Wake's Clawson opens press conference with condolences to the Bresee family

No. 5 Clemson (3-0) will face No. 21 Wake Forest (3-0) on Saturday at Truist Field in Winston Salem, NC.

Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson held his midweek press conference on Tuesday and here are his comments about the Clemson football team. 

Opening statement to the Bresee family after the passing of defensive tackle Bryan Bresee's sister Ella:

"I just want to express our condolences to Bryan Bresee and his entire family over the tragic loss of his sister Ella. Certainly, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and it's tragic. It just feels so bad for him and everybody at Clemson over what happened. And there's things that happen. College football is important, but then things happen in life that make it seem a lot less important and there are a lot of things going on in the world like that, and this is certainly one of them. So, we certainly have been thinking of him and his family."

Opening statement about the team:

"Again, every year this is the most talented football team we play. They're extremely talented. They're very well-coached in all aspects. I like Dabo. I respect him. And I think he's done a phenomenal job there building a program. And it's a program. They've won double-digit games for a decade. So clearly they've been the best program in the ACC. And this is a matchup of two of the most successful programs in the ACC over the past six years. I think right now they have the longest Power Five winning streak in the country. Is that accurate? And they're again, a really good team."

On the play of quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei: 

"I think the quarterback is playing much better. He's completing 60% of his balls. He's taken care of it. He's only thrown one turnover on the year. He's a threat to extend plays and run the football.

"I thought last year's game. The play that changed it was when we had him sacked twice in the backfield, and he escaped and threw the bomb down the sidelines. And at that point, it was a 3-0 game and that play really made it 10 to zip. You can tell he's more comfortable. He's got a really strong arm. He's a good athlete, and again, he's a much-improved player."

On running back Will Shipley, Clemson's leader in rushing (249 yards) and touchdowns (6).

"I haven't seen all the tailbacks in the league. I can't imagine there's anybody much better. He's one of the elite tailbacks in the country. We tried to recruit him. And he averages over nine yards every time he touches the football."

On offensive lineman Jordan McFadden:

"The left tackle McFadden, I think is one of the very, very best in the conference."

On sophomore receiver Beaux Collins, the Tigers' leader in receiving yards (158), yards per catch (17.8), and touchdowns (3). 

"Beaux Collins is a guy that is really an explosive playmaker for them. He only has nine catches on the year, but five of them are for explosives."

On the defensive line:

"They've been the gold standard in the ACC and really the country for the last 5, 6, 7 years. And it starts with the D-line. A lot of those guys are going to be playing on Sundays. They are so disruptive. I could get up here right now and talk about eight of their defensive lineman. They're that good. They're that deep.

"Bresee is one of the best players in the conference. Myles Murphy. We got K.J. Henry from West Forsyth playing his best football ever. The Tyler kid for them, Tyler Davis. [If] you make the all-conference ACC D-line probably half the players will be from Clemson."

On linebacker Trenton Simpson, who leads the team in tackles with 19:

"Trenton Simpson, he's their most productive player. He doesn't miss tackles. He's extremely good in the blitz game. He can light people up."

On safety Andrew Mukuba:

"The safety, is it Mukuba? I'm afraid I'm gonna mispronounce it. But he was the defensive rookie of the year last year in the ACC, Andrew Mukuba. Number one is just another ball-hawking safety. He tackles everything. He's a good cover guy."

Closing statement:

"We wanted to come here and build a program so that we can play in games like this. So, it's two nationally ranked teams. I believe this is the highest-rank combined matchup in history of a game at Truist field. It's September, so we want to play in big-time games. Certainly, our goal is to win them. But we know that's going to be a great challenge with the caliber of program we have coming here on Saturday."