Here are a few quick and concise notes from a portion of Dabo Swinney’s time with the media today in Tiger Town.
Opening comments:
Today was good. This is always one of my favorite days of camp. We’ve been going about 17 days since starting on July 29. There’s been a ton of installation and a lot of good-on-good work. This is the day where I put our so-called twos against the ones in every situation. Everyone’s a “one” today.
Why? Because when you’re a backup and you go in a game, nobody calls timeout to take Cade Klubnik or the other starters out—you play against the opponent’s best. This lets us evaluate backups in a real way. Some get exposed, and some show they’re ready for the show.
This day won us the ACC Championship last year because we executed the exact end-of-game situations in Charlotte that we practiced here. We covered everything—last-play-of-the-game scenarios, overtime, two-point conversions, high red zone, low red zone.
It’s our last preseason game—we only get two. Tomorrow we’ll wrap up camp mode, give them Saturday off, and then Sunday starts game prep for LSU. Monday and Tuesday we’ll have full days with no school, then classes start Wednesday. Coaches have to make two-deep decisions based on tape, so we can get the team ready to play.
Q: Update on OL Walker Parks, who was banged up Saturday?
Oh, he’ll be alright. He’ll be good to go. He didn’t go today—we held him out—but he’ll be fine.
Q: Who were some second-team guys that stood out?
I need to watch the tape before I answer specifically.
Q: How did DE Jahiem Lawson look?
Jaheim is a one. Even if he doesn’t run out first, he’s a one. He’s had an awesome camp. I’m proud of Lawson, T.J. Parker, Cade Denhoff, and Darien Mayo. Those four can all play winning football for us.
For depth, Mayo, Caden Story, and Markus Dixon are coming along. Ari Watford hasn’t gone live yet—hopefully next week.
Q: Backup safeties still impressing?
Yes. That group has great competition—guys like Ronan Hanafin, Khalil Barnes, Kylon Griffin, Rob Billings, Ricardo Jones, Joe Wilkinson, Kylen Webb, Tyler Venables (T-Bone). Even Noah Dixon was trending before being out the past week. Depth makes me sleep better—like when we had Vic Beasley/Shaq Lawson or Grady Jarrett/D.J. Reader.
Q: Status on Khalil Barnes & Jeadyn Lukus?
They practiced some this week but didn’t scrimmage. Lukus could’ve gone—he was in green. Should be ready by the weekend. Barnes is close, did some end-of-game work but no live scrimmage.
Q: Punting competition update?
We’ve got three guys who can do it. It’s so close I might have to put their names in a hat and pray over it. All can launch it 60 yards—and all can shank it 20. We’ll probably decide closer to game week.
Q: The “Win the One” motto—season theme or LSU-specific?
Season theme. Every year I pick something to help focus the team. “Win the One” means don’t get overwhelmed—win the next rep, meeting, night’s sleep, practice, quarter, or game. Also, be “one”—one team, one purpose. This is the only Team 130 in Clemson history.
Q: LB depth?
We’ve gone from a question mark in spring to six guys who can win for us—Sammy Brown, Wade Woodaz, Jeremiah Alexander, Dee Crayton, Jamal Anderson, Kobe McCloud. Even Fletcher Cothran is functional depth.
Q: RB Adam Randall scrimmage?
Huge run—about 50–60 yards—early. Good day.
Q: CB group progress?
Branden Strozier and Corian Gipson have taken huge jumps. Add Shelton Lewis, Tink Kelley (Misun Kelley), Myles Oliver, Michael Mankaka—we’ve built good depth.
Q: QB Cade Klubnik today?
Awesome. I think he went 5-for-10 with four TDs in situational work.
Q: DL Stephiylan Green and DT Vic Burley—ones?
Steph is a one. Burley is 1B—he’s earned the right to play. With Green, Parker, and Peter Woods available, that’s a strong group.
