CLEMSON – Despite Jake Briningstool’s college career being over, the Clemson tight end room appears to be in great shape.

The Tigers return Olsen Patt-Henry, Josh Sapp, Christian Bentancur, and added highly touted recruit Logan Brooking and basketball’s Ian Schieffelin.

“I think we have the best offense and defense in the nation,” Bentancur said, “and we just have to go out and prove it.”

Both sides of the ball appear to be improved, which is why Clemson is ranked No. 6 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, which was released on Monday. However, most people on the team, including Bentancur, believe that they are the best out there.

With the progression and development of the receiving room paired with a strong quarterback in Cade Klubnik, who is behind an experienced offensive line, the offense is in good shape. The tight ends, along with the running backs, are an exception, but they’ve been working hard in camp to prove they are in fine shape, too.

“We have, top down, some of the best tight end depth in the nation,” Bentancur said. “We just have to go out and prove it, keep working every single day, and just start showing people that we are a powerhouse tight end school.”

The Tigers have churned out multiple pro-caliber tight ends in recent years, including Briningstool, who is with the Chiefs, the Rams’ Davis Allen, Dwayne Allen, who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots, Jordan Leggett, who played for the Jets, and Michael Palmer, who played for the Falcons and Steelers. With this new group at Clemson, there are high hopes they will continue to develop and grow into elite options as well.

“I honestly think that we just help each other and push each other,” Sapp said. “Make each other better, learn from each other, and teach each other. It’s a great space.”

One player who joined the Tigers recently is Schieffelin, who was a star forward for the Clemson men’s basketball team the last four years. After using his eligibility for basketball and having one year available per NCAA rules for a second sport, he decided to put his cleats back on from high school and join the squad. 

“He came and just fit in with all of us,” Bentancur said. “He loves to joke around about everything. He’s been a great addition.”

While Schieffelin might not see the field as often as some of the others, he brings a needed element to the tight end position.

“I think I add experience, in a way,” he said. “Kinda leadership, just kind of an easygoing guy as well. I know how hard it can be as a young guy coming in, all of the pressure you have on yourself. Just being able to tell these guys to have fun and enjoy it.”

With experienced veterans, freshmen itching for playing time, and even a former basketball star, the Clemson tight end room has it all, and they might have what it takes to be the best when it is all said and done.