Dabo Swinney on godson Tanner Tessmann playing for Team USA soccer at the Olympics: 'I'm just happy for him'

Dabo Swinney has been paying close attention to a different type of football as his Clemson team prepares for its season opener against Georgia.

Swinney’s godson Tanner Tessmann is playing for Team USA soccer at the Olympics, and Swinney has been dialed in. He spoke about what it has been like watching Tessmann and the United States before the Tigers held their first practice of fall camp on Thursday.

“I think it’s been an unbelievable experience. And pretty cool, too,” Dabo Swinney said. “We hadn’t even qualified since maybe ‘08, … and now they’re in the knockout round. So man, I’m just happy for him and proud of how he’s led and all those guys.

“And then Dawson Zimmerman, my first punter, his brother is Walker Zimmerman, who’s on the team. Walker played at Furman. … So we’ve got a couple of Clemson connections on that soccer team. So we’re pulling for them and hopefully they can keep it rolling.”

Tanner Tessmann was once committed to Clemson to play both football and soccer, before beginning his pro soccer career instead.

Tessmann’s father P.J. is one of Swinney’s best friends, going all the way back to high school. Tanner’s best sport has always been football, but Swinney loved his potential as a placekicker.

“He obviously signed with us and was coming here. He was going to be Trevor Lawrence on the soccer team and he was going to be my first switch kicker,” Dabo Swinney said. “Whatever hash we were on, that was the foot he was going to kick with. The guy can kick it 60 yards left-footed and right-footed. He could play wideout. I mean he’s that type of athlete.”

Tanner Tessmann started out his pro career with FC Dallas, before being bought by Venezia. Several teams are interested in purchasing him once again once the Olympics are over.

Swinney is hopeful that Tessmann will be able to bring the United States a medal before worrying about that.

“He’s a special, special athlete. Obviously got a great mental makeup as well to be able to do what he’s done,” Swinney said. “He had a great rookie year for FC Dallas, then boom, he gets bought by Venezia and he’s living in Venice at 19 years old. So he’s had to grow up quick, but he’s chased his dream.

“He’s chased his dream and put the work in and to see Venezia get promoted this year, they won it and got promoted up to Serie A. And now we’ll see where he ends up. There’s three or four teams that are trying to buy him. And so we’ll see where all that goes, but he’s focused on the Olympics and representing the country.”