Quietly, Travis Blanks has made his way back onto the football field without anyone really noticing, at least until Thursday.

Blanks was all over the field in Clemson’s third practice of training camp, including one play in which he jumped in front of a Deshaun Watson pass to Ray Ray McCloud and nearly took it to the house.

Coming off two surgeries to the same knee in the last 20 months, defensive coordinator Brent Venables says Blanks has not had any lingering effects from his injuries.

“He is within five to ten pounds on all of his lifts from almost two years ago. That’s quite remarkable. He has worked really hard,” the Clemson coach said. “They have done a great job rehabbing him and getting him ready.

“He really retained his mental aspect. He has been really good.”

Speedy safety. When a football player is 6-foot-3 and weighs 205 pounds, he is doing one of two things. He is either going to play wide receiver or safety. If your name is T.J. Green, you have done both.

When things did no work out at wide receiver, he asked to be moved to safety prior to the end of his freshman year. It turned out to be a good move. Green is now working alongside Jayron Kearse on the first-team defense and on Thursday he became the first player in camp to intercept a Deshaun Watson pass.

Kearse played a big role in why Green made the move to safety in the first place.

“Jayron and I talk every day. I don’t really think back on it, but I’m glad I made that move because it is better for me,” Green said. “Now we talk every day and build that chemistry. I feel like we are two of the best safeties in the nation. When we are out there together, we can just communicate and lead the defense.”

The Alabama native says his speed and range give him an advantage in the secondary that a lot of safeties don’t have. He also said he takes what he learns in the meeting rooms more serious, and stays after practice watching film.

“I’m coming to practice to work so I can show everybody that I can play,” Green said.

Quote of the day. “My story is not built off hype or whatever. I know what it’s like to go out and grind every day.” – defensive tackle Kevin Dodd.

Good day for tempo. Thursday might have been a more physical day with the introduction of shoulder pads in camp, but Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said he really liked the tempo of practice as well.

“This was our best day in terms of tempo and we added some pads,” he said. “That was great to see. It shows the condition we are in and the amount of work that was accomplished over the summer.”

Wide receiver Mike Williams also commented on the tempo of practice.

“We’re just out here playing fast,” he said.

Getting their kicks in. Practice ended with all three kickers attempting a 46-yard field goal with the team gathered around them at midfield. Alex Spence missed the first attempt when there was a poor snap and hold, but he then made his second attempt.

Red-shirt freshman Greg Huegel, from Blythewood, S.C., made the 46-yarder with plenty to spare. He was 3-for-4 on his attempts, while walk-on Spencer Groomes and Spence missed two kicks in the practice. Spence was 3-for-5 and Groomes was 2-for-4.

Injury updates. Running back Zac Brooks did not participate in contact drills for a second straight day. Once individual position drills were complete, he untied the shoe on his left foot and did not participate the rest of the practice.

Defensive end Dane Rogers missed practice on Thursday with a muscle pull and linebacker Kendall Joseph missed with a sprained shoulder. Both injuries are not serious, though Venables said Joseph could miss as much as three weeks of practice. Starting center Ryan Norton missed the second half of practice with a head injury. He will be evaluated tomorrow, but could miss a couple of days of practice.