Clemson’s path to a win over Miami starts with the same thing that has carried the Tigers through the first month: somebody different stepping up when the moment demands it.
That was true after the LSU disaster, when Nolan Hauser’s strong leg helped Clemson get by Georgia Southern. It was true in the UNC thriller, when Will Heldt’s pass-rushing work and Gideon Davidson’s rise at running back made the difference. And it was true again last week at Cal, where Elliot Washington II and Bryant Wesco Jr. powered Clemson to 3-1.
Both players were rewarded for it, with Washington earning ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors and Wesco taking home ACC Specialist of the Week. Washington, who had already intercepted Billy Edwards Jr. in Week 3, added two more picks against the Golden Bears’ modest passing attack. Wesco, meanwhile, wasn’t doing much as a receiver, but his punt return delivered the knockout blow.
That’s the part that matters most for Clemson. Washington and Wesco are both among the Tigers’ 10 best players, but the point is bigger than two awards.
Clemson has needed multiple stars to show up in the same game to beat quality opponents, and last week was another reminder that the roster has enough depth to survive when one or two big names are quiet. Heldt wasn’t a factor.
Hauser missed a kick. Washington and Wesco picked up the slack.
Washington’s numbers tell the story of a player settling in. Three interceptions in two weeks doesn’t happen by accident.
Since arriving from Penn State, he has been putting in the work, and it’s showing in the way he’s playing in the back end of Tom Allen’s defense. He’s not freelancing or gambling for the sake of it.
He’s playing with discipline, and every rep in the system seems to be building more confidence.
Wesco’s situation is different, but just as important. The punt return for a touchdown had to feel like a release valve after a slow start at wide receiver.
Through four games, he has 16 catches for 163 yards and still hasn’t scored as a receiver. His 10.2 yards per catch is well below his career average, and while quarterback play has played a part, that hasn’t explained everything.
Still, Clemson found a way to get it done because its best players made the biggest plays. Without Washington’s interceptions and Wesco’s game-sealing punt return touchdown, the Tigers don’t leave Cal at 3-1 and 2-0 in ACC play.
That kind of momentum matters heading into Miami, even if the Hurricanes are a heavy road favorite. Clemson may not match Miami’s star power one for one, but the Tigers have been building confidence week by week.
If one star is off, another has been there to pick him up. That’s the formula Clemson has leaned on so far, and it’s the one it will need again if it wants to beat Miami.
In Other News...
Bryant Wesco Jr. Just Delivered Clemsons Special Teams Breakthrough
Bryant Wesco Jr. turned Clemsons trip to California into a special-teams milestone, breaking loose for a punt-return touchdown in the Tigers 24-10 win. For a player working his way back from a previous injury he suffered on special teams, the play carried extra meaning, and it also fit into a broader Clemson effort to sharpen a phase that has mattered plenty in the early going.
Wesco pointed to special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia as a key voice behind the units improvement, with the emphasis staying on fundamentals and effort. The returner sounded upbeat about where things are headed from here, too, suggesting this may not be the only time Clemson gets a game-changing spark from him in the return game. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Faces A Backfield Test In Its Biggest ACC Stage Yet
Clemson heads into its biggest ACC spotlight with a major challenge already in place, as No. 4 Miami arrives as a 16.5-point favorite for the matchup in Clemson. The series is perfectly split at 7-7, but the Hurricanes are also chasing a milestone of their own, looking for their first win on Clemsons field since 2010.
The backfield picture adds another layer to the stakes for the Tigers. Clemson has to adjust after losing depth at running back, while Miami is trending the other way with its lead back set to be back in the mix after an injury absence. In a game that already carries plenty of conference weight, the matchup on the ground could loom especially large. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Faces A Miami Threat That Could Decide Everything
Clemson heads into a huge matchup with Miami coming off a win, but the challenge waiting on the other side is the kind that can tilt an entire ACC race. Miami has looked every bit like a top-five team, and the Hurricanes bring difference-makers on both sides of the ball, from quarterback Mensah to receiver Toney to defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr., whose presence up front has been part of what makes that defense so difficult to handle.
The matchup becomes even more interesting with Moten expected back from an arm and shoulder injury, adding another layer to a front Clemson will have to account for from the opening snap. Mensah has also been operating at a level few teams can match, piling up big passing numbers without giving the ball away, which puts extra pressure on Clemsons defense to keep the game in front of it and force Miami into uncomfortable situations. [Read more 🡒]