Defense highlights spring scrimmage |
CLEMSON – The Clemson football team conducted its second full scale scrimmage of the spring Wednesday afternoon in Death Valley, but the biggest news concerned the return of tight end
Jay Jay McCullough
Jay Jay McCullough McCullough missed the last three regular season games of 2014 and the Russell Athletic Bowl and had also missed the first part of spring practice as he endeavored to get back in the good graces of head coach
Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney It worked, and McCullough was back with the team Wednesday. "Jay Jay is officially back with us, yesterday actually," Swinney said. "He has been reinstated back on the team. He wasn't ready to practice today with the scrimmage going on, but my hope is he will be ready to go on Monday. We got a little blood pressure thing. His blood pressure was a little high today when we tested it. I don't think he has been taking his medication quite right. So hopefully we will get that leveled off and get him back out here on Monday and try to get him reengaged and back going. He is very appreciative. I like how he has responded. He is very appreciative to have an opportunity. I think he is going to take full advantage of it. We are really glad to have Jay Jay back with us.” Swinney said McCullough will get tested early. “He is going to get thrown in there. I hope he has been running. We will find out quick. He will definitely get a lot of reps early,” Swinney said. “He has done everything that has been asked of him. Again, we are moving forward. Hopefully it is a situation that you learn from, grow from and get better. Again, hopefully he has more of an appreciation of the opportunity and privilege that he has, not to just play football, but be a student here at Clemson University.” On the football field, Swinney said it was a successful scrimmage on both sides of the ball. “It was good to get our second scrimmage behind us. We did some good things on both sides of the ball,” Swinney said. “Offensively, the best thing we did was running the football. The bad part was we didn’t finish drives. We did a poor job of that all day. Defensively, I thought we were tremendous all day. They blocked field goals and stopped drives and did what they needed to get off the field. The bad part was we gave the offense the ball on the one-yard line and they moved it well past midfield. And in the two minute drill the offense went 65 yards in two plays.” Other notes *Running back
Wayne GallmanWayne Gallman “Of course I feel that way,” Gallman said. “Last year I was playing too fast and I wouldn’t let the plays develop. Then as we went on, I was able to slow things down and wait for things to happen. I guess the most comfortable I felt was the South Carolina game. That was when I felt like I could really put it all together. It started with some of the earlier games – Syracuse and Wake Forest – but it all came together for South Carolina.” *
Zac BrooksZac Brooks *Gallman said that Grayson head coach Mickey Conn was in town Monday to observe Clemson’s offense – Grayson is running more Pistol and spread. *Quarterback
Nick SchuesslerNick Schuessler “Tucker probably asks the most questions. Kelly is really quiet,” Schuessler said. “But you can tell they are both really, really good and are just beginning to get a grasp on things. They were better today, and you can tell things are slowing down for them, which allows them in turn to go faster.” Schuessler said he is feeling more comfortable. “There were some things I felt like I could have done better today,” he said. “But I think I am showing the kind of urgency the coaches want to see.” “I feel like we went faster today.” *Defensive coordinator
Brent VenablesBrent Venables “I think that is a position that will suit his skills,” Venables said. “He cares. He wants to play. He can tackle and run. He will make a big jump here in fall camp. Venables also complimented
Albert HugginsAlbert Huggins Venables then said that
Richard YearginRichard Yeargin “He is starting to feel more comfortable and play faster,” he said. *Safety
Jayron KearseJayron Kearse "Who said he was a standout? He had a great play in cover-2," Venables said. "The quarterback threw it right to him so he made the play he was supposed to make. He dropped one so he is 50% so that will get you beat. No, he has had a good spring. He has improved in some areas. He still has some things he has to get better at. *Swinney said Falcinelli was better on the center snaps today, and the offense didn’t have any bad snaps. *Offensive coordinator
Tony ElliottTony Elliott
RS Jr. Tight End
#89 6-3, 248
Fort Mill, SC
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.
Head Coach
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.
RS So. Running Back
#9 6-1, 205
Loganville, GA
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told us that “the light” came on for him at the end of last season, and he feels like the starting job is his to lose.
Running Back (2012 - 2015)
#24 6-0, 200
Jonesboro, AR
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had a 44-yard run off the one-yard line.
RS Jr. Quarterback
#12 6-3, 195
Grayson, GA
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told us he feels like he has a firm grasp on the backup spot, but he has been impressed with freshman quarterbacks
Tucker IsraelTucker Israel
Fr. Quarterback
#10 5-11, 190
Orlando, FL
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and
Kelly BryantKelly Bryant
Fr. Quarterback
#2 6-4, 205
Calhoun Falls, SC
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.
Def. Coordinator / Linebackers
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says
Chris RegisterChris Register
RS Fr. Outside Linebacker
#45 6-2, 245
Browns Summit, NC
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has done well during his first three practices at defensive end, but still has a lot to learn. Venables mentioned that Register has all the tools to be a dominant defensive end.
Fr. Defensive Line
#67 6-3, 280
Orangeburg, SC
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,
Shaq LawsonShaq Lawson
So. Defensive End
#90 6-3, 269
Central, SC
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,
Ebenezer OgundekoEbenezer Ogundeko
RS So. Defensive End
#1 6-3, 250
Brooklyn, NY
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and
Kevin DoddKevin Dodd
RS Jr. Defensive End
#98 6-5, 275
Taylors, SC
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.
RS Fr. Defensive End
#49 6-4, 225
Lauderdale Lakes, FL
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has been the “forgotten guy.”
Jr. Safety
#20 6-4, 210
Fort Myers, FL
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had a big day according to some – including an interception – but Venables wasn’t buying it.
Co-OC / Running Backs
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said that Shaq Lawson is getting the better of freshman tackle
Mitch HyattMitch Hyatt
Fr. Offensive Line
#75 6-6, 270
Sugar Hill, GA
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right now.
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