Freshman Tight End's Versatility Could Help Him Find the Field in 2023

Clemson’s 2023 football recruiting class welcomed an impressive group of 26 talented freshmen, with 14 of them enrolling in January. These early enrollees had the advantage of showcasing their skills during spring practices and the Orange and White game held on April 15.

Among the 14 players on campus, a handful emerged as early contenders to make an immediate impact at the collegiate level, namely Peter Woods, Khalil Barnes, T.J. Parker, Shelton Lewis, and Harris Sewell, all displayed promise and look poised to avoid a redshirt.

The remaining 12 class members arrived on Clemson’s campus in June. While we have yet to witness their performances on the practice field, one newcomer we believe could stand out is tight end Olsen Patt-Henry.

Patt-Henry possesses an intriguing set of skills that make him a player to keep a close eye on once practice commences in August. As anticipation builds for the upcoming season, Patt-Henry's talent could translate well to the collegiate stage. The tight end has already garnered attention due to his impressive physical attributes, athleticism, and football IQ. 

Patt-Henry ranked No. 21 among tight ends in the 2023 class, doesn't have the ideal size for the position, standing at 6'3 and weighing 220 pounds, but he brings a diverse skill set, which was on display at First Baptist Academy in Naples, FL. 

“Olsen played a lot out in space as a wide receiver [and was] a matchup problem against corners,'’ Tight Ends Coach Kyle Richardson, said while watching highlights of Patt-Henry during Clemson’s Signing Day event in December.

"We're getting a dynamic football player – athletic, can run," Richardson added. "Just everything that you're looking for in a tight end that is a matchup problem. [I'm] really excited about his future here at Clemson."

In First Baptist's offense, Patt-Henry excelled as a pass-catcher (used primarily as a wide receiver), utilizing his strong hands, leaping ability, and speed to catch 61 passes for 1,053 yards with 17 touchdowns in 2021 and 61 catches for 1,159 yards with 13 scores last season. 

In offensive coordinator Garrett Riley's spread offense, tight ends can find themselves in a couple of different formations. Attached (lined up right next to the offensive tackle) on the line of scrimmage, or as a ‘Sniffer’, a player who usually plays off the line of scrimmage and goes in motion before the snap to block on a rushing play. So for Patt-Henry, being diverse and versatile could lead to early snaps. 

Junior Jake Briningstool is the top returning tight end, with Davis Allen, the leader in receptions (39), receiving yards (443), and touchdowns (five), off to the NFL after being selected No. 175 overall by the Los Angeles Rams. Briningstool had 25 receptions for 285 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games last season. 

Getting snaps at tight end with Briningstool, redshirt graduate Sage Ennis and redshirt freshman Josh Sapp already on the depth chart may be difficult for Patt-Henry unless he wows Richardson or injuries hit the tight end room.

However, with his experience at receiver and a roster devoid of many tall pass catchers, he might be an option in certain offensive situations. 

On Jan. 7, Patt-Henry played in the All-American Bowl game in San Antonio, TX, where he was coached by East team head coach Todd Wofford, the head coach at Meadowcreek High in Norcross, GA. 

Patt-Henry finished the game without a reception, but Wofford was able to access his skills and thinks Patt-Henry is capable of taking snaps at receiver on the collegiate level.  

"He's kind of that hybrid that could be a mismatch on the outside against smaller corners," Wofford told ClemsonSportsTalk.com days after the game."He's a really good, big athlete. He's a tweener receiver tight end-- the skill set of a receiver, but not the size of a tight end."

His size could also be useful in blocking cornerbacks and safeties on wide receiver screens and outside running plays. Patt-Henry wasn't used as a sniffer much, but his blocking drew praise from Richardson, who labeled him a 'physical' player 'not afraid of contact.'

Patt-Henry and fellow freshman tight end Markus Dixon (6'4, 230), who also took snaps at receiver at Archbishop Wood High (PA), stand to add even more athleticism and versatility to a tight end group that impressed Riley with those attributes this spring.

"Tight end room, you’ve got versatility there,” said Riley in March after getting his first look at Briningstool, Ennis, and Sapp. "You’ve got quite a bit of athleticism in that room right now. So, that’s been good to see."

Riley will have to wait until August to see the freshmen's capabilities fully, but Richardson expects everything to go well and is excited about their future in the program. 

"They're both big guys. Really, athletic guys, and they are physical specimens," he noted.

"When they get in our strength program and our food program, they are going to take off. Just to think about their future and what it's going to look like once they get here and get started with us, it's going to be awesome to watch."

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