Tight Ends
Tight end has never really been a position of pass catching importance in the Clemson offense. This could change very soon, as soon as this year. The Tigers have a wide range of talent at the TE position. Tight ends are not only called on to catch passes but provide much needed blocking for the run game.
Braden Galloway could be one of the “pass catching” TEs, bringing in 27 receptions for 369 yards and two touchdowns in 2020. At 6-4 240, Galloway is a big, fast receiver and could be an integral part of the passing game. Davis Allen (6-6 250) slowly matured into a solid red zone target, catching 16 passes for 247 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is also a solid blocker on the edge and provides valuable blocking in the run game.
A BIG TE that had a fantastic spring game, Jaelyn Lay, stands 6-6 270, and is a mountain of a man. He hasn’t had the success on the field the Tigers expected, but this could be the year he meets those expectations. In the spring game, he caught 6 passes for 39 yards. At his size, he is a wide target that could become that red zone target at TE they Tigers have been missing.
Clemson brought in the #1 TE in the 2021 class, Jake Briningstool out of Brentwood, Tennessee, stands 6-6 215 and looks to be one of those “receiving TE” types but when Coach Batson gets him in the weight room, he will bulk up.
In 2020, the Tigers also brought in another freshman TE, Sage Innis. Innis, 6-4 235 out of Florida, enters 2021 after playing 27 snaps over four games last season. Innis will provide another big target for DJ as well as solid blocking in the run game.
The wild card might be one Luke Price. A 6-2 235 linebacker-turned-TE athlete that missed the entire 2020 season due to a torn ACL. He had played in all 15 games in 2019, catching 4 passes for 41 yards, but he was a big contributor on special teams and is a solid blocker in the run game.
All in all, the TE position at Clemson is in very good hands. OC Tony Elliott has a lot of pieces he can call on depending on the situation, whether it’s 1st and goal at the 5 or 3rd and 15. The position is probably the deepest it has been in a long time.
Projected starter: Braden Galloway
