Demanding Position, Bigger Role: Clemson's Tight Ends Face New Expectations
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The return of Chad Morris to Clemson has brought more than a familiar face back to the sideline. It has also restored an offensive philosophy that has historically made the tight end one of the most important positions on the field.
While Morris has spent more than a decade refining and expanding the system he first installed during his initial tenure from 2011-14, one principle remains unchanged. The offense depends on tight ends who can block, protect, motion across the formation and create mismatches as receivers.
"I think those guys don't understand just how important they are in what we do," Morris said this fall. "They understand it, but they just thought it was all talk, and I think right now they're understanding it. 'Holy cow! We are heavily involved.'"
The demands placed on the position are unlike almost any other.
"What I expect of our tight ends, they have to be on point," Morris said. "Outside of the quarterback, that position is one of the hardest positions on this field to play, and the most demanding."
Co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Kyle Richardson has spent a decade on the staff but is working with Morris for the first time. He said Clemson has consistently featured multiple-tight end formations under Swinney, regardless of who called the offense, making the transition more about embracing a different level of responsibility than learning an entirely new role.
"What I've tried to do this off-season with the room is get them to understand with this new system how much it's going to run through this room, and how important it is that we're playing at a high level," Richardson said during Media Day. "Because as successful as the tight end room could be, that will improve the success of the offense, and vice versa."
The offense itself also carries a familiar feel for Richardson.
"My first few years here, we were running with Tony and Jeff basically the same system," Richardson said, referring to offensive coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott, who succeeded Morris after he left Clemson following the 2014 season. "So for me, it was kind of reverting back to that. Now, Chad's done a great job of going and studying over the years, studying others, tweaking things, and adding some things to it, so that's all been new to me."
History shows why the position carries such significance.
Morris coached one of the greatest tight end seasons in Clemson history when Dwayne Allen caught 50 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns in 2011, winning the John Mackey Award as the nation's best tight end.
Jordan Leggett, a two-time Mackey Award finalist, thrived under Elliott and Scott, setting Clemson's single-season tight end record with 736 receiving yards in 2016 and totaling 86 receptions, 1,261 yards and 15 touchdowns over his final two seasons.
Richardson coached another Clemson great in Jake Briningstool, who left as the program's all-time leader among tight ends with 127 career receptions and three 100-yard receiving games before beginning his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Now the Tigers are searching for the next player capable of anchoring the position.
Redshirt sophomore Christian Bentancur enters preseason camp after leading Clemson tight ends last season with 20 receptions, 215 receiving yards and three touchdown catches.
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Senior Olsen Patt-Henry, however, brings perhaps the most complete skill set.
Richardson said Patt-Henry is "a little further ahead in the box, in the run game, and in protections" than Bentancur and redshirt freshman Logan Brooking.
Although Patt-Henry missed spring practice while recovering from a right knee injury, Richardson said the All-ACC Academic Team selection stayed mentally engaged throughout rehabilitation and is expected to be ready when preseason practice opens.
Before suffering a season-ending injury against Furman in 2025, Patt-Henry started 10 games and totaled 16 receptions for 126 yards.
Morris believes the veteran could thrive in his offense because of his versatility.
"I firmly believe that Olsen has a chance to be very special in this offense," Morris said. "I think he's very versatile. He can put his hand on the ground, set a point, and step off the ball and motion around how people are going to play him. We just got to get him healthy, and him understanding what we're asking of him."
When asked whether Patt-Henry can develop into the type of player Allen became, Morris didn't hesitate.
"Absolutely, from what I've seen last year, and his body size right now," said Morris of the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Naples, Florida, native. "Obviously, Dwayne was probably a little bit thicker than him, but I think he's every bit as talented."
Bentancur and Brooking are expected to push Patt-Henry throughout camp, while freshman Tayveon Wilson, Charlie Johnson, and Jack Wolf compete for developmental and rotational opportunities as the Tigers build depth at one of the offense's most important positions.
