CLEMSON — The Clemson football team kicked off fall camp on Thursday afternoon on the practice fields behind the Allen Reeves Complex, with the media being allowed a viewing window during the first five periods.
The feel inside was more businesslike than in recent fall camps, and whether that is a good thing or bad remains to be seen.
Once the stretching period was over and before drills began, new University President Dr. Benjamin C. Ayers addressed the team for a minute or two.
Newcomer Observations
– Watching the quarterbacks throw, there is just something different about the way the ball comes out of freshman Tait Reynolds’ hands. He definitely seems to have the strongest arm of the bunch, and he looks like he’s added a little bulk to what was already an overly impressive physique. We only saw Reynolds miss on one throw during the viewing period, a deep ball that was just a tad overthrown. His other deep balls were hitting the receivers in stride. It’s easy to see why the staff has been so high on him.
– Fellow freshman quarterback Brock Bradley looks like he’s added a few pounds since the spring.
– JUCO transfer Andy Burburija is every bit the physical specimen that the coaching staff and his teammates described. Both Sammy Brown and Will Heldt talked about his “tree trunk” legs during the ACC Kickoff, and they were not exaggerating. He’s a hair shorter than most of the other defensive tackles, but his physical attributes in other areas should make up for that.
During one of the drills we watched, Burburija was working behind fellow transfer Markus Strong. He looks like a player primed to make an impact despite enrolling in the summer.
– Speaking of Strong, he looks a little bigger than the 295 pounds he’s listed at on the Clemson website. Weights have yet to be updated since Wednesday’s big weigh-in. Strong was part of the first group in one of the drills, alongside sophomore Amare Adams.
– All three freshman receivers look the part physically. Naeem Burroughs looks a little bigger since the spring. Gordon Sellers was working behind TJ Moore in one drill, but it was hard to get a good read on the rotations since they were moving around so much.
-Transfer running back Chris Johnson was working at punt return, and he is quick as a hiccup. With that speed, he could be a dangerous weapon in the return game.
– The secondary should be improved just based on the experience added. Transfer Elliot Washington fills a need at corner, and the two transfer safeties, Corey Myrick and Jerome Carter, also bring some veteran experience into that room. All three look like excellent additions.
– Freshman TE Tayveon Wilson has the makings of a nice player, but still needs to add some bulk. Unsurprisingly, he was towards the rear of the line in the rotation during one of the drills we witnessed.
– Freshman LB Brayden Reilly is another summer enrollee that might still need some added weight. Although he is quick and moves side-to-side very fluidly. Maybe he can carve out a role on special teams at some point during the season.
– Freshman OL Adam Guthrie is out for the season due to an injury suffered while in high school. Transfer DT Kourtney Kelly was in yellow as he looks to get back from a torn ACL suffered during the spring.