Clemson’s weight room has a new tone this summer, and Dabo Swinney says the change is already showing up in the way his players are responding.
For more than 20 years, Joey Batson set the standard for the Tigers’ strength and conditioning program. He helped build the kind of physical edge that powered Clemson’s championship runs, so stepping into that role was never going to be simple. Swinney believes the program landed on the right answer in Dennis Love, better known as D-Love.
Love is a Clemson guy, but he also brought a résumé that stretched well beyond Death Valley. He had worked with NFL players for the Denver Broncos and drew interest from pro teams, including an active push from the Minnesota Vikings, before coming back home. Swinney said that background, along with the way Love connects with players, has made the transition feel natural.
"Oh yeah, I mean guys love they they love D Love, you know," Swinney said. "Joey loved him, leaned on him.
One of the reasons we brought him back... because he otherwise would be he'd be he'd be the guy for the Mike knows no Vikings right now. So we're thankful we got him.
This is where he wants to be. You know, he's a Clemson guy.
He loves this place, and you know he aligns with everything we're about as a program."
That connection has come with a demanding summer. Swinney said Love has wasted no time setting the standard in the weight room, pushing the team through a tough offseason and using his first summer in charge to establish exactly how he wants things done.
"He's got a ton of great experience. But the biggest thing is you know he he's he really connects with these guys, and he's tough.
So it's been a you know it's been a tough summer, you know, for these guys. It's been you only get one first summer, and I think he's taking you know full advantage of it and setting the tone on you know the way the way he wants things done in the weight room...
The guys have responded to it, so I think they've gotten better throughout the summer from where they were in the spring."
One player Swinney singled out was Chris Johnson Jr., whose physical growth has stood out this offseason. Swinney said he challenged Johnson after spring ball to get serious about his nutrition and body weight, and he’s been pleased with the response. He even joked about trying to get the usually reserved player to crack a smile.
"He's been awesome. He's been awesome, and he and it's and I've seen him smile on more than one occasion," Swinney laughed.
"I called Red about him. Red, like he's amazing.
He's never smiles. I'm like, he's gonna smile.
I'm gonna give him a smile... seems happy, and he's got his weight in a good spot. He's certainly an explosive player.
He's he's he's he's he's touchdown. You know what I mean by that is whatever you need from touchdown, he can do it.
You need 90, you need 70. He he can he he can he can go the distance."
In Other News...
ACC Coach Sends Dabo Message Clemson Fans Should Not Ignore
At ACC Kickoff media days, Virginia Tech coach James Franklin took a moment to tip his cap to Dabo Swinney, calling attention to a friendship that has stretched beyond the sideline and into years of family connections and Nike trips. Franklin made it clear he understands the business side of college football, but he also acknowledged the respect he has for what Swinney has built at Clemson, a program that has stayed in the leagues championship conversation for years.
That kind of public praise matters because the two programs are set to meet on Oct. 24 in a game with real ACC implications. Clemson will have plenty of reasons to listen closely when a conference rival speaks that highly of Swinney, especially with the possibility that this matchup could help shape the road to the ACC Championship. [Read more 🡒]
Dabo Swinney Just Sent The NCAA A Message Clemson Fans Feel
Dabo Swinney says Clemson still has not heard back from the NCAA on the tampering claim it filed involving linebacker Luke Ferrelli, leaving the Tigers waiting for a ruling on a matter that has already drawn plenty of attention around the sport. Ferrellis path alone has made the situation notable, as he transferred to Clemson before eventually re-entering the portal and landing at Ole Miss, a sequence that put the case squarely in the middle of the transfer-era chaos college football keeps trying to sort out.
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips has publicly backed Clemsons position and said NCAA leadership promised the issue would be addressed, giving the Tigers some conference support as they wait. Ole Miss coach Pete Golding has brushed off the controversy and suggested tampering is simply part of the modern game, but for Clemson the unanswered question is still the one that matters most: when the NCAA finally weighs in, what will it decide? [Read more 🡒]