By Will Vandervort
With six new defensive backs expected to be on campus by July, and one already in camp, things are expected to tighten up in the Clemson secondary this fall. And that’s just fine to starting safety Robert Smith.
The junior says he and the other three players with experience welcome the new competition this summer because it will help make Clemson better.
“You want competition to come in,” Smith said. “Competition brings out the best in everybody. You want those guys to come in and compete. They are going to help us get better.”
The Tigers need to get better. They ranked near the bottom in almost every passing defensive category last season and 71st in the country in pass defense and 62nd in pass efficiency defense. Clemson gave up 42 plays of at least 20 yards or more and four times teams threw for 300 or more yards in a game, including 493 yards by NC State.
But as Smith acknowledges, help is on the way. Jadar Johnson, who enrolled in January, is already on campus and went through spring drills, while Mackensie Alexander is a five-star recruit who is expected to make an impact right away. Clemson will also welcome Adrian Baker, Ryan Carter, Marcus Edmond, Cordrea Tankersley and Korrin Wiggins to the fold as well.
“I’m going to try and help them and teach them everything they need to know,” Smith said. “We want to be the best we can be. If I go down, I don’t want someone to feel like, ‘Oh man, he is in the game.’ I don’t want to worry about that.
“We are going to take those guys and teach them everything we know so they can go out and compete and make us a better team.”
Smith said Johnson is already making strides, and should be one of the first, if not the first, to help the secondary when the season begins on Aug. 31 against Georgia.
“He is learning more and understanding the game more,” the safety said. “It’s not like high school. You just can’t sit in the middle of the field. You have to rotate, you have keys and you have progressions.
“He has really been making progress since he came in. I was really impressed with him when I first saw him because he has some want-to in him and that is always great to see.”
It should also help that the Tigers will welcome back Martin Jenkins, Darius Robinson and Bashaud Breeland at the cornerback positions. They each missed either the entire year or multiple games due to season-ending injuries.
“Everyone is coming along pretty good. We have Martin Jenkins, Darius Robinson and Bashaud Breeland back. They were all nicked up, but they are back and have been playing pretty good,” Smith said. “I feel like we are competing. Injuries can mess with your mind, even minor injuries, but I feel like those guys have come back and done well.”
Here is a look at Clemson’s depth chart at cornerback and safety coming out of the spring:
Garry Peters, 6-0, 195, Jr. – Listed as a co-starter at cornerback. He began the spring in Dabo Swinney’s dog house due to issues in the classroom and his commitment level to the team. After missing the first half of the spring due to punishment, he got back on track and finished strong.
Bashaud Breeland, 6-0, 195, Jr. – Listed as a co-starter at cornerback. Missed most of the last five games of the season due to injury. He is one the Tigers more physical players in the secondary. He has logged in over 1,000 snaps the last two seasons and has 85 career tackles and two interceptions.
Travis Blanks, 6-1, 190, So. – Listed as a starter at safety. He was Clemson’s top performing freshman last season and can play both safety and linebacker. He will stay back and play free safety this season after recording 51 tackles, one interception, seven passes defended and two tackles for loss, while playing both positions last season.
Taylor Watson, 5-11, 205, Jr. – Listed as a second team safety. He was originally a walk-on that played and served as a special teams player last season.
Robert Smith, 5-11, 210, Jr. – Listed as a starter at safety. Has served as a backup the last two seasons, but emerged in the spring as one of the unit’s most improved players. He has 23 tackles and one tackle for loss in his career.
Jadar Johnson, 6-1, 180, Fr. – Listed as a second team safety. He enrolled in January and really came on in the spring. He will compete with Smith for serious playing time at the strong safety position. He had 50 tackles, four interceptions and 10 passes broken up for Orangeburg-Wilkerson High School in Orangeburg, S.C. last fall.
Darius Robinson, 5-10, 175, Sr. – Listed as a co-starter at cornerback. Has been a starter in each of the last two seasons, but has missed most or half of both seasons due to injuries. He has logged in more than 700 snaps and has 33 career tackles, three interceptions and three passes broken up.
Martin Jenkins, 5-10, 180, Sr. – Listed as a co-starter at cornerback. He is one of Clemson’s most versatile players. He can play corner, as well as nickel back and is a big contributor on special teams. He missed all of last season with a hernia injury he suffered in the first week of fall camp.