Clemson has found its edge in plenty of spots this August camp. Defensive end has Will Heldt and Jahiem Lawson.
Linebacker has Sammy Brown, Jeremiah Alexander and Kobe McCloud. Even along the offensive line, Brayden Jacobs, Collin Sadler and Harris Sewell have started to stand out.
Inside at defensive tackle, though, Dabo Swinney is still looking for one player to grab the wheel.
Following Clemson’s second and final stadium scrimmage of August camp on Thursday evening, Swinney was blunt about the position’s current state.
“I think they’re a bunch of nobodies,” Swinney said. “That’s kind of who they are. I don’t think there’s anybody at that position yet that has earned it.”
That wasn’t a swipe at the room’s talent so much as a challenge to somebody to rise above it. Swinney said Clemson has capable bodies there and maybe more playable depth than in some past seasons. What it does not yet have is the obvious leader - the defensive tackle who separates himself with production, personality and presence.
“I think there’s talent there,” Swinney said. “There are a lot of good players there, but I haven’t really seen an alpha yet at that position. I think I’ve got one at every other position, but I haven’t seen one at D-tackle yet.
“I’m waiting.”
Amare Adams is the name Swinney pointed to as the closest thing Clemson has to that kind of player. The sophomore missed time early in camp before getting back on the field, which limited his chance to establish himself as the guy in the middle.
“I think he’s the closest thing,” Swinney said. “We just need him to kind of take that step as far as being that alpha dog in there.”
Veteran Champ Thompson also lost time earlier in camp and has since returned.
“It’s kind of hard to lead when you’re not out there,” Swinney said. “Same thing with Champ.
He was out for a little while. He’s back now.”
Clemson also brought in help through the transfer portal with Andy Burburija and Markus Strong, and both have already given Swinney something to like. Burburija, in particular, has checked the boxes Clemson wanted when it added him.
“He’s going to be a good player,” Swinney said. “He’s tough.
He’s ready. He’s what I thought he was.
He can be kind of a space eater in there and can move the pocket. He’s powerful.
He’ll be a good player for us.”
Strong has shown up, too.
“ Markus Strong has really flashed,” Swinney said. “He’s showing some flashes. But it’s the same thing - a new guy coming in.”
There’s optimism around the younger group as well. Swinney said he really likes Kam Cody, though he still views him as a player with plenty of growing left to do.
“I really like Kam Cody,” Swinney said. “I like him a lot. I think he’s going to be a good player, but he’s just a young pup.”
Kourtney Kelly is another player Swinney believes can eventually develop into that kind of presence, but he is currently working back from a torn ACL suffered this spring.
For now, the room’s identity is less about one centerpiece and more about the whole collection. Swinney said that may actually be a strength.
“I think it’s just kind of a room right now where their strength is their group,” Swinney said. “It’s not really one guy, which I don’t think is a bad thing.”
He’s coached defensive lines before that were built around one dominant force, the kind who can take over a game. Those groups could be special, but they also came with a downside when the star came off the field. This Clemson group, Swinney believes, may offer a different kind of value.
“Sometimes I’ve had years where I’ve had one guy who’s an absolute dude, and then we kind of drop off after that,” Swinney said. “I think this is a group where we’ve got a bunch of guys that can play in there.”
That kind of depth can matter a lot at defensive tackle, where fresh legs are part of the job. But with camp nearing its end and the season getting closer, Swinney is still waiting to see whether one of those “nobodies” becomes the one everybody else has to chase.
“I’m still waiting for that alpha,” Swinney said, “to separate.”
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