When he talks about competition, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has mostly spoke about his defense.

He spoke about how competition is better at linebacker, defensive end and in the secondary then it was at this point in camp last year. There is competition on the offensive side of the ball, too, but most of the starting jobs there have already been filled with eight starters back on a unit that was one of the best in the country in 2015.

And even though one of those starters is John Mackey Award Finalist Jordan Leggett, Swinney says the competition at tight end is the best it has been since the days when the Tigers had Michael Palmer, Dwayne Allan, Brandon Ford and Sam Cooper all competing for playing time.

“We are in such a better situation then we were this time last year. We were so young. We had all of those young guys that had not played,” Swinney said.

Those young guys—Milan Richard, Cannon Smith, Garrett Williams and D.J. Greenlee—gained some experience last year and then worked their tails off in the off-season and spring to be even better. The result – a tight end corps that is on par from a talent standpoint with what the Tigers have had at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and on the offensive line.

“Last year, Cannon had not played. Milan had not played. Garrett just got here and (Stanton) Seckinger was coming off a knee injury and he was limited,” Swinney said. “We really needed to grow up there and we have.

“I’m really pleased with Milan Richard. You can really see his athleticism. He is more confident, way more mature, he understands the big picture. With Garrett, it’s the same thing. Garrett, he is a full grown man.”

Swinney said all of his tight ends, including Leggett, do some different things better than the other, but they are all pretty good at doing everything. He says more importantly, they can all help the Tigers win.

“That is a nice position to be in, to have a lot of different talents within that (tight end) room,” the Clemson coach said.

So far, Swinney says Greenlee is having a really good camp, and that the light has come on for him. He is serious about what he is doing, about his preparation, about being a great player and getting himself more physically developed.

Smith, who has been hampered with a shoulder injury the first week of camp due to minor surgery, is expected to be allowed to practice at full speed on Friday.

“I’m really pleased with him. Cannon might have had the second fastest time in the 40 from that group this summer,” Swinney said. “That big dude can move. He is not as quick as some of the other guys, but he can really move.

“It is just a good group top to bottom.”