the third most by an FBS player in a single game this season ... Fell one tackle shy of Clemson's season high set by teammate Baylon Spector (19) at NC State in late September. - ACC Football

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ILB James Skalski, Clemson
News Source: ACC Football
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10/03/21 - B.T. Potter, rSr/2023, Clemson + More +

B.T. Potter had four field goals, hitting a tiebreaking 35-yarder late in the third quarter, and No. 25 Clemson held off Boston College 19-13 on Saturday night. The Tigers (3-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) have won 31 straight at home despite the suddenly stagnant offense held to a first-quarter touchdown. They have won 11 in a row over Boston College (4-1, 0-1). Boston College drove to the Clemson 12 in the final minute. But quarterback Dennis Grosel fumbled away the snap and defensive end K.J. Henry recovered to seal it.

The Eagles were among the ACC's surprise teams with their first 4-0 start in 14 years. They just couldn't make much happen against the Clemson defense. When BC's Nate Okpala blocked a punt in Clemson territory early in the third quarter, the responded with a three-and-out. In the fourth quarter, the Eagles drove to the Clemson 43. But Grosel bobbled the snap on third down and lost 16 yards. Clemson had hoped to break out of a season-long offensive funk where its has scored just 57 points combined against its four Power Five opponents this year. - Clemson/AP College Football

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K B.T. Potter, Clemson
News Source: Clemson/AP College Football
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09/28/21 - *Bryan Bresee, rSo/2023, Clemson + More +

Clemson has lost starting defensive tackle Bryan Bresee for the rest of the season after the sophomore tore an ACL in the overtime loss at North Carolina State on Saturday. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney updated Bresee's status on Sunday. Bresee is a 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman from Damascus, Maryland. He was one fo the nation's top recruits when he signed at Clemson and was the Atlantic Coast Conference defensive rookie of the year. Swinney also said starting tailback Will Shipley will miss three-to-four weeks with a leg injury. Shipley is a freshman who had risen to take over for NFL first-round and ACC career rushing leader Travis Etienne. Bresee's loss means the Tigers will play without their two starting defensive tackles for a while. Tyler Davis is out for as much as two months with a torn bicep. Swinney said Bresee expects to be full go by the middle of next year. - AP College Football

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DT *Bryan Bresee, Clemson
News Source: AP College Football
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09/27/21 - Baylon Spector, rSr/2022, Clemson + More +

SEPT 27 ACC CO-LINEBACKER OF THE WEEK: Baylon Spector, Clemson, Sr., LB, Calhoun, Ga.,...A week after being sidelined due to a knee inflammation, returned to the lineup and recorded a team-high 19 tackles at NC State ... Most tackles by a Clemson player in a single game under Dabo Swinney, one ahead of Spencer Shuey's 18 against Georgia in 2013 ... Most tackles by a Clemson player since 2002, when John Leake recorded 21 stops against Maryland ... Led a defense that faced 96 plays while adjusting to the in-game losses of starters James Skalski and Bryan Bresee. - Atlantic Coast Conference Football

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OLB Baylon Spector, Clemson
News Source: Atlantic Coast Conference Football
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09/20/21 - Will Shipley, Jr/2024, Clemson + More +

SEPT 20 ACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Will Shipley, Clemson, Fr., RB, Weddington, N.C.,...Recorded career highs in rushing attempts (21) and rushing yards (88) and tied his career high with two rushing touchdowns in Saturday's 14-8 win over Georgia Tech ... Joined Travis Etienne (three in 2017) and Deshaun Watson (two in 2014) as the only true freshmen to rush for multiple touchdowns in multiple games as a true freshman in the Dabo Swinney era ... Became the first Clemson true freshman with multiple rushing touchdowns in consecutive games since Etienne accomplished the feat against Florida State and The Citadel in 2017. - Atlantic Coast Conference Football

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RB Will Shipley, Clemson
News Source: Atlantic Coast Conference Football
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09/19/21 - Will Shipley, Jr/2024, Clemson + More +

Will Shipley ran for two touchdowns and No. 6 Clemson had a goal-line stand in the final seconds in wild 14-8 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday night. The Yellow Jackets (1-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) had a chance to force overtime after recovering an onside kick with 1:19 to play. But they were held out of the end zone on four plays from the Clemson 2 in the closing seconds - the last when linebacker James Skalski tackled Dylan Deveney a yard short. The chaos continued, though, when Shipley fumbled in the end zone with Clemson (2-1, 1-0) attempting to run out the clock and was tackled after recovering for a safety with seven seconds left.

The Tigers kicked the ball away and Georgia Tech quarterback Jordan Yates' last ditch throw with 3 seconds left was ruled an incomplete forward pass, ending the game. The game was delayed nearly two hours just before the half because of the threat of lightning around Memorial Stadium. Clemson was favored by nearly four touchdowns and had beaten the Yellow Jackets 73-7 a season ago. This time, though, Clemson and quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei couldn't get the offense going for the second time in three games. Clemson was held to 180 yards in a 10-3 loss to No. 2 Georgia two weeks ago. Georgia Tech limited Clemson to 207 yards the first three quarters and it continually came up with third-down stops. - Clemson/AP College Football

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RB Will Shipley, Clemson
News Source: Clemson/AP College Football
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09/13/21 - Will Shipley, Jr/2024, Clemson + More +

SEPT 13 ACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Will Shipley, Clemson, Fr., RB, Weddington, N.C.,...Rushed eight times for a team-high 80 yards with two rushing touchdowns in Saturday's win over South Carolina State ... Became the first Clemson true freshman to rush for two touchdowns in a game since Lyn-J Dixon in 2018 ... Fifth true freshman under Dabo Swinney to average 10.0 yards per carry in a game on at least five carries, joining Dixon, Travis Etienne, Kelly Bryant and Sammy Watkins ... Recorded 127 all-purpose yards. - Atlantic Coast Conference Football

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RB Will Shipley, Clemson
News Source: Atlantic Coast Conference Football
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09/11/21 - Will Shipley, Jr/2024, Clemson + More +

Will Shipley's not too young to see how much No. 6 Clemson needed a strong offensive showing. The five-star freshman tailback had 80 yards rushing and two touchdowns as the Tigers cranked up their offense with a 49-3 win over South Carolina State on Saturday. The dominant performance followed a dreadful one in a 10-3 loss to No. 2 Georgia last week, a game in which Clemson was held without a touchdown for the first time since the 2017 season. "It was very important for us to come out firing on all cylinders," the 19-year-old Shipley said. "This definitely gave us confidence, and we're definitely stepping in the right direction." Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei ran for two scores and threw for a third and Clemson gained 504 yards after managing just 180 - and only 2 rushing - against the SEC's Bulldogs. "I just wanted to come out and prove myself, play a great game," Uiagalelei said. "I'm ready to get better and better." Uiagalelei and the Tigers (1-1) had touchdowns on all four of their first-quarter possessions and pulled away for their 36th straight win over teams from the Football Championship Subdivision.

Uiagalelei began the rout with a 4-yard scoring burst. Shipley and Kobe Pace added scoring runs before Uiagalelei closed the surge with an 11-yard pass to receiver Justyn Ross. It was Ross' first touchdown catch since 2019, after he missed last season due to spinal surgery. Clemson coordinator Tony Elliott said Uiagalelei still has work to do to improve his rhythm with his pass-catchers. "As the quarterback continues to do that, the game will slow down," Elliott said. South Carolina State (0-2) of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference had little chance of slowing the Tigers. Clemson continued its dominant history for the Tigers over their instate rival, improving to 5-0 alltime by a combined score of 287-23. - Clemson/AP College Football

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RB Will Shipley, Clemson
News Source: Clemson/AP College Football
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09/09/21 - Will Shipley, Jr/2024, Clemson + More +

As Will Shipley whipped out of the backfield and turned his wheel route up the sideline, everyone across the country saw the green grass in front of him. It was just the second play of Clemson's mega-opener with Georgia, and the five-star freshman was primed for a highlight-reel play. Of course, Shipley knew he was open, too. "Yeah, I did," Shipley said, smiling, "but D.J. made the right read." The right read for quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei was tight end Davis Allen, coming open across the middle. The pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage, though, and that second-down play went down as one of many missed opportunities in a disappointing loss. On the night, Shipley had just four carries for 7 yards.

The native of Weddington, N.C., also had one catch for 11 yards later in the proceedings, but it was far from the electric debut many Clemson fans hoped for. But now it's time for Shipley's maturity, something coaches raved about all preseason, to come into play. As the No. 6 Tigers (0-1) prepare for South Carolina State, Shipley isn't necessarily thinking about the play everyone else saw. He's focused on the time he didn't press toward the hole with one more step, pulling a linebacker out of his gap. He's logging false steps in pass protection, wanting to meet blitzers closer to the line of scrimmage. "The opportunities were there. I gotta make a guy miss. I gotta make something out of nothing," Shipley said. "I'm not even saying there was nothing there. I gotta make a play. Whether it's one carry or 10 carries, I put that on myself. Going back, I just look at the details, the little things. They all add up. - Charleston Post Courier

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RB Will Shipley, Clemson
News Source: Charleston Post Courier
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09/06/21 - James Skalski, rSr/2022, Clemson + More +

SEPT 6 ACC SEPT 6 ACC LINEBACKER OF THE WEEK: James Skalski, Clemson, Sr., LB, Sharpsburg, Ga.,...Recorded a game-high 14 tackles in the No. 3 Tigers 10-7 loss to No. 5 Georgia ... Led a Clemson defense that limited the Bulldogs to 256 total yards and three points (seven Georgia points came on a Tiger turnover) ... It marked the eighth time in history that Clemson has held an AP Top 5 opponent to 10 or fewer points. - ACC Football

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ILB James Skalski, Clemson
News Source: ACC Football
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08/23/21 - Hunter Johnson, rSr/2023, Clemson + More +

Former Clemson quarterback Hunter Johnson is the new starter at Northwestern. The fifth-year senior won the position during fall camp over a QB group that included housemate Ryan Hilinski, who transferred in from the University of South Carolina in December. The Wildcats confirmed the news on their Twitter page. "I've seen a lot of football, which is good, so that's, I think that's always been an advantage for me that I've been through a lot of football system and terminology," Johnson told reporters Aug. 9. "Year Two with (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian) is great...I'm definitely feeling more confident coming around this year." Johnson left Clemson during the summer of 2018 following a freshman season where he threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns behind Kelly Bryant, who transferred a few games into 2018 after Trevor Lawrence took over the starting job.

Johnson, a former five-star recruit, sat out his sophomore season at Northwestern due to transfer rules. He appeared in six games with five starts during his junior campaign for the Wildcats. During that time, he recorded 432 yards and a score while rushing for 64 yards and a TD. "I think today versus when I first got here, I think I've matured a lot," Johnson said. "Gone through a lot and learned, learned a lot from personal experiences, football experiences and I think I'm mentally a lot stronger than I was as a sophomore coming in here...I think I've just had some experiences that have helped me grow a little bit." - The State

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QB Hunter Johnson, Clemson
News Source: The State
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08/22/21 - Hunter Johnson, rSr/2023, Clemson + More +

After Northwestern's 2019 season, Mike Bajakian got to work. Bajakian, who was named the Wildcats' new offensive coordinator in December, proceeded to watch every play of NU's 3-9 campaign. Featuring prominently in the footage was Hunter Johnson. On film, the former five-star recruit's struggles were well documented. They ranged from committing three turnovers - including a game-clinching fumble - in the season opener at Stanford to being benched in a three-touchdown loss to Michigan State after throwing for just 88 yards.

Johnson also suffered a knee injury against Wisconsin, which was re-aggravated in a game versus Indiana. A sack by Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. left him sidelined for the remainder of the season. But things have changed since 2019, when the Clemson transfer threw for 432 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions with a 46.3 completion percentage. Bajakian noticed Johnson's improvement this year, from the start of spring camp to the summer. He threw with consistency and competency. He made better on-field decisions. He forced fewer throws into coverage. He found a rhythm with NU's receivers and tight ends during offseason practice. - The Daily Northwestern

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QB Hunter Johnson, Clemson
News Source: The Daily Northwestern
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08/21/21 - *Andrew Booth Jr., Jr/2022, Clemson + More +

Andrew Booth's problem last year wasn't anything on the field. The problem for Clemson's junior cornerback was staying on the field. One of the injuries he sustained was a thigh bruise in December that rendered him almost immobile. The year before, as a freshman, Booth had to have surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon. One can't predict when an injury will or won't happen, but the Georgia native is taking every precaution necessary to ensure he plays a full season. He's more mindful of what he puts in his body and has even taken up yoga. It's become a popular activity among athletes, which includes Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James and the entire Seattle Seahawks team. Booth practices yoga twice a week outside by himself. He lays out a mat, pulls up a yoga video on YouTube and completes the exercises, though he admits he doesn't know the names of poses just yet. "Hot yoga typically opens up your muscles, the heat," he said. "It opens up your muscles and makes you more, I don't know, it feels good. You should try it." Booth was, more or less, on point with his assessment. According to a medically reviewed article by Insider, yoga improves flexibility, strengthens muscles, reduces stress and aids in weight loss.

Brigham Health Hub also included mental focus as a positive point for doing yoga. "Many yoga poses are most successful when breathing matches movement," the article stated. Booth believes 90% of playing football is mental and 10% is physical. Although he didn't mention the breathing side of yoga, he did say he's found taking deep breaths helps him in moments where he needs a mental shift on the field. "Just think about like, Lord, give me peace," he said. "Just give me peace. (Takes breath). And then just line up." - The State

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CB *Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson
News Source: The State
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08/21/21 - Justyn Ross, rSr/2022, Clemson + More +

After Clemson wrapped its second and final scrimmage Thursday, coach Dabo Swinney could happily report his team had made it through the grindstone. Sixteen straight practices, including a pair of 11-on-11 fracases, and the Tigers were just about healthy heading into game prep for the opener with Georgia. That's one big sigh of relief. But the biggest exhale of all was reserved for one player. Clemson receiver Justyn Ross, working his way back from a neck and spine issue that wiped away his 2020 season - and nearly his football career - found himself in the tense but inevitable situation that everyone had been waiting for.

Ross caught three passes. Three times, he found himself at the mercy of a tackler. All three times, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior came out OK. "Popped right back up," Swinney said. "And he took a couple of good hits. He just popped right back up and just went on to the next play. "It really couldn't have worked out any better, as far as what I needed and what he needed. He's been ready to go since last spring, in his mind, as far as ready to go play. But it's been a long process. And today was finally the day." It's been quite a wait. It was back in the spring of 2020 when a congenital fusion was discovered in his neck, along with a bulging disc that needed repair. Coming into fall camp - more than a year removed from surgery - Ross was cleared to play. But he missed the first week of camp to COVID-19 protocol. - Charleston Post Courier

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