Clemson doesn’t often get Dabo Swinney rolling on a player for that long in a press conference, but Ronan Hanafin has clearly earned that kind of treatment.
The senior safety has become one of the Tigers’ most trusted defensive pieces, even though he was not listed ahead of transfers Corey Myrick and Jerome Carter III. Still, Hanafin has kept climbing. Through limited action this season, he has 18 total tackles and a sack, and Swinney made it clear Tuesday that the former receiver has turned himself into one of the more complete players on the roster.
“He’s got good awareness, I mean, there’s certain things that he’s got to improve in where he, you know, everybody’s got some strengths, and everybody’s got some weaknesses” he said, “but just football player, Ronan is definitely one of the best football players we got on this team.”
Hanafin’s path has been a steady one. A four-star recruit out of Buckingham Browne & Nichols Schools in Massachusetts, he played both sides of the ball before moving into Clemson’s secondary. He started flashing last year in the loss to LSU and has kept getting better with each game since then.
Swinney pointed to the traits that keep Hanafin in the conversation every week.
“This kid is tough. He can run.
He’s physical,” he said. “He loves to practice.
He loves to prepare. He’s got great energy; he’s got big-time character, football character.
He studies the game, and his growth has been tremendous.”
Even with Clemson bringing in Carter and Myrick to reshape the back end of the defense, Hanafin stayed put. He didn’t follow the exit route other Tigers took. Instead, he returned for another season, one that will be extended again by the NCAA’s new five-year rule.
That loyalty has kept him in the mix, and Swinney has no interest in taking him off the field.
“You can’t play Ronan enough,” the Tigers head coach said. “He just loves to play the game, and I love having. . that’s been a real constant.”
Swinney also sees a clear change in how Hanafin responds when things go wrong. Last season’s blown coverages and missed assignments helped fuel Clemson’s 7-6 finish, and Hanafin was part of that group. But the coach said the safety handles mistakes differently now.
“I think that’s the biggest area he’s grown is that, in the past, he would make a mistake and it would kind of just haunt him because he cares so much,” he said. “But he’s been able to just come right back, and I think that’s a real sign of his development.”
That growth will matter again when Clemson heads west to face California and standout quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Swinney will be looking for Hanafin to log meaningful snaps, and the coach believes the safety has the tools to help do exactly that.
“Really proud of Ronan,” Swinney said. “I mean, he’s mature, and he’s got another year. His growth and development has been tremendous, and as his confidence has grown, you see the natural, just football stuff that you love about a kid like that.”
In Other News...
Clemson Heads To Its Next ACC Test With New Health Concerns
Clemson heads into its next ACC road test at California carrying a few more health questions than it would like this early in the week. The initial injury report lists multiple defensive starters as questionable, including nickel Corian Gipson and defensive tackle Devarrick Woods, a concerning note for a unit that has had to keep its depth in order as the season has moved along.
Gipson is still working back from a recent injury that limited his play, while running back Jay Haynes remains questionable as he recovers from an ACL tear. On the brighter side, quarterback Christopher Vizzina is listed as probable after dealing with elbow swelling, giving Clemson at least one key offensive piece a better chance of being available as it prepares for a long trip and another conference challenge. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Faces A Late-Night ACC Test That Could Expose Two Concerns
Clemsons first ACC road trip of the season sends the Tigers all the way to Berkeley on Sept. 25, where a late-night test against Cal will offer a cleaner read on where this team really stands. It is the kind of cross-country conference game that can sharpen a September rsum quickly, especially for a Clemson group still sorting out what travels well and what does not once it leaves home.
The matchup carries real pressure because both sides bring a clear identity into it, with Clemson looking to build on recent positive signs while trying to avoid the kind of defensive lapse that can turn a long trip into a long night. Cal also has enough offensive firepower to make this interesting, so the focus turns to how Clemson handles the road setting, the passing game, and the small errors that can decide a game like this before the fourth quarter even settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Dabo Swinney Just Put Clemsons Backfield Tension In The Spotlight
Gideon Davidsons breakout against North Carolina gave Clemson a much-needed jolt in the backfield, and it also helped clarify how the Tigers are sorting out carries behind center. Davidson handled 16 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown in the Week 3 ACC home win, while Chris Johnson Jr. was barely involved and finished without a yard. For a Clemson offense still trying to find the right rhythm, the distribution was hard to miss.
Dabo Swinney then made it clear the reduced role for Johnson was not just a matter of game flow. He said Johnson was benched for not following the play scheme, even as the freshman continued to help on special teams, and he also pointed to issues up front and the lack of depth at running back. That leaves Clemson with one obvious emerging option and a few questions about how stable the rotation really is once the Tigers get into the heart of league play. [Read more 🡒]