Tigers Today: Will Taylor providing 'spark' to Clemson offense
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Will Taylor providing ‘spark’ to Clemson offense
Will Taylor has quickly shown the Clemson coaching staff what he can bring to the football field. The former three-star quarterback prospect was a top-ranked baseball prospect in this year’s MLB Draft, but he opted to pass up the money and continue his athletic career at Clemson.
So far, Taylor has shown the speed and skill in more than a quarterback role. Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott have used the freshman in a wide receiver role, too, loving what the 5-foot-10, 175-pound athlete brings to the table and not heisting to use him.
Elliott has gone as far to find a nickname for Taylor.
“I’m going to take credit for the nickname Maverick,” Elliott said on Monday. “I called him Maverick first, he reminds me of a young Tom Cruise from Top Gun. He’s got that feistiness to him, that edge to him. I think he likes it too.
“He provides a spark around here. What I think he’s done too, has garnered the respect of everybody in that locker room. It’s obviously tough for him, he’s coming in as a baseball and football guy, so he came in with some challenges. But he came in here and right away showed the guys in the locker room that ‘Hey, I’m a football guy. I’ll do whatever it takes,’ and kind of dispelled all of that.”
Taylor has taken snaps in both of Clemson’s games. Against South Carolina State this past weekend, he showed how he can make defenses miss on a 12-yard run.
Elliott and Swinney have shown no signs of limiting the amount of Taylor’s usage in his freshman season. It seems like his role is just starting to grow.
Offensive lineman Dietrick Pennington lost for season
Dabo Swinney announced during his press conference on Tuesday that freshman offensive lineman Dietrick Pennington is out for the season.
Pennington suffered a torn ACL during Saturday’s victory over SC State. He is the third offensive lineman Clemson has lost to an injury, joining Tayquon Johnson and John Williams.
Clemson-SC State film review: What went right, wrong in Tigers win
Clemson got back on track Saturday, earning a 49-3 victory over SC State in its home opener.
The Tigers outgained the Bulldogs 504 to 235 and led 42-3 early in the third quarter before making several substitutions over the final 25 minutes. Clemson ended up playing more than 100 players in the blowout win.
There was a lot that went right but plenty of mistakes as well. ClemsonSports.com is breaking it all down in our weekly film review.
READ: Clemson-SC State film review: What went right, wrong in Tigers win
Recent 2022 DL offer Khurtiss Perry is “definitely interested” in Clemson
With three months left to go until the Early Signing Period begins, Clemson recently decided to expand its 2022 big board.
On Saturday, the program gave the green light to senior defensive lineman Khurtiss Perry. Perry, who hails from Montgomery (Alabama), checks in on On3 as the No. 122 overall prospect in his class.
His head coach at Pike Road High School, Patrick Browning, told ClemsonSports.com senior recruiting reporter Joesph Hastings that despite the late offer, Perry is going to give the Tigers a chance to win him over.
Counting down
- Clemson at South Carolina: 75 days
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