Next week the Clemson media will gather at the Reserve on Lake Keowee to talk football with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and his coaching staff.
This is the one time, other than the week leading up to a College Football Playoff Game or National Championship Game, we get to speak to all of Swinney’s assistant coaches.
The assistant coach who more than likely will have to answers the most questions will be defensive backs coach Mike Reed. No one has more of a difficult task of having to get his players ready to play in fall camp than Reed. As you know, the Tigers lost six players from last year’s secondary, which could have played this season, to either the NFL, transfer, dismissal or injury.
All the defections and injuries left Reed with little to work with in the spring. Cornerback Cordrea Tankersley returns as the wily veteran, though he has just one year of experience as a starter. Safety Jadar Johnson, is a senior, but this will be his first year as a starter, while Korrin Wiggins, who will play the nickel position is coming off an injury that has kept him off the football field since last August. After that, the secondary is saturated with eight freshmen and two sophomores.
Youth is aplenty. Inexperience is aplenty, and luckily for Clemson so is talent.
One question Reed will be asked is, “Who will get the start at the cornerback position left vacant by Mackensie Alexander?”
Reed’s answer will likely be, “We don’t have one yet, but we think Mark Fields has a chance if he becomes more consistent than he was last year. We also like Marcus Edmond. He had a great spring and positioned himself for an opportunity. We also think Trayvon Mullen can come in and compete right away.”
As for the safety positions, I’m sure Reed will be asked, “Can Tanner Muse become a starter over Van Smith at free safety? And can Korrin Wiggins jump back there again and provide competition?”
Reed most likely will respond with, “Well, they will compete against each other and we will see. Tanner is a big play guy and has a tremendous upside, but we like were Van is right now because he understands the game and what we are trying to do. As for Korrin he will help at nickel back and as a safety and we will go from there.”
The next question will be, “What about Ryan Carter? Where does he fit in?”
Reed’s possible reply, “If everything works out at corner, like we think, then he can probably move him back to safety and help out with the depth there. He had a tremendous spring. I think he will probably still be able to help us at cornerback a little bit, too.”
Another question will be, “Are you worried about all the inexperience in the secondary?”
His answer probably will be, “Of course I am, but there is nothing we can do about it. You have to play the guys you have and get them ready to play.”
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