CLEMSON — Clemson is loaded at the skill positions this year.

The Tigers return star receivers in T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco, as well as veteran Tyler Brown. The running back position has Gideon Davidson back, plus the addition of Chris Johnson, Jr., from the transfer portal.

Then there is a quarterback’s best friend – an experienced tight end.

Clemson has two veteran tight ends in Olsen Patt-Henry and Christian Bentancur. Both bring different flavors to Chad Morris’ offense. Patt-Henry is more like a Dwayne Allen, great in running blocking and pass protection, but can also run good routes. Bentancur is a lot like Jordan Leggett – long and smooth, runs crisp routes and can stretch the field like a wide receiver.

There is also freshman Logan Brooking, who might be the best of them all. In other words, Clemson is not short on talent in the tight end room.

“That kid is special, man,” Swinney said last season. “He is probably as gifted as anybody when it comes to his change of direction and his explosiveness in and out of cuts. He is tough as nails.”

Patt-Henry enters 2026 having supplemented his contributions in the running game with 28 career receptions for 289 yards with three touchdowns in 730 over 31 career games (11 starts). Last year, Patt-Henry caught 16 passes for 126 yards over 11 games, including 10 starts before suffering a season-ending injury in the Furman game last November.

Bentancur really came on in 2024. The redshirt freshman hauled in 20 throws for 215 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games, including two starts.

Against North Carolina last year, the 6-foot-4, 245-pounder recorded his first career touchdown reception on a 45-yard scoring grab in the first quarter, then added an 8-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

Bentancur became the first Clemson tight end to record multiple touchdown catches in a game since Jake Briningstool’s two touchdowns against SMU in the 2024 ACC Championship Game.

“Christian’s a complete player,” Swinney said after last year’s UNC game. “He’s big, he’s strong, he can run. He’s learned what to do. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.

“Nice job by Cade [Klubnik] finding him in the seam, and a good job by Bentancur just staying on his feet. The guy kind of dove down at his feet, but kept his balance and was able to score on the one [touchdown]. And then just a little screen play there down in the red zone that he punched in, too.”

Coming out of high school, Bentancur was a four-star recruit and a consensus top-125 player nationally. Multiple services ranked him as one of the five best tight ends in his class. His 3,867 receiving yards rank him second in Illinois high school history. He also ranks third in receiving touchdowns (51) and fifth in total receptions (231).