Tag: Clemson

Clemson offensive lineman Kaleb Boateng(50) lines up for a drill during practice at the Poe Indoor Facility at Clemson Tuesday, August 20, 2019. Clemson Football Practice Monday August 20

Ex-Clemson, Florida OL Kaleb Boateng dies at 21

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kaleb Boateng, who played offensive line at Clemson before transferring to Florida, died Thursday. He was 21.

Clemson announced his death but did not list a cause.

“We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Kaleb’s passing,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement released Friday morning. “This is a very tragic and sad situation. Our prayers are with his family. While he was only here a couple of years before moving on, we remember Kaleb as being a good teammate and always having a good spirit to him. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and all of those who were blessed to know him.”

Boateng, a three-star prospect in the Class of 2019, appeared in four games in his first season with the Tigers and one in the second season as a redshirt freshman. Before the 2021 season, the Florida native transferred to the Gators program but saw no action. He was not on the 2022 roster.

Boateng, who played at Fort Lauderdale High School, had 38 offers before choosing Clemson.

–Field Level Media

Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis (13) stiff arms Clemson Tigers cornerback Sheridan Jones (6). The Clemson Tigers defeated the Florida State Seminoles 34-28 at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Fsu V Clemson First534

ACC releases 2023 football schedule, first without divisions

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The ACC released its schedule for the 2023 football season, which will mark the conference’s first season since doing away with the Atlantic and Coastal divisions.

Georgia Tech will host Louisville on Sept. 1 in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Duke will host Clemson on Labor Day, Sept. 4, for the first two conference games of the season.

Florida State will visit Clemson on Sept. 23 in a matchup of two teams likely to be ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 poll. The Seminoles (10-3) finished the 2022 season No. 11 in the poll and the Tigers (11-3) were No. 13.

Notre Dame remains a football partner of the ACC, not a full member, and will play six games against ACC opponents: Sept. 9 at North Carolina State, Sept. 30 at Duke, Oct. 7 at Louisville, Oct. 28 against Pitt, Nov. 4 at Clemson and Nov. 18 against Wake Forest.

That Nov. 18 game pits quarterback Sam Hartman, who transferred to Notre Dame this winter, against his former team.

Syracuse will play Pitt on Nov. 11 at Yankee Stadium in New York.

In previous seasons, teams would play six of their eight conference games against division opponents, and the other two would rotate. The ACC is adopting a “3-5-5” scheduling model beginning in 2023, with each program having three permanent rivals and five other opponents that will rotate every season.

The ACC dropped its divisions in favor of taking the two teams with the best league records for its conference championship game.

–Field Level Media

Clemson offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter talks with media during midweek interviews at the Poe Indoor Practice facility in Clemson, SC Monday, November 14, 2022. 2022 Clemson Football Coaches And Players Interviews

Clemson fires offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Clemson fired offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter on Thursday.

The Tigers went 11-3 last season, including a 31-14 loss to No. 6 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl.

A former Tigers starting quarterback and a three-year letterman (1997-99), Streeter had spent 15 seasons at Clemson as a player, graduate assistant or full-time assistant coach. He became the Tigers’ recruiting coordinator and quarterbacks coach in December 2014 before becoming passing game coordinator and then OC going into the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl.

Coach Dabo Swinney thanked Streeter for his time at Clemson in a statement.

“As the leader of this program, I am accountable for our staff and accountable four our results,” Swinney said in a statement, “and though we took a step forward offensively in 2022, after evaluating our offense in-depth, I felt it was in the best interest of our program to seek new leadership at that position.

“I look forward to bringing in in a dynamic, proven leader at offensive coordinator with the specific purpose of meeting – and raising – the standard of excellence that has been established at Clemson.”

Clemson ranked 30th among FBS programs last year in scoring offense (33.2 points per game), 48th in total offense (410.3 yards per game), 47th in rushing offense (177.9) and 66th in passing offense (232.4).

Streeter worked at Clemson with noted quarterbacks such as Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence, Charlie Whitehurst and DJ Uiagalelei, the latter of whom was a prized recruit who has struggled at times. Clemson went with freshman Cade Klubnik for the Orange Bowl after Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal, and he completed 30 of 54 passes for 320 yards and two interceptions and rushed 20 times for 51 yards and a touchdown in his first career start.

–Field Level Media

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney gets dunked with sports drink by Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee (11) during the fourth quarter of the ACC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina Saturday, Dec 3, 2022. Clemson Tigers Football Vs North Carolina Tar Heels Acc Championship Charlotte Nc

Clemson DL Bryan Bresee enters NFL draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee declared for the 2023 NFL Draft on Monday.

Bresee, a junior and former five-star recruit, is projected as a first-round pick by Field Level Media.

“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to play in the NFL,” Bresee said. “After much thought and many prayers, I would like to announce that I am declaring for the 2023 NFL draft. Although I’m excited for this next chapter in my football journey, I will always be a Clemson Tiger.”

Bresee had eight sacks in 21 career starts. He missed games in 2022 because of a virus that caused kidney issues and to mourn the death of his younger sister. He also was limited by strep throat.

Bresee played four games in 2021 before an ACL tear ended his season. The ACC Rookie of the Year in 2020 rebounded as a junior in 2022 and was voted All-ACC for the second time.

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2022; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive lineman Bryan Bresee (11) warms up with defensive lineman DeMonte Capehart (19) before the ACC Championship game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY NETWORK

Potential first-round DT Bryan Bresee holds draft decision

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Potential first-round draft pick Bryan Bresee plans to celebrate with his Clemson teammates before making any decisions about his future.

Bresee, a junior and former five-star recruit, said Wednesday his focus is on the No. 7 Tigers beating No. 6 Tennessee on Friday in the Orange Bowl.

He has eight sacks in 20 career starts, but is considering a potential return for 2023 along with defensive lineman K.J. Henry. Henry, also playing Friday, said he’s undecided about what’s next but has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Breese played four games in 2021 before an ACL tear ended his season. The ACC Rookie of the Year in 2020 rebounded as a junior in 2022 and was voted All-ACC for the second time.

“Definitely knowing some people that are coming back, just playing with them again could be special,” Bresee said. “At the end of the day though, it’s important to know what’s best for me and just sit down with my family and talk about it once the season is over and kind of make a decision then. Right now, I’m focused on playing Tennessee. I haven’t even really thought about it yet.”

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said he knows there are players participating in the game who plan to enter the NFL draft soon after. But Bresee said Wednesday “not me, I haven’t talked to him” about the draft.

“We’ve got several guys that we thought would be leaving Clemson that are going to stay at Clemson,” Swinney said. “That’s also a sign when you see guys could go ahead and go to the pros, all this stuff that’s going on in college football, to chose to want to stay I think shows how they feel about Clemson, how they feel about their coaches and who we are as a program.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (5)throws during the first quarter of the ACC Championship game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Clemson QB D.J. Uiagalelei transfers to Oregon State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

D.J. Uiagalelei, a former five-star prospect once considered to be Trevor Lawrence’s heir apparent at Clemson, plans to transfer to Oregon State, ESPN reported Friday.

Uiagalelei threw for 2,521 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2022 but was benched on multiple occasions. He spent most of his final game with the program on the sideline as freshman Cade Klubnik guided Clemson to a win over North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

In 35 career games with the Tigers, Uiagalelei completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 5,681 yards with 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

Coming out of St. John Bosco High School in California, Uiagalelei was a five-star prospect and ranked No. 2 among quarterbacks in the 247Sports composite.

Now he’ll join an ascending Oregon State program that finished the season ranked No. 14 with a 10-3 record after defeating Florida 30-3 in the Las Vegas Bowl.

As an added wrinkle, Uiagalelei will play a Pac-12 Conference game against his brother, Matayo Uiagalelei, a five-star edge rusher prospect who committed to Oregon this week.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III (7) throws a pass during Tennessee football practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. The Vols are preparing to play in the Orange Bowl against Clemson on Dec. 30. Ut Football Practice

Top 10 matchup, QB changes add intrigue to Orange Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A few weeks ago, a Tennessee-Clemson bowl matchup would have been one of the most appetizing of the season, featuring quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and DJ Uiagalelei.

Neither player will be on the field when the No. 6 Volunteers face the No. 7 Tigers on Dec. 30 in the Orange Bowl at Miami Gardens, Fla., on Dec. 30.

Hooker saw his sensational season for Tennessee end when he tore the ACL in his left knee against South Carolina on Nov. 19. The following week, the Gamecocks had a major hand in ending Uiagalelei’s tenure at Clemson by harassing him into a poor performance.

Uiagalelei then started slowly in the ACC championship victory over North Carolina and was pulled in favor of freshman Cade Klubnik, who completed 20 of 24 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown. When Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced Klubnik would start the Orange Bowl, Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal to search for a new school.

Clemson makes its 18th straight bowl appearance — the fifth-best streak nationally — with Klubnik leading the way. He said he observed the way everything played out and learned from how Uiagalelei handled the situation.

“He was consistent through it all. He led through it all,” Klubnik said of Uiagalelei. “He stayed to who he was and stayed true to his teammates. Never tried to point a finger. Never turned an eye. Just stayed who he was, and that really showed a lot.”

Joe Milton III makes his second start of this season and fourth of his Tennessee tenure due to the season-ending injury to Hooker, who finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

The Orange Bowl gives Milton a head start toward being the Volunteers’ starter next season. One of his tasks is achieving the school’s first 11-win season since 2001.

“We have to finish it off, obviously, for our brother Hendon,” Milton said. “He put a lot into the program, and if he was out there, he’d be playing his heart out. I feel like that’s what we’ll do as a team.”

Milton will be missing Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt and fellow receiver Cedric Tillman after both opted out of the Orange Bowl and declared for the NFL Draft.

Two other Volunteers — defensive end Byron Young and right tackle Darnell Wright — will play in the contest and then declare for the draft.

The Clemson defense is led by Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who has 12 tackles for loss.

“He’s just a baller. He’s an incredibly instinctive player,” Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said of Trotter. “… He’s put the work in. He’s incredibly focused.”

Tennessee opened the season with eight straight victories and was No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings before losing to then-No. 3 Georgia on Nov. 5. Though the goal was to reach the playoffs, defensive tackle Bryson Eason said the team’s mood is good for the Orange Bowl.

“I feel like everybody is dialed in and focusing and we’re ready to have a big game and show the world what it is,” Eason said. “We are blessed to be in this opportunity to play in a New Year’s Six bowl.”

Tennessee holds a 11-6-2 series lead against the Tigers, but Clemson won the most recent meeting, 27-14 in the 2003 Peach Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) with the ball as Clemson Tigers linebacker Trenton Simpson (22) defends in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Clemson LB Trenton Simpson to enter NFL draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson is entering the 2023 NFL Draft, ESPN reported Wednesday.

He already was scheduled to miss the Orange Bowl due to an ankle injury. Simpson is projected as a first-round draft pick.

Simpson told ESPN that he planned to play three seasons with the Tigers and then graduate, and he’s on track to receive his diploma next week.

“It’s amazing,” Simpson told ESPN. “It’s definitely a dream come true. Me and my family all talked, and I was able to sit down with my coaches. I felt like this was what’s best for me. I worked my whole life for this opportunity.”

On the season, he tallied 77 tackles (four for loss), 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes defensed in 12 games.

No. 7 Clemson will meet No. 6 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2022; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end Myles Murphy (98) fights to get past Boston College Eagles offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo (70) during the second quarter at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Clemson DE Myles Murphy entering NFL draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy will skip the Orange Bowl this month and enter the NFL draft, he told ESPN on Tuesday.

Murphy is ranked No. 10 overall among 2023 draft prospects and No. 1 at his position by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

A 6-foot-5, 275-pound junior, Murphy collected 18.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss in three seasons with the Tigers.

“It really came fast,” Murphy told ESPN. “Three years ago today, I was getting ready to head to Clemson. It was a really fast transition. Now there’s a transition to the next level and next chapter of my life. Every big decision that I make, I go back to the family and make it a family and team decision. We all agreed on and thought it was the best decision.”

Murphy earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2022 and helped Clemson (11-2) win the league title.

The Tigers will play No. 6 Tennessee (10-2) on Dec. 30 in the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla.

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2022; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (5) warms up before the ACC Championship game against the North Carolina Tarheels at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY NETWORK

Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei enters transfer portal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei has entered the transfer portal and will not play for the Tigers in the postseason.

Uiagalelei threw for 2,521 and 22 touchdowns in 2022, but spent most of his final game with the program on the sideline as freshman Cade Klubnik guided Clemson to a win over North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on Saturday.

Uiagalelei, a former five-star recruit who sat behind Trevor Lawrence before becoming the starter for the past two seasons, had been put on notice by head coach Dabo Swinney following the Tigers’ loss at Notre Dame.

“DJ, he’s a special person. He handles everything the right way,” Swinney said of the decision to change quarterbacks three possessions into Clemson’s 39-10 win over North Carolina. “He handles everything with class; he understood.”

Coming out of St. John Bosco High School in California, Uiagalelei was a five-star prospect and ranked No. 2 among quarterbacks in the 247Sports composite.

In 36 career games with the Tigers, Uiagalelei completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 5,681 yards with 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

No. 7 Clemson will face No. 6 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

–Field Level Media