No Portal Needed: Dabo Swinney Puts His Faith in Clemson’s In-House Punters

Clemson’s special teams at kicker were a model of consistency last season, with Nolan Hauser bursting on the scene. The freshman kicker would cap things off with a 56-yard bomb to push the Tigers into the CFB Playoffs. There is no question that the Tigers have their place kicker for 2025, but this season at punter, someone will need to emerge, as there is a sense of uncertainty at the position. The departure of veteran Aidan Swanson means new faces and an open competition are in the spotlight.

Jack Smith, the 6’5 junior from Saraland, Alabama, was signed with clear intent back in 2022, according to Dabo Swinney, last week.

“We went and signed Jack because we really believe in him. It's not something that we just wished upon a star. We really believe in Jack Smith, and he earned a scholarship here, and it's his opportunity to go do it,” Swinney said.

Smith, who brings experience and a powerful leg and held a slight lead after the spring, according to Swinney, but the battle is far from over. Walk-on junior Will McCune is right there with him, pushing the competition.

“McCune is another guy that we brought onto the team because we're like, you know what, this kid's got a real shot, and he's risen up and he's competing. So I think we got really good competition there,” Swinney explained.

The two-time national championship-winning head coach emphasized that both Smith and McCune are showing potential, but consistency will decide the job: “We've got two guys. I'd say Jack kind of came out just a smidge ahead so...TBD, you know, we'll see. We’ve got a long way to go between now and game day. I really like the potential of both of those guys, but we've got to see the performance consistently.”

Adding to the intrigue, junior Robert Gunn III, primarily a placekicker, has also “kind of got his hat in the ring.” It’s a competition with no clear winner yet, and Swinney isn’t shying away from the responsibility of how it all turns out.

Asked if Clemson considered going to the transfer portal for punting help, Swinney delivered his answer with trademark honesty and humor: “No. So if we're terrible, y'all can all blame me. Boy, we're bad. Y'all can all blame me. If Jack (Smith) or McCune, if one of them don't get it done, it won't be nobody's fault but Swinney's. Y'all get the headlines ready. But if they turn out pretty good, write them too. It goes both ways.”

Swinney compared it to his confidence last year at quarterback, saying, “Just like I didn't consider taking a portal quarterback last year because I believed in (Cade) Klubnik and CV (Christopher Vizzina), and I believe in Jack, and I believe in McCune, and we're going to see what happens, and maybe Robert Gunn shows up and wins it. I don't know, but I believe in the guys we've got.”

With fall camp around the corner, Clemson’s punter battle stands out as a critical storyline. Whether it’s Smith, McCune, or Gunn, the Tigers’ next punter will have truly earned the job. As for Swinney, he’s made it clear he’ll take the heat, or the credit for how it all shakes out.