Pads will pop a little more and a little louder when the Clemson football team takes the practice fields Saturday evening.

After two days of practicing in shorts and helmets, and two days of shorts, helmets and shoulder pads, Clemson’s players will work in full pads today for the first time in fall camp.

Simply adding thigh pads and kneepads means Clemson can progress to full contact, play more physical and finish tackles to the ground.

Although that may seem like a big deal, linebacker Ben Boulware said Clemson’s fifth practice won’t be much different than the fourth.

“Today was basically full pads. We were grinding from period one to period 21,” Boulware said Friday. “I know we’ll probably add two periods of live and tackle to the ground, but we’ve been busting our tails for the past four days, so there ain’t much of a difference.”

“Grinding” was also one of the words Dabo Swinney used to describe Friday’s practice.

The head coach pushed the Tigers harder and with more intensity yesterday than he had all week in what was a grueling workout.

Boulware said the practice environment Swinney created shows that he knew his players could handle it.

“He just knows we’re mature guys and we’re willing to work,” Boulware said. “We’re willing to grind on a daily basis, and he knows he has the leadership in guys like me, Dorian (O’Daniel), Cordrea (Tankersley) and Deshaun (Watson) that will take it upon ourselves to push those guys.

“But today, he took it upon himself to do it, and he definitely got the best out of us.”

Thirteen of the 21 five-minute practice periods were devoted to what Swinney calls “good-on-good” competition.

There was a lot of great competition, said Boulware, who singled out a few match-ups he particularly enjoyed watching.

“Our interior linemen with Jay (Guillermo), Tyrone (Crowder) and those guys is always a fun matchup,” Boulware said. “And then seeing those deep balls with Cordrea, Mark (Fields) and Trayvon (Mullen). So, our good-on-good at every position is a great matchup.”

Today’s fully padded practice will put a wrap on Clemson’s first week of camp, as the players get Sunday off.

So far, Boulware is content with what he’s seen from the team.

“Pretty solid. I think a lot of the guys are eager to work,” Boulware said of the week. “It’s been tough. The first four days have been tough mentally, physically and in every aspect. A lot of the guys have been in there extra, just grinding on and off the field.

“But so far, so good.”