According to reports, a second Clemson football player plans to transfer. On3 Sports reported Friday night that Clemson junior safety Sherrod Covil Jr. intends to use the transfer portal when it opens on Monday. Covil, a former four-star recruit from Virginia, has featured in 32 games for the Tigers. Covil saw some early playing time this season, including his first career start against Florida State, but his minutes dwindled down the stretch, and he did not play a snap against South Carolina last weekend. Covil is the second Clemson player to publicly declare his plan to enter the portal, following redshirt junior receiver Troy Stellato earlier this week.
CLEMSON — Cade Klubnik was at a loss for words after throwing the game-winning interception to South Carolina.
Clemson’s quarterback stayed in his car for more than an hour after the Nov. 30 loss, refusing to speak to anyone, since a rollercoaster of emotions had brought him far too low.
He had been driving down to the 11-yard line, poised for a game-tying or winning touchdown. Then his pass was tipped upward. Picked off.
Klubnik smiled again as he recalled what happened next. He arrived home with little over two minutes remaining in Syracuse-Miami. Syracuse was leading, and Clemson was ready to replace Miami in the ACC championship game.
Klubnik uses more than words to depict this emotion. He has the perfect comparison.
“It’s like you’re outside, playing with your siblings, friends, or whatever, and your mother tells you you have to come in, and she gives you five more minutes,” Klubnik explained.
“We’re getting five more minutes to go play.”
Clemson has five more minutes, practically speaking, until making its first College Football Playoff participation since 2020.
Five more minutes against SMU, which has not lost a league game in its first ACC season.
Bonus time is not only a gift, but it also includes a valuable prize.
“We’re excited to go play for the ch
Clemson isn’t finished yet. Here are four things to keep an eye on as the Tigers try to maximize their limited time.
Dual Threats
In recent weeks, Clemson has faced two dual-threat playmakers: Pitt’s Desmond Reid, a pass-catching running back, and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, a scrambler supreme.
The Tigers now face an SMU offensive that combines elements of both.
Kevin Jennings, a 6-foot, 185-pound sophomore, won’t rip through tacklers like Sellers, but he can go through defenses. Brashard Smith, a former Miami receiver, has rushed for 1,157 yards for SMU this season.
“Two rockets sitting back there that can launch at any time,” indicated Swinney.
ampionship,” Klubnik stated.
Clemson’s front six — maybe seven? — will be tested trying to contain both. Perhaps an extra nickel defender might be beneficial in shadowing Smith in and out of the backfield, but freshman linebacker Sammy Brown could make some plays behind the line of scrimmage.
It’ll be intriguing to see how the Tigers match up against this duo. The Tigers arguably won the battle at the line of scrimmage last week, but they were unable to finish off Sellers. Can they bottle up a dynamic duo?
SMU Pass Rush
Clemson’s offensive line was able to give Klubnik ample time to take shots down the field against South Carolina’s formidable pass rush.
Can the Tigers do it again?
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