Galloway adjusting to suspension, eyes possible return for postseason
When Braden Galloway was told the news, he was devastated.
The rising sophomore tight end was looking forward to being Clemson’s main attraction at the position after Milan Richard’s departure from the program. But Galloway’s suspension from the College Football Playoff due to a failed drug test was upheld after an appeal was denied in May.
This was the first loss Clemson had taken in well over a year.
Galloway showed promise in his first year on campus. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound tight end caught five passes for 52 yards, and a touchdown in 12 games of action. Obviously, Galloway was viewed as the player who would fill that tight end void this season with his upside. Now, the rest of the tight end room must turn the page in Galloway’s absence.
“Obviously, disappointed is probably an understatement in that realm but that’s the hand he’s dealt,” tight ends coach Danny Pearman said of Galloway. “You can sit here and wallow in that all you want but that’s not going to get him any better. That’s not going to get us any better. He’s gotta take what’s he been dealt and deal with it.”
Pearman is looking for Galloway to swallow the tough pill, and still be a vital voice in what is an otherwise inexperienced position group. Keeping the young tight end engaged and focused could be the hardest part of the whole situation, according to Pearman.
Galloway, in the meantime, will be taking reps with the scout team offense, which could be a positive for Brent Venables’ defense that has to prepare for Jimbo Fisher’s utilization of tight ends week two.
When it comes to situations like these, it’s difficult to maintain a positive mentality while sitting on the sidelines. For Galloway and Pearman, the two have to think big-picture and develop the tight end who has to step up.
“It’s not easy. But that’s part of the growing process and he’s doing a good job as far as that goes,” Pearman said. “Through this whole process, (Galloway) may look at it at the end of it and be the best thing to happen for you because, ‘I was able to do this. I was able to lift and develop my body and you may look back on it in 5 years,’ but that’s what he’s got to do.”
Galloway does have motivation to stay engaged. Because the suspension is year-long, he could be eligible for the postseason if Clemson were to make it back to the College Football Playoff like they are favored to do so.
With Clemson’s receiving corps, you may see the Tigers offense line up in more five-wide receiver sets - “10 personnel,” as co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott puts it. There are ways to work around the gap at tight end, but nonetheless Pearman is using this situation like an injury and looking for the next man to step up.
Going into August camp, that player is J.C. Chalk. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound rising junior is the only other tight end on the roster with any other experience. Garrett Williams will not be back with the team this fall.
“When a guy all of a sudden gets to the front of the sled, the views different. He becomes the lead dog, the view gets different. We look forward to one of those guys taking it. Right now, it’s J.C. Chalk,” Pearman added. “He’s had a good, solid spring. He’s had a good summer for us, and we got two unknown freshmen, Jaelyn Lay and Davis Allen, who are here working their tails off and physically, they’re a little more advanced than those kids that we’ve got in here.”
All eyes are on Jaelyn Lay, the freshman from Atlanta who enrolled as a mid-year. He physically has the tools standing at 6-foot-5 to challenge Chalk for the starting spot. But the tight end position is one of the hardest positions on the team to learn, and Chalk has quite the leg up on the freshman.
“He’s gotta relax and grow with this thing and play,” Pearman said of Lay. “It’ll be interesting to watch this kid develop.
“This spring, (Lay) was able to get here and have 15 days of spring practice which, is a great addition for him. Then this summer, he’s really taken it on and spent time in the film room, spent time learning and doing a good job that way, he’s been in skills and drills just like we have each summer so it’ll be interesting to see how he shows back up in August, see how much he’s been able to retain and improve on.”
It’ll be interesting to see the battle between Chalk and Lay this August. Incoming freshman Davis Allen is another player who will be in the mix. Regardless, Clemson will go into the 2019 campaign with some unproven talent at tight end.
It’s time to find out who is going to step up and fill that void while Galloway anxiously waits on the sideline.