Clemson starting defender to miss spring, other notes from first practice
Clemson held its first spring practice of the 2020 season on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020. Here are some observations from the workout, including a defensive starter who is injured and what the starting offense looked like:
Key injury
Tigers starting safety Nolan Turner was sidelined with his right arm in a sling and Dabo Swinney announced after practice that Turner will miss the spring after undergoing a procedure. The redshirt senior is moving into a starting role this season after serving as a key reserve each of the previous two years. The Tigers are thin at safety as starters K’Von Wallace and Tanner Muse both graduated.
“We went ahead and did a little surgery on Nolan so he’s going to be out. He could’ve gone through spring and we could’ve done it after spring… But he’s incredibly knowledgeable and knows what he’s doing,” Swinney said. “We felt like from a timing standpoint if we went ahead and did it he’d be ready for the start of May and really have a full summer. Having him out there this summer and leading skills and drills and all of that is important.”
Starting wide receivers
During the hurry-up portion of the offense, Justyn Ross, Amari Rodgers and Joseph Ngata worked as the starting receivers. Ross was playing the nine-man spot, where Tee Higgins was last year. Ngata was outside on the opposite side of the field at the two-man. Rodgers was at the slot in the five-man, which is where he played last year. The backup receivers consisted of Frank Ladson at the nine, Cornell Powell at the two and Brannon Spector at the five.
Offensive line
The starting offensive line from left to right was Jackson Carman at tackle, Matt Bockhorst at guard, Mason Trotter at center, Will Putnam at guard and Jordan McFadden at tackle. Of those five, only Carman is a returning starter. Redshirt freshman Hunter Rayburn quickly subbed in for Trotter at center and the two split first-team reps. The backup offensive line consisted of Mitchell Mayes at left tackle, Bryn Tucker at left guard, Trotter and Rayburn rotating at center, Tayquon Johnson at right guard and Paul Tchio at right tackle.
The Tigers are thin up front as Mayes, Tucker and Tchio are true freshmen, while Johnson is a converted defensive lineman who just made the switch to offensive line this spring.
Tight end
Braden Galloway resumed his role as the starting tight end after missing the 2019 regular season due to a suspension. J.C. Chalk, who started in Galloway’s absence in 2019, also got some first-team work. Sophomore Davis Allen worked as the third-team tight end.
Other injuries
True freshman defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, the No. 1 overall prospect for the class of 2020, was in a yellow jersey and worked outside with the other injured players that were unable to go through drills. Bresee had a brace on his left leg but seemed to be moving well. Sophomore cornerback Andrew Booth, redshirt junior offensive lineman Blake Vinson and starting defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney were also in yellow.
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Clemson starting defender to miss spring, other notes from first practice."
