While meeting with the media Wednesday evening following Clemson’s spring practice, head coach Dabo Swinney was asked, among numerous other topics, about offensive lineman Watson Young.
Young, who has dealt with injury during his time at Clemson, is entering his third year with the program in 2026 after enrolling in January 2024. The 6-foot-3, 280-pounder has yet to play a college snap, as he suffered a season-ending knee injury prior to the 2024 season and then did not appear in game action last season.
However, Swinney says Young is “battling” at center this spring. The center position is a question mark for the Tigers right now following the departure of two-year starter Ryan Linthicum.
“He’s just battling. He’s battling. He’s in there competing at center, trying to get in the mix as well,” Swinney said of Young. “The biggest thing with him is just he missed a lot of time. He’s missed a bunch of time around here. It’s hard to compete when you’re not available. And then all of a sudden you get behind and it’s the season, and you’re kind of repping the guys that are playing.
“So, the spring is the time to get out there and compete. And that’s one of the things I told him – like, let’s go compete. Because he can. But he’s a center, for sure, and we need him. And he’s a consistent guy. So now, he’s got to really just be available every day and gain some confidence throughout the spring.”
Young comes from a family full of Tigers. In fact, the Clemson native signed with the Tigers in 2024 as the first fourth-generation football player in Clemson history. He is the son of Clemson Athletic Hall of Famer Kyle Young, who played for the Tigers from 1998-2001 and was a two-time All-American on the field as Clemson’s starting center across the 1999-2001 seasons.
Watson’s uncle, Will Young, was an offensive lineman at Clemson from 1992-95 and was an All-ACC selection in 1995. Watson’s great grandfather, Ed McLendon, lettered in 1939 and played on the first bowl team in Clemson history that earned a 6-3 win in the 1940 Cotton Bowl. Watson’s grandfather, Ben Watson, was a linebacker at Clemson from 1968-70.
Watson was one of five finalists for Mr. Football in South Carolina in 2023. A product of Daniel High School, he helped the Lions to a 51-1 record in his four years as their starting left tackle and helped Daniel to three state titles in four years, as well as four straight Region 1-AAA championships. He was an All-State honoree in 2022 and 2023 and was named to the South Carolina Shrine Bowl team in 2023.
ESPN ranked him as the 13th-best prospect in South Carolina for the 2024 recruiting class.
–Clemson Athletic Communications contributed to this story