CLEMSON — Fans will get their first look at the 2024 version of the Clemson football team Saturday when the Coach Dabo Swinney’s 17th team will play the annual Orange-White spring game at Memorial Stadium.
A crowd of approximately 50,000 is expected.
The Tigers are coming off a 9-4 season – their first with fewer than 10 victories since 2010. But Clemson finished the season with a flourish, winning five consecutive games, including a 38-35 victory against Kentucky in the Gator Bowl.
Clemson returns eight of 11 offensive starters from that game, including quarterback Cade Klubnik and leading rusher Phil Mafah. Not including nickelback Khalil Barnes, the Tigers return just three starters on defense – linebackers Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz and safety R.J. Mickens.
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Clemson opens the 2024 on Aug. 31 against Georgia in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Quinn Castner hits from 28 yards out. The walk-on is the third kicker to attempt a field goal today.
Running toward the conclusion of this year’s spring game with Orange Team leading 27-12.
Robert Gunn III misses a 37-yard field goal wide right and is now 1-of-3 today. On the previous play, Cade Klubnik limped off the field. Didn’t look like too much concern since Klubnik sat on the bench instead of going inside the injruy tent, but he is being looked at.
Jaheim Lawson, Shaq Lawson’s brother, makes an excellent play in turning for the ball for an interception on a wheel route in the end zone. Lawson has had a couple highlights today, but didn’t expect him to play that like a natural cornerback.
The Orange Team extends the lead early in the third quarter on a Robert Gunn III 36-yard field goal. He’s 1-for-2 today after missing from 55 yards to end the first half.
Should be an interesting kicking competition during preseason practice.
Trent Pearman goes for a 49-yard run on a designed keeper and a touchdown. Not sure if it was live that Pearman would have had his way to the end zone, but it’s a fun spring highlight nevertheless.
Pearman has a rushing touchdown and passing touchdown today. Orange 21, White 12 late in the second quarter.
Cade Klubnik leads the Tigers offense to a steady drive which ends on a Peyton Streko 1-yard run.
Nolan Hauser is 2-for-2 on field goals today after a line-drive 48-yard field goal is good. Good response by Christopher Vizzina after the interception. Orange leads White 14-6.
Christopher Vizzina’s pass is intercepted at the line of scrimmage by linebacker Jamal Anderson, who sprints into the end zone. That was an ill-advised decision. Anderson was lurking at the LOS, and Vizzina wasn’t aware that he was there. On the ACC Network Extra broadcast, Dabo Swinney is fired up about the interception.
Orange leads White 14-3.
Trent Pearman goes for 4-for-4 for 52 yards, including a 15-yard catch and run by Bryant Wesco Jr. and a 9-yard touchdown pass to Wesco on a nice over-the-shoulder fade. That drive was excellent by Pearman. Wesco looks like the real deal too.
Center Ryan Linthicum, on the Orange Team, limps off with an apparent right lower-body injury. Harris Sewell is moving over to the Orange Team and may have to play a lot today.
True freshman kicker Nolan Hauser’s 29-yard field goal kick is good. Clemson fans won’t assume anything with the kicking game following last season, so a pretty good cheer from the crowd in Death Valley. The White Team leads 3-0.
On the second drive for the Orange Team, Cade Klubnik completes a pass to Antonio Williams for a first down. He follows that completion with an interception to Tavoy Feagin, who has a good return into Orange Team territory. Klubnik threw the ball to a spot on a back-shoulder type throw, and the intended receiver kept running downfield.
5-star true freshman linebacker Sammy Brown blitzes off the edge against Orange Team QB Cade Klubnik and “sacks” him. There won’t be any hits on quarterbacks in the spring game, but Brown got to Klubnik before he could get the ball away.
The Orange and White Teams trade 3-and-outs to open the spring game.
RJ Mickens, Barrett Carter, Jake Briningstool and Phil Mafah will all sit out of Saturday’s spring game and will serve as student coaches, a Clemson spokesman said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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