CLEMSON — Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney met with the media via a zoom conference call following Wednesday’s practice behind the Allen Reeves Football Complex.

Below are some of the news and notes to come out of the conference call. Clemson is preparing to play Charleston Southern on Saturday (noon, ACCN) at Memorial Stadium.

–Swinney was asked about the progress of defensive tackle Kourtney Kelly and if he is still on track to possibly play this week against the Buccaneers. Kelly, of course, is returning after tearing his ACL in the spring.

“He had two good days. I have been encouraged,” Swinney said. “He is getting himself in football shape and all of that stuff, but he has been able to hold up and do what he needs to do, so he is looking forward to getting some action.”

–In 2023, the Tigers beat Charleston Southern 66-17 in Death Valley. However, at one point, the Buccaneers had a 10-7 lead on Clemson early in the game. Swinney was asked if he reminded the seniors, who were freshmen in 2023, about trailing and taking CSU seriously.

“They have to show up and be ready to play,” Swinney said. “I think we had a pick six or fumble or whatever it was early in the game. Again, I say it all the time. It is not who you play, it is how you play. So, let’s focus on how we play. That is why you play to a standard, so you can create consistency in your performance and not be up and down based on who you play.”  

 –Swinney was asked since there is a sense of urgency of getting this offensive line to play together, will he be more inclined to leave the starters up front in longer if they build a big lead on CSU this Saturday.

“I want them to play well. I do not have any agenda other than let’s go win the game, let’s play well and let’s execute at a high level,” he said. “Let’s do some of the routine stuff better than we have done. That is really the main agenda here… Win the game.”

–Swinney was asked about backup quarterback Christopher Vizzina and how he is progressing after missing the last game with his elbow injury in his left arm. Vizzina injured his elbow on the third drive in the Tigers’ win over Georgia Southern in Week 2 and has not played since.

The Clemson coach was also asked about running back Jay Haynes.

“Jay has been great. He has had a good week,” Swinney said. “It has been good to see him be able to get a whole week and get all the work.

“CV is still not 100 percent, but this is the best week he has had before he got hurt.”

Swinney was also asked if thought Vizzina would be out as long as he has been when he was first hurt.

“He was completely out the next game. We thought he would be close,” the Clemson coach said. “He was out against North Carolina, and Cal he was available but really only if we had to have him. We would have to get through Trent (Pearman) and probably Brock (Bradley) before we got to him. So, he was still really, really sore and obviously on game days he still has a little medicine to help the pain. But we would have only played him if we had to.

“So, he has gotten better and better. We thought he would bounce back a little quicker, it has just been hard for him. He’s had a really good week. But it is just one of those things, it has been day to day. This is the first week he has been out of the brace. He just has a sleeve and a pad now as opposed to that big brace, but he is still getting his full range of motion back.”