Dabo Swinney identifies freshmen that can contribute for Clemson

Dabo Swinney is still sorting out which Clemson true freshmen will contribute and avoid a redshirt for the Tigers in 2024, but he does already know that a handful of guys will help right away, beginning Saturday against Georgia.

Swinney shared that two freshmen on the offensive line are ready to play immediately, although they’re not expected to start.

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“Elyjah [Thurmon] has really demonstrated that we’re going to be able to count on him. Mason Wade is coming along,” Swinney said.

Thurmon was ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 10 interior offensive lineman in the country in the class of 2024, per the On3 Industry rankings, while Wade was labeled as a three-star recruit out of Virginia.

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In addition, Clemson also has a couple of freshmen receivers who are expected to be a big part of the offense this season in former five-star receiver TJ Moore and four-star wideout Bryan Wesco. Both players were rated as top-70 recruits in the country coming out of high school.

“We’ve talked enough about Wesco and TJ Moore. Those guys are gonna play all year,” Swinney said, adding that a freshman running back is ready to help Clemson right now, too.

“I think [David Eziomume] is another guy that we’re going to need throughout the year,” Swinney said.

Clemson will also have freshman linebacker Sammy Brown contributing immediately on special teams and helping out some on defense, while kicker Nolan Hauser was recently named the starting place kicker for the Tigers. Outside of that, Clemson will see how the season unfolds and play it by ear.

“And then Sammy Brown, we’ve talked a lot about him. He’s in our two-deep. He’s a guy that’s going to play a ton of special teams, as will a few other guys,” Swinney said. “But again, we’ve got a few guys that they may even play in this game, but they’re still on that bubble of how we play out the long-term of the season.

“With the four-game redshirt rule, you don’t really have to make a decision on some guys [yet].”

Brown was ranked as a five-star recruit and the No. 2 linebacker in the country in the class of 2024, per the On3 Industry rankings. Meanwhile Hauser beat out returner Robert Gunn for the starting kicking job.