Clemson coach Dabo Swinney: ‘You better be ready to stop the run against NC State’

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is no stranger to NC State and what the Wolfpack does. As the two squads prepared for the 92nd all-time meeting this Saturday, Swinney raved about the Pack ahead of the Textile Bowl Matchup. 

“Very, very experienced offensive group,” Swinney said of NC State’s offense. “They’re well coached, they’re tough, they’re physical, they’re built to run the ball. They challenge you from a discipline standpoint. … This is a good football team.”

The Wolfpack enter the game off a 30-20 win over Louisiana Tech, while Clemson comes into the affair after it was idle this past weekend following a 1-1 start to open the 2024 campaign. 

And as NC State’s tried to find its offensive identity through the first three weeks, the run game has struggled at times. The Pack is averaging 4.1 yards per carry, but it logged just 39 rushing yards in the Week 2 loss to Tennessee. 

Swinney, the Tigers’ 17th-year coach, believes that the Wolfpack’s rushing attack is due to break out very soon. He just hopes it isn’t against his Clemson squad.

“When it’s all said and done, this is a team that I think will be able to run the ball, hopefully not this week,” Swinney said. “I promise you this, you better be ready to stop the run against NC State. If you can’t stop the run against these guys, you’re in for a long day.”

While Swinney described NC State’s offense as being “built” to run the ball this season, he is well aware of the passing attack. Swinney pointed to sophomore wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion as a key part of the Pack offense. 

The reigning ACC Rookie of the Year can touch the ball in a variety of ways, and the Tigers are preparing to see everything and anything from offensive coordinator Robert Anae when it comes to Concepcion. 

Swinney thought since the Pack will start freshman quarterback CJ Bailey, NC State may decide to show more wildcat with Concepcion, while also using a plethora of other creative ways to get him the ball. However he does, Clemson’s defense will be keen on where Concepcion is at all times.

“He’s a good football player and they do a good job of getting him touches,” Swinney said. “So you have to know where he is every single play. They’re not going to come out of many drives without him being involved. You better know where he is.”

Speaking of the aforementioned Bailey, the Wolfpack will start a true fresh man quarterback on the road for the first time since Philip Rivers did so in 2000. 

While Bailey has played just a half of football, helping the Wolfpack to a comeback victory over Louisiana Tech this past weekend, Swinney was impressed with the young quarterback. 

“When you watch him, he really sparked them,” Swinney said of Bailey. “I watched every play and I thought he just got better as the game went on. You could tell there was a lot of energy that he brought into it. He’s a tough kid. I didn’t see any fear in him at all.”

Swinney thought Bailey handled the moment well and he is expecting the 6-foot-6, 210-pound signal-caller to bring that same maturity to Clemson this weekend. 

“They’re not going to just ask this kid to go win a game,” Swinney said. “They’re going to ask him to go do his job.”

With a limited amount of film on NC State’s new quarterback, Swinney and the Tigers are focused on preparing for what Anae and company does — not specifically Bailey. That, he thought, would determine what the Wolfpack does in front of a sold-out crowd. 

“You prepare for what they do,” Swinney said. “They’re not going to change their whole offense. They’ve got a week to get ready, they’re going to do what they do. They’re going to hand those balls to those big ole backs. … It’s about blocking and tackling.”