"Accountability, Toughness, and Love": How Tom Allen is Reshaping Clemson’s Defense
Khalil Barnes met with the media following a recent Clemson spring practice, and much of the conversation centered around the Tigers’ new defensive coordinator, Tom Allen. Barnes, a key returning safety for Clemson, spoke candidly about the energy Allen has injected into the program and how his philosophy is shaping the Tigers’ defense heading into 2024.
“Yeah, he's brought a lot of energy to the room,” Barnes said of Allen. “Last year, regardless of anything anybody has to say about Wes (Goodwin), it was more on the players. We weren’t physical, we didn’t trust the scheme. So this year, he just kind of brought it. At the end of the day, it's all about accountability, toughness, and love. Once we truly feel what he's trying to do right now is that love part. When you love somebody, you'll go above and beyond for them. Right now, he’s showing that love and we’re looking like we have a chance to be a great defense.”
For Barnes, that love was evident from the first interaction he had with Allen. The veteran coach, who arrived at Clemson with a reputation for building tough, disciplined defenses, took a personal approach in getting to know his players.
“He gave me this book called All In, and it’s just kind of about how to be not only all in with whatever your passion is but also be all in with your relationship with your Lord,” Barnes said. “That just again shows he fits right into our culture. We’re big on faith and stuff like that. He did a really good job.”
Barnes reflected on Clemson’s grueling finish to the season, including the College Football Playoff matchup against Texas in Austin.
“The Texas game, it was hard,” he admitted. “That’s the first time we have played that many games since forever because we didn’t even play that many in high school. Coach Swinney said, we didn’t get to eat the cookie, but we were in the kitchen. It was just good to bring a lot of experience back, know that feeling, and know what we’ve got to get better on this offseason.”
A major theme of Allen’s approach has been simplifying the game and refocusing on fundamentals. That back-to-basics philosophy has resonated with Barnes.
“Yeah, I think it's cool how the same stuff we learned in little league is the same stuff that'll let you be able to play this game for a long time,” he said. “It's cool that he's reintroducing those things because you do need it. Sometimes we get so focused on scheme and personnel, trying to overdo the big things that we forget about the little things. So, it's cool to take a step back and get back to the little things.”
That focus on the fundamentals extends beyond just physical play. It’s about trusting assignments and not overcomplicating things on the field.
“No matter the call, just being able to do your job,” Barnes explained. “He reminds us a lot that regardless of if it’s a Cover 2 or Cover 3 at the end of the day, it's football. When you think about it like that, fundamentals are all that matter. Getting an open-field tackle, knowing that I've got a closed space, getting my foot in the tackle zone and making the tackle—stuff like that makes it easier to think about it like that.”
With another year of experience under his belt, Barnes has noticed a difference in how he approaches the game. He credits that growth to both his personal development and Allen’s coaching philosophy.
“I think, again, more than anything, it’s experience,” he said. “This is my third season, so I’ve played a lot of snaps—played a lot of football now. So obviously, I’ve gotten comfortable seeing schemes—seeing things that I may not have been able to recognize even last year in my freshman year. I think, again, slowing it down and making it all about the fundamentals makes our job that much easier because now we're not thinking so much ‘match this, match that.’ We’re thinking, ‘make sure my feet are right, make sure my technique is right.’”
At the core of everything Allen is implementing is his emphasis on culture. Barnes believes that emphasis will take the Tigers’ defense to another level.
“More than anything, more than any call he's added, more than any scheme, any personnel he's added, I think just the way he starts the meeting, emphasizing with us that we’re going to be great with accountability, toughness, and love,” Barnes said. “That love factor? He loves talking about that word. He gave us all books when he first got here, just to help us on our faith journey. So knowing that we’re more than football players to him—I think that's really important.”
With Allen at the helm, Clemson’s defense is embracing a renewed sense of purpose, and if Barnes’ words are any indication, the Tigers are on their way to becoming a formidable unit once again.
