Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney had plenty of praise for Jake Briningstool heading into his fourth year as a Tiger in 2024.

Swinney loves what he’s been seeing from the 6-foot-6, 230-pound playmaker, who grew into a complete tight end in his first year as a full starter in 2023, when his 50 receptions as a junior tied the single-season school record for a tight end.

“Brinny is as he should be. I mean, he looks like a pro out there,” Swinney said. “That’s what he should look like going into his fourth year. The kid’s played three years. He’s got a lot of experience. He’s kind of been through the battles, and he looks very focused on what he wants to do.”

Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool (9) during the third quarter at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Saturday October 21, 2023. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

A third-team All-ACC selection in 2023, Briningstool posted career highs in catches, receiving yards (498) and receiving touchdowns (five) last season, becoming the seventh tight end in school history to record 10 career touchdown receptions.

Briningstool’s 126 receiving yards in a record-setting night at Miami in 2023 were the most by a Clemson tight end in a single game in school history, and his nine receptions in the 2023 Gator Bowl tied the Tigers’ single-game record for receptions by a tight end.

“I mean, this kid’s a great player,” Swinney said. “He’s very talented, and I’m just proud of him because he’s matured. He was kind of a little immature early on as far as just what it was going to take for him to get to be the best version of Brinny.

“But man, he’s bought into it, and he’s a tough, tough kid and he is a tough competitor. Great finisher on the ball. The chemistry with Cade [Klubnik] is good, and I’m just proud of him, man. He’s leading that [tight end] group.”

A former unanimous four-star and top-100 national prospect from Tennessee, Briningstool enters the upcoming campaign with 78 career catches for 850 yards and 10 touchdowns over 35 career games (13 starts).

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