While Clemson keeps looking for a steadier rhythm on offense, Nolan Hauser has given the Tigers something they can count on.
The junior kicker kept that trend rolling Saturday afternoon against Charleston Southern, going 3-for-3 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points in Clemson’s 37-0 victory. The biggest swing came at the end of the first half, when Hauser drilled a career-long 59-yard field goal.
That boot landed in rare company. It was the second-longest kick in Clemson history, behind only Spencer Benton’s 61-yarder against Ball State in 2012.
It also gave Hauser another honor to add to a growing list. He picked up his third ACC Specialist of the Week award this season and the fifth of his career, moving past David Richardson for the most selections in Clemson history.
The numbers behind his season are eye-catching, too. Through six games, Hauser has made 15 of 16 field goal attempts, a 93.8 percent rate. He is tied for second nationally in field goals made and is one of only two kickers among the 13 players with at least 15 attempts this season to be hitting at least 90 percent.
His 59-yarder is the third-longest field goal in the country this season, and his 583 cumulative yards of successful field goals rank second nationally.
For a Clemson offense that has had trouble finishing drives, that kind of reliability matters.
Head coach Dabo Swinney said there was some hesitation before sending Hauser out for the long try.
"I asked him, I said, do you think you can get it there?" Swinney recalled. "And so I threw up some grass, I think."
Swinney ended up trusting the leg, and Hauser made him look smart.
"What a kick, what a kick," Swinney said. "And that kid's having an amazing year, really happy for him."
The performance also moved Hauser beyond 50 career field goals and 250 career points, putting him in a select category in Clemson history.
He now owns two of the five longest field goals in program history, along with his 56-yard walk-off winner against SMU in the 2024 ACC Championship Game. That one delivered a conference title. The 59-yarder against Charleston Southern just underscored how much confidence Clemson has in him.
Swinney said he has seen Hauser connect from beyond 60 yards in practice, which gives the Tigers a different kind of security when drives bog down.
With Virginia Tech coming to Death Valley on Saturday and five straight ACC games ahead, that edge could matter.
Clemson still has work to do on offense, but once the Tigers get inside Hauser’s range, they have a weapon most teams would love to have. His resume keeps growing, and so is the argument that he belongs among the best kickers in Clemson history.
In Other News...
Clemson Gets A Late Injury Boost Before Virginia Tech
Virginia Techs secondary could be a little thinner than expected going into the matchup with Clemson, with cornerback Thomas Williams landing on the initial injury report as questionable. On Clemsons side, the week has centered on getting bodies back in shape, and Dabo Swinneys update offered a clearer picture of where things stand as the Tigers continue preparing for the Hokies.
Wide receiver Gordon Sellars III remains out with a concussion and is going through protocol, leaving Clemson to adjust at that spot for now. The more encouraging sign came with backup quarterback Christopher Vizzina, whom Swinney described as about 90% healthy and coming off his best week of recovery, a promising note as Clemson works through the final stretch before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Alum's Trump Rally Appearance Will Split Tigers Fans
Jacob Bridgemans weekend appearance at President Donald Trumps midterm rally in Pendleton added an unexpected Clemson angle to a political event already packed with noise and attention. The former Tigers golfer, now a professional on the PGA Tour and a recent Presidents Cup participant, spent about two minutes on stage praising Clemson University while also acknowledging Trump in front of roughly 4,000 attendees.
For Clemson fans, the moment figures to land differently depending on where they already stand politically, especially with the rally built around support for Republican candidates and punctuated by protesters several times over. Bridgemans public role was brief, but it was still the kind of appearance that can linger far beyond the rally itself, leaving plenty of room for reaction from Tigers supporters who are used to cheering him for golf rather than hearing him at a campaign event. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson's Talent Just Put Even More Pressure On This ACC Showdown
Virginia Tech coach James Franklin made it clear this week that Clemsons talent is not going unnoticed ahead of Saturdays ACC matchup. During a media session, Franklin pointed to the Tigers offensive weapons and overall roster as major reasons the game has his attention, singling out wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. for his punt return ability while also emphasizing the mix of ability and youth Clemson is bringing into the meeting.
The praise extended beyond individual playmakers, with Franklin also mentioning freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds as part of a group that has added to the intrigue around the Tigers. For Clemson, it is another reminder that conference opponents are seeing the same thing everyone else is: a program with enough skill and depth to make every big ACC game feel even bigger, and a matchup this weekend that should draw plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]