Who’s the Clemson player nobody’s talking about, who could have a big season for the Tigers this year?

Head coach Dabo Swinney was asked that question during his radio show this week ahead of Saturday night’s season opener vs. LSU at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium (7:30 p.m., ABC).

“Lord have mercy, everybody’s been talkin’, talkin’, talkin,’” Swinney said. “I’m tired of all the talking.”

Former wide receiver turned safety Ronan Hanafin was eventually the first name Swinney mentioned in response to the aforementioned question, followed by wide receiver Tristan Smith, who transferred to Clemson this offseason after a strong 2024 season at Southeast Missouri State.

“I would say one guy nobody’s talking about… I think Ronan Hanafin is a guy. I don’t know how many people talk about Ronan, but I think Ronan’s going to be a real factor for us this year,” Swinney said.

“I would say maybe Tristan Smith,” Swinney continued. “He’s another guy. He’s kind of the sixth wideout, if you will, but I think he’s going to be a factor.”

Swinney finished his answer by bringing up one more player – wide receiver Cole Turner.

“Cole Turner. There ya go. There’s a guy. I’ll give you that one,” Swinney said. “How ‘bout Cole Turner. Nobody talks about Cole Turner, but he’s a baller.”

Turner is entering his fourth year with the Tigers in 2025, having recorded 27 career receptions for 418 yards and two touchdowns, as well as five career carries for 56 yards and a rushing touchdown over 19 games (two starts).

The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder flashed down the stretch of his redshirt season in 2022, including a 100-yard performance in his second career game in the 2022 ACC Championship Game. In 2023, he caught three passes for 28 yards across two games (both starts) before missing the majority of the season with an adductor injury and earning a medical redshirt.

In 14 games last season, Turner tallied 16 catches for 229 yards and two touchdowns, to go with five rushing attempts for 56 yards and another touchdown. He scored his first career touchdown of any kind on an 18-yard run vs. NC State on Sept. 21, and then one week later, he hauled in three passes for 61 yards vs. Stanford, including the first receiving touchdown of his career on a 43-yard pass from Cade Klubnik. He later caught a 29-yard touchdown at Virginia Tech on Nov. 9.