Story by
5 players Dabo Swinney's assistants say are primed for leap with Clemson football in 2024
- Story by
- 5 players Dabo Swinney's assistants say are primed for leap with Clemson football in 2024
CLEMSON — Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney has built his staff with experienced play callers, coaches and recruiters.
He added offensive line coach Matt Luke and defensive ends coach Chris Rumph to his staff in December. With the NCAA rule change regarding the number of coaches, Swinney also brought in more coaches and revised roles for others to build out a 20-person support staff .
Advertisement
Swinney, in his 16th year, hopes these changes will pay dividends after the Tigers (9-4) won their fewest games since 2010, missed the ACC championship, and for the third straight year, the College Football Playoff.
During Clemson's media day on July 16, all 10 assistants spoke about their respective position groups.
Here are five players who Clemson's assistants are praising entering preseason practices:
Avieon Terrell , CB
The sophomore played in 13 games (five starts) last season, recording 19 tackles, five pass deflections and one interception. He battled a concussion and a minor ankle injury in the spring, but looked the part of a rising star. So much so, co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Mickey Conn paid him a compliment.
Advertisement
"I think Avieon is going to be great at that position and fulfilling that role," Conn said. "Avieon, right now to me coming out of spring, was a stud."
Adam Randall , WR
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound junior is among the most experienced receivers on the team but hasn't had great production through his first two seasons. He had 32 catches for 378 yards with zero touchdowns in 25 games (six starts).
Clemson added two incoming freshman receivers, TJ Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr., and last season's standout, Tyler Brown , is returning. But Randall can seize starting reps by continuing his consistent level of play.
Advertisement
"(Randall) needs to be on the field, and I've moved him around a lot, and the reason is he's too good to just put in one place," wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham said. "There's a mismatch when you put a guy that big and that fast in the slot."
MEDIA DAYS: ACC commissioner Jim Phillips vows to 'protect' league amid Clemson, Florida State lawsuits
DeMonte Capehart, DT
With Ruke Orhorhoro and Tyler Davis living out their NFL dreams, two starting defensive tackle spots are vacant. Capehart, who is entering his fifth season, is in line to take one of them for the first time. The South Carolina native has recorded 30 tackles (nine for loss) and two sacks in 34 career games.
Advertisement
Defensive tackles coach Nick Eason wants the 6-5, 320-pound lineman to treat his body right and continue training to reach new heights in 2024.
"He'll have the opportunity to be the guy this year, so I'm really confident in what he's going to be able to do moving forward," Eason said. "He showed up last year (and) built his confidence back up."
Collin Sadler , OL
The third-year player from Greenville Senior High School in Inman, South Carolina, has played in 16 games (five starts). Those starts include three at tackle and two at guard. In the spring, Sadler started with the first-team offensive line but may face competition at his position with the return of Walker Parks, who has been cleared to practice after recovering from a September lower-body injury that ended his 2023 season.
Advertisement
Luke praised Sadler for his versatility and is confident he can play any guard or tackle position if the line faces injuries.
"Collin is unique because he's such a good athlete," Luke said. "He's probably the best athlete of everybody on the line."
Jeadyn Lukus, CB
Clemson does not have any returning starting cornerbacks — Nate Wiggins went in the first round of the NFL draft. This leaves Lukus, who has recorded 13 tackles, three pass deflections and on interception in 18 games (four starts), as the most experienced cornerback in the room.
The junior, who attended Mauldin High School in South Carolina, will be healthy for preseason practices after recovering from offseason hip surgery, and cornerbacks coach Mike Reed is confident he will deliver.
Advertisement
"I'm looking forward to seeing the old 'J Lu,' " Reed said. "I haven't seen him make a true play since the (2022) ACC championship game when he showed the world why we recruited him."
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: 5 players primed for leaps going into preseason
