SUNSET — On Wednesday we had the opportunity to speak with several of Dabo Swinney’s assistant coaches as he hosted his annual media golf outing at The Reserve at Lake Keowee in Sunset.

Here are some of the highlights from the first session of interviews which included conversations with defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks, defensive ends coach Marion Hobby, offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell, co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter, defensive coordinator Brent Venables and defensive backs coach Mike Reed.

Brooks says Albert Huggins came to him and asked to move inside in the spring.

“Our head coach is going to tell everyone we sign that we are going to start you out where you want to be and that was a big deal in recruiting. He wanted to be a defensive end and he did work there the first two and a half weeks of spring ball. Obviously, Coach Hobby had been heavily involved in recruiting and I had been down there and so forth, but never from the standpoint that I was going to put him at tackle. After he practiced for a while, he came to us and said he wanted to look at that because he was 280 pounds when he showed up. He can help us but where our depth is at defensive end, he still might have to be there and can help us there. But we feel like Albert is a guy that can help us early wherever it is.”

Hobby says those that are not starting at defensive end will have to fight for their jobs.

“If you are not a starter, if you have never started then you are a backup. All of them are in the same category. They are going to have to fight for those jobs. I let them know coming out of the spring that nothing is solidified. They are going to have to work.”

What, according to Hobby, is the difference between Shaq Lawson and Vic Beasley?

“Vic is a 245-pound speed guy and Shaq is a 270-pound power guy that has speed. Shaq is pretty a little bit sturdier against the run because he has size. Vic was just an elite pass rusher. Both of them play with great motors and both of them understand the game pretty easy. It will be interesting to see what (Lawson) turns into. Shaq is a true defensive end, where Vic is that hybrid guy.”

Where does Caldwell think Jay Guillermo will fall on the depth chart heading into fall camp?

“Right now he and (Justin) Falcinelli and (Zach) Giella are at center and of course Jay can play guard as well. He is in that slot. It will be exciting to see where he is at. I don’t really know right now. Obviously, being an upperclassman with experience, he is on that depth chart, Falcinelli / Guillermo.”

How short of a leash will Elliott have running back Wayne Gallman on in camp?

“I thought coming out of spring Zac (Brooks) made some strides and had some really, really good practices and he really pushed Wayne. I wouldn’t say the leash is very long, but it is going to be up to Wayne. I think Wayne still has a lot of ceiling left and a lot of potential being that he is the one guy that did not play running back his entire life so he is still learning every day. So really, the leash will be determined by how far he wants to extend it. Right now going into camp, all of those guys are competing, and I thought coming out of spring Zac was nipping at his heels.”

Venables talks about how good of a linebacker Ben Boulware can be.

“I’m not knocking Ben and Ben might take it the wrong way, but Ben does not have as much physical talent as Stephone Anthony. He is not as long. He is not quite as athletic. The top end speed, the long speed is not quite as good, but he is good enough to be every bit as good of a player. But Ben’s past to me, and we will see, has all the great intangibles you are looking for. He knows what being a great leader is and he knows what it means to be selfless. He knows what it means to be dependable.”

Reed said he was shocked to see the numbers put up by Mackensie Alexander last fall?

“You don’t know until it is presented to you. You know he is taking care of his business and is doing what he is supposed to do, but when a guy is catching like two or four yards per catch. It speaks volume for him, but now I just have to get everybody else on that page.”

Streeter says he wants Deshaun Watson to just take it one day at a time?

“Don’t allow the expectations of the media and the rest of the country affect his play. Don’t allow the distractions to affect his play because he is special. He is unique. I think for him to be successful, my expectations will be his leadership needs to improve from last year. He is in a different boat than he was a year ago. He was in a situation last year where he wasn’t sure he was going to be a starter or not. Now he knows going into this whole thing that he knows he is the starter. I have really encouraged him this summer to be a leadership guy and work on his leadership.”