CLEMSON — Back in 1970’s and 1980’s the Dallas Cowboys had a player by the name of Danny White who mastered the art of playing quarterback and punting.

White led the Cowboys to three straight NFC Championship Games from 1980-’82, after replacing the great Roger Staubach at quarterback, but what most people do not remember is that White remained the Cowboys’ punter too.

In last week’s win over Notre Dame, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik punted the football down at the Irish’s 4-yard line on a play head coach Dabo Swinney called a PPO — Pass-Punt-Option. The punt covered 37 yards, as he gave receivers Tyler Brown and Adam Randall enough time to get under the ball to down it at the 4-yard line.

“It was pretty good. He got a good roll on it. He hit it pretty well,” Clemson punter Adam Swanson said earlier this week.

Is Swanson worried about losing his job to Klubnik in the future?

“I am not sure about the technique, though,” Swanson said jokingly. “He got lucky with it, but it was a lot better than the ones I had.”

Swanson did okay, though.

For his performance against the Irish, Swanson was named the ACC Special Teams Player of the Week, which was the first of his career. He also became the first Clemson player to earn the honor since Will Spiers did it back in October of 2020.

Against Notre Dame, Swanson placed a career-high five of his six punts inside the 20, and his lone punt that was not downed inside the 20 was a booming kick that resulted in a Notre Dame muff punt, which was recovered by Clemson. He produced the most punts placed inside the 20 by a Clemson punter since Spiers in the National Championship Game to end the 2019 season (five vs. LSU).

Swanson’s last four punts of the game were downed at the Notre Dame 7, 14, 7 and 6-yard line.

It is safe to say his job is safe from Klubnik for now.

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