About two weeks out from Clemson kicking off the season against LSU, and the Tigers are no closer to having a starting punter.

Jack Smith, Will McCune and former placekicker Robert Gunn have all been vying for the spot in a competition that dates back to the beginning of spring ball.

While many have suggested punting as one of the bigger concerns heading into the season, Dabo Swinney insists that just because one guy has yet to separate himself doesn’t mean it’s going to be a position of weakness.

“I know everybody is all concerned about the punting situation because we don’t just say, ‘this is the guy,’ but I think we got multiple guys,” the head coach said after Thursday’s scrimmage. “I know everybody wants to just have one guy, but I think we have three guys that can go do it.”

The competition has been so close, if the season started today, Swinney isn’t sure who he might run out there.

“Right now I would have to pray about it and put their names in a hat and ask God to pull out the right one for me,” he said half jokingly. “Because they are really competing. They are competing. I love that they are competing their tails off. They all can do it.”

The only thing that is certain to this point is that the Tigers have very little experience. While Smith is a redshirt junior, he’s only punted five times throughout his career, averaging just 35.8 yards per kick.

McCune is also a redshirt junior. After starting his career at Charleston Southern, McCune joined the Tigers as a walk-on prior to last season. He appeared in only one game with the Buccaneers.

Gunn is another redshirt junior who has proven to be a weapon as a kickoff specialist the past two seasons. However, Gunn has never attempted a punt during his college career.

With two weeks before the start of the season, there is still time for one to seize the opportunity, but at the same time, Swinney readily admits the competition could extend into the season.

“I mean, they can launch it 60. They can also shank it 20. We can do all those things,” Swinney said. “They are a talented group. I think it is going to end up being a good group for us, and hopefully, one guy will eventually solidify it. Sometimes you got to go to the game to make that decision. When it is that close, you got to get to the game. But the good news is I think we got three guys that can do it.”

Photo by Bart Boatwright