Snap Counts, PFF Grades from Win Over Syracuse
By: Jason Priester November 12, 2026

Despite missing several starters on the offensive side of the ball, Clemson was able to grind out an 18-13 win on the road at Syracuse on Saturday.

Nolan Hauser kicked four field goals, and the Tigers’ defense was responsible for the team’s only touchdown in the win.

Clemson had 359 yards of total offense, with Tait Reynolds going 17-of-28 for 161 yards and one interception. The freshman also added 61 yards via his legs.

Here are the snap counts and PFF grades from the win.

Quarterback

  • Tait Reynolds: 68 (67.6)

Reynolds is showing a lot of improvement, but he was off with multiple deep balls and threw a terrible pick.

Running Back

  • Jarvis Green: 46 (63.0)
  • Chris Johnson Jr.: 13 (54.8)
  • Jay Haynes: 9 (55.3)
  • Sammy Brown: 1 (60.0)

Green had a couple of really nice runs, including a 53-yarder on the first play from scrimmage. However, this ground game isn’t the same without Gideon Davidson.

Wide Receiver

  • T.J. Moore: 66 (59.7)
  • Bryant Wesco: 55 (77.0)
  • JuJu Preston: 44 (48.8)
  • Naeem Burroughs: 11 (53.1)
  • Clark Sanderson: 3 (60.3)
  • Chris Denson: 2 (60.0)

The Tigers certainly missed Tyler Brown in this one. Wesco had 136 yards of offense, including hitting a 36-yard pass on a trick play. Moore had another huge drop that probably goes for a touchdown if he had reeled it in.

Tight End

  • Olsen Patt-Henry: 58 (57.0)
  • Christian Bentancur: 21 (46.0)
  • Logan Brooking: 9 (77.7)
  • Tayveon Wilson: 1 (60.0)

In last week’s win over FSU, the tight ends were heavily involved and had two touchdown catches. This week was different. Patt-Henry had five receiving yards, while Bentancur did not catch a pass. With the patchwork offensive line, some of that was due to helping with pass protection.

Offensive Line

  • Brayden Jacobs: 68 (61.1)
  • Gavin Blanchard: 68 (42.8)
  • Grant Wise: 68 (61.2)
  • Easton Ware: 68 (50.1)
  • Collin Sadler: 68 (46.8)

Seeing as Wise is a true freshman who was making his first start at center, things could have been much worse. Wise held up fairly well most of the afternoon. However, the right side continues to be a problem. Blanchard also had some issues filling in for an injured Elyjah Thurmon.

Defensive End

  • London Merrit: 47 (60.8)
  • Will Heldt: 46 (69.0)
  • Jahiem Lawson: 37 (68.3)
  • Caden Story: 24 (52.7)
  • Michael Foster: 3 (42.8)

Heldt, Lawson and Merrit all had solid afternoons. Lawson had a sack along with the scoop-and-score. Foster, a true freshman, saw the field for just the second time this season. He logged seven snaps against Charleston Southern.

Defensive Tackle

  • Darien Mayo: 43 (64.3)
  • Amare Adams: 33 (71.7)
  • Andu Burburija: 20 (61.8)
  • Kourtney Kelly: 18 (71.7)
  • Devarrick Woods: 15 (71.6)
  • Champ Thompson: 9 (51.4)
  • Vic Burley: 4 (62.7)

Adams is starting to blossom. After missing all of spring practice, the former five-star is really starting to find his footing in his second year. He recorded his second sack of the season in this one. Kelly is also starting to show what he is capable of after coming back from a knee injury suffered early in the spring. Woods is also rounding back into form after his own early-season injury.

Linebacker

  • Sammy Brown: 59 (79.6)
  • Jeremiah Alexander: 48 (81.4)
  • Fletcher Cothran: 19 (77.4)
  • CJ Kubah-Taylor: 16 (79.1)

Alexander is quietly having a really good year. Kubah-Taylor is also showing a lot of promise.

Corner/Nickel

  • Ashton Hampton: 75 (65.3)
  • Eliott Washington II: 75 (63.2)
  • Brendan Strozier: 29 (62.4)
  • Donovan Starr: 21 (55.5)

Once again, Hampton locked down the opponent’s best receiver, and once again the grade doesn’t seem to reflect how successful the junior corner was in doing so. Starr going down was a big blow, seeing as Corian Gipson, who was the starting nickel to begin the season, is already out for the year.

Safety

  • Corey Myrick: 75 (64.1)
  • Jerome Carter III: 74 (66.3)
  • Ronan Hanafin: 35 (59.4)

Myrick and Carter both continue to prove their worth on the backend.

Grade Descriptions

85+: NFL-Caliber

84-79: Very Good

78-68: Above Average

60: Average (where each grade begins, then goes up or down)

– Photo courtesy of Clemson Athletics