Monday’s Notes from Clemson’s Fall Camp

CLEMSON — Clemson held its second straight practice at Memorial Stadium on Monday, as the Tigers worked on several situational drills during another hot afternoon in Clemson. Here are a few notes and takeaways from Day 10 of fall camp.

–Collin Sadler told us he has been working mostly at right tackle in camp. He said he also has played a little bit at left tackle, just so he is familiar with the position in case something happens on the injury front.

–Sadler also told us Easton Ware is working behind him. He said Ware is also working at right guard. There is also talk about Sadler getting right guard reps and Ware moving up to tackle. The graduate also said Ronan O’Connell, Tucker Kattus and Gavin Blanchard have also been working at right guard.

–Center Harris Sewell says freshman Grant Wise is playing behind him. Wise is also playing some at guard. “He is really going to help us this year,” Sewell said.

–Sadler also mentioned that Blanchard has a nasty streak to him that no one else on the team has. I asked him if he is as mean and nasty on the field as Walker Parks was, and Sadler said, “It’s a little bit different. Walker Parks is like a Lexington, Ky., version of that, this is like a South Florida version. I think it shows itself a little bit differently, but I would say it is around the same.”

–Speaking of intensity. Sadler says camp has been pretty intense than it has been in years past. He explained why that is the case.

“The record wasn’t what we wanted last year, and I think that kind of lit a fire under us a little bit,” he said. “With (Dennis) Love coming here this off-season, we have worked our tails off under him. We have something to prove. In my mind, we have a whole summer of busting our tails and if that does not show up on the field, that is completely on us.”

–Sewell says being physical at the point of attack has been the emphasis in camp. “We just want to be able to run the ball and bring physicality up front.”

–Left guard Elyah Thurmon says Offensive coordinator Chad Morris and offensive line coach Matt Luke came to them in the spring and told them they are going to be more physical and they are going to run the football.

–As physical as the Tigers have been, both Sadler and Sewell said getting used to Morris’ tempo in practice has been the biggest challenge for the offensive line. “We play with a lot of speed,” Sewell said.

“There is a lot of tempo, so we are all staying after practice and running and stuff,” Sewell added. “There is off-season shape and then there is football shape, so we are taking a little while, but we are getting into football shape, though.”

–When Sadler was asked about the defensive line, and maybe who has stood out the most, he said it has been JUCO transfer Andy Burburija at defensive tackle.

“He is a stocky dude. He will get down there. I, obviously, have to do a better job of bending against him because he plays a lot lower than I am used to [playing]. He has surprised me a lot. He is a really talented guy.”

–Left tackle Brayden Jacobs has grown, at least that is how I see it. It seems to me he has grown another inch or two, as he looked even bigger than he did last season. He officially is listed at 6-foot-7, 345 pounds.

–Jacobs says the running backs this year are playing more physical and aggressive.

The Tigers will practice again on Tuesday before starting classes on Wednesday.