Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is pleased with what he’s seen from transfer wide receiver Tristan Smith over the last several games this season.

“He’s done a nice job, what, probably four or five games in a row now,” Swinney said on Tuesday. “Probably five games in a row, he’s been a factor for us and is just steady and just gets better.”

In last Saturday’s game against Duke, Smith got more opportunity to show what he can do in a Tiger uniform – and he took advantage of his opportunity.

Smith, who transferred to Clemson after an outstanding 2024 season at Southeast Missouri State, made his first start for the Tigers and played a season-high 52 snaps vs. the Blue Devils. Previously, the most snaps he had played in a game this season was 27 vs. SMU on Oct. 18.

Against Duke, the 6-foot-5, 205-pounder posted season highs with six receptions and 79 yards.

“He’s a baller,” Swinney said. “And now his confidence has grown. He’s a skyscraper. He can get up there and make some plays for us.”

At FCS school Southeast Missouri State in 2024, Smith earned second-team Big South-OVC Football Association all-conference honors after catching 76 passes for 934 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games.

Prior to his time at Southeast Missouri State, Smith spent two years at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College from 2022-23. He had 14 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown in 10 games in 2023 after catching two passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in seven games as a freshman in 2022.

In eight games for Clemson this season, Smith has tallied 17 receptions for 192 yards (11.3 yards per catch) and one touchdown – a 23-yard TD on fourth-and-21 against SMU, which was one of the most contested touchdown grabs from a Tigers’ wide receiver this season.

While Smith has shown he is more than capable of making plays when he’s on the field, Swinney did point out that there are things he can do better – as is the case for any player.

“I’d like him to be a little more decisive,” Swinney said. “There’s a few times where we need to be a little bit more catch and run, as opposed to catch, pause, and run. I think maybe there’s a little bit more there, and get the ball put away a little bit. There’s some things there he needs to clean up.”

Still, Swinney is proud of Smith, who served as a captain for the contest against Duke and is making an impact for the Tigers from a leadership standpoint as well.

“Great kid. Great kid. Just a great kid,” Swinney said. “He’s becoming a good leader. So, I’m proud of him.”