Clemson is about to reach the two-week point of fall camp, and that means the second scrimmage at Memorial Stadium is right around the corner on Thursday. Around the program, there’s a quiet confidence building on the defensive side, even with plenty still to sort out before the season gets rolling.
That confidence matters because Clemson enters this stretch after being left out of the preseason AP poll for the first time since 2011, the same year Chad Morris began his first stint as offensive coordinator. The Tigers are also trying to build on what Tom Allen did in his first season as defensive coordinator. There were encouraging signs, but the biggest issue was hard to miss: the pass defense was a major problem in 2025.
Clemson addressed that head-on in the transfer portal for the first time, bringing in three new starters in the secondary to help alongside the talent Ashton Hampton brings at cornerback. That’s a significant move for a defense trying to steady itself and improve before the games start counting.
On the other side of the ball, there are still a lot of unknowns, but the pieces are starting to fit together around the quarterback spot. The hope is that Chad Morris can help shape a tougher identity in his return. He walked into a strong situation at the skill positions in his first season back, but the real test is still ahead: Clemson has to go prove it on the field, beginning on the road in Tiger Stadium.
Here’s a look at what’s being heard about each defensive position group as camp moves forward.
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Clemsons Pass Defense Rebound Just Put One Rising Former Tiger In Focus
Clemsons work to clean up a pass defense that slipped to 120th last season has also put a familiar name back in the spotlight. Nolan Turner, the former Tiger defensive back who returned to the program full-time in 2024 after a brief NFL career, is now part of the staffs effort to get that unit trending in the right direction as he takes on a larger role with the safeties.
Turners rise has not gone unnoticed beyond the practice field. 247Sports recently included him on its 30 under 30 list of young assistant coaches, another sign that his coaching path is moving quickly after his playing days ended. For Clemson, it is a useful reminder that some of the programs next wave of leadership may come from people who already know what it means to wear the Tiger uniform. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons New Offense Has One Group Fans Will Be Watching Closely
After Clemsons first scrimmage of fall camp, junior tight end Christian Bentancur sounded encouraged by what he saw from Chad Morris offense, especially the way the group is starting to come together. The Tigers are still in the early stages of building around a new offensive coordinator, but Bentancur pointed to the chemistry among the skill players as a reason for optimism heading into the season.
For Clemson fans, the tight end spot is one group worth watching closely as the attack takes shape. Bentancur believes the position can be part of what makes this offense dangerous, and that kind of confidence matters with the opener at LSU set for Sept. 5. The real test now is whether that early comfort in camp translates once the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Just Showed How Valuable Death Valley Can Be Beyond Football
Memorial Stadium is built for Saturdays in the fall, but this summer it turned into something else entirely for Clemson athletics. Morgan Wallen played two concerts at Death Valley on June 26-27, and the pair of shows delivered a reminder that the place can be a major revenue engine even when the Tigers are not taking the field.
The concerts produced about $4.2 million in gross concessions revenue, with Clemson athletics netting roughly $2.1 million from alcohol, food and beverage sales after splitting earnings with Aramark. And that figure is only part of the picture, because additional revenue through Clemson Ventures, including venue rentals and other event-related income, will push the total higher once everything is accounted for. [Read more 🡒]