Clemson’s 2025 Special Teams Battle: Punter Competition, Blocked Field Goals, and the Path to Redemption
As the Clemson Tigers gear up for the 2025 college football season, all eyes are on their special teams unit, a group that could make or break their national championship aspirations.
After a 2024 season marred by special teams miscues—most notably six blocked field goals out of nine missed kicks—the Tigers are in the midst of a critical battle to stabilize this often-overlooked phase of the game. With a loaded roster and sky-high expectations, the punter competition, placekicking reliability, and return game explosiveness are under scrutiny.
Here’s a deep dive into Clemson’s special teams outlook for 2025, the lingering impact of last year’s struggles, and why this unit is pivotal to their success.
The Punter Battle: Jack Smith Takes the Lead
The departure of Aidan Swanson, a six-year veteran who averaged 42.4 yards on 188 career punts and set a school record with 17 consecutive games of at least 40 yards per punt, leaves a significant void at punter. Swanson’s consistency, with 67 punts downed inside the 20, was a quiet strength for Clemson, but his struggles in 2024—particularly with ball placement in key moments—opened the door for a new face. Enter Jack Smith, a redshirt senior and the only scholarship punter on the roster, who has just five career punts in three years.
Smith’s limited experience makes him a question mark, but early reports from spring practice suggest he’s rising to the challenge. During Clemson’s spring game, Smith showcased a strong leg, averaging 43.8 yards on four punts, including one downed inside the 10-yard line. Head coach Dabo Swinney praised Smith’s progress, saying, “Jack’s got a big leg, and he’s starting to get the consistency we need. He’s been working hard with [special teams coordinator] Mike Reed to refine his technique.” However, Swinney also hinted at competition, noting, “We’re still looking at walk-ons and maybe the portal if we don’t see what we want by fall camp.” This suggests Smith’s hold on the starting role is not guaranteed.
Walk-on punters like Hogan Morton and true freshman Clay Swinney (Dabo’s son) are also in the mix, but neither has game experience. The punter battle remains fluid, with Smith as the frontrunner but under pressure to deliver in fall camp starting in August 2025.
The Blocked Field Goal Debacle:
What Went Wrong in 2024?Clemson’s special teams woes in 2024 were headlined by an alarming statistic: six of their nine missed field goals were blocked, tying them with Ohio for the most in the nation. This was a stark departure from the reliability of the B.T. Potter era, when Clemson’s placekicking was a strength. The 2024 season saw the Tigers rank 114th nationally in field goal percentage (62.5%) and 60th in field goals made (15), a far cry from their championship-caliber standards.
The primary culprit? A porous field goal protection unit. In games against Florida State and Louisville, freshman kicker Nolan Hauser had four field goals blocked, with breakdowns consistently occurring on the left side of the line. Dabo Swinney addressed the issue after the Louisville loss, saying, “It’s not on Nolan. Our protection broke down, plain and simple. We’ve got to coach it better, and our guys have to execute.
The lack of a dedicated special teams coach exacerbated the issue. Clemson’s special teams are managed by a committee of three assistants, leading to fan criticism like waterboyII’s comment: “When three are in charge, no one is in charge.” Swinney has defended the committee approach but acknowledged the need for improvement, stating in a recent press conference, “We’ve made adjustments to our protection schemes and personnel. We’re putting more starters on the unit this year to ensure we’re not getting outmuscled.” The addition of defensive coordinator Tom Allen, who has experience coaching special teams at Indiana, could help, but the unit’s 2024 performance—particularly the blocked kicks—has raised the stakes for 2025.
Placekicking and Return Game:
Hauser vs. Gunn and Returner OptionsBeyond punting, the placekicking battle is equally critical. Nolan Hauser, now a sophomore, is the favorite to retain the starting role after going 2-for-2 in the spring game (29 and 48 yards). However, Robert Gunn III, who struggled mightily in 2024 (1-for-4 before being benched), remains a wildcard. Gunn’s powerful leg makes him the likely kickoff specialist, but his accuracy issues—missing three of his first four attempts in 2024—have put him on a short leash. Swinney remains optimistic about both, saying, “Nolan’s got ice in his veins, and Robert’s got a cannon. We just need one of them to step up and be consistent.”
In the return game, Clemson’s options are tantalizing but carry risk. Wide receivers Antonio Williams and Tyler Brown are projected as punt returners, with Williams also a candidate for kickoff returns alongside running back Jay Haynes (if he recovers fully from his 2024 ACL injury). Both Williams and Brown are explosive—Williams averaged 8.2 yards per punt return in 2024—but their value to the offense raises concerns about injury risk. Fan cu81grad remarked, “Using our best receivers on returns is a gamble, but if they break one, it could change a game.” Swinney has hinted at exploring younger players like freshman Gideon Davidson for returns to preserve his offensive stars, but no decisions are finalized.
Why Special Teams Are Pivotal in 2025With Clemson ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25 and facing a gauntlet of games against No. 9 LSU, Florida State, Miami, and South Carolina, special teams could be the difference between a national title run and a disappointing season. The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format means more close games, where field position, clutch kicking, and big returns are magnified. As Morgan Thomas noted on the Locked On Clemson podcast, “Clemson’s 2025 season could hinge on punter and special teams. One bad punt or blocked kick against LSU or in the CFP could cost us everything.”
Historically, Clemson’s special teams have delivered in big moments—think Phil Prince’s blocked punt in 1948 or Rod McSwain’s blocked punt touchdown in 1981. But recent struggles, like the three blocked field goals against Miami in 2024, underscore the unit’s vulnerability. A reliable punter like Smith can pin opponents deep, giving Clemson’s elite defense, led by T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, short fields to work with. A consistent kicker—whether Hauser or Gunn—can secure points in tight games, while explosive returns from Williams or Brown could flip momentum against top-5 foes like Ohio State or Georgia in the CFP.
The floor for Clemson’s special teams in 2025 is a marked improvement over 2024’s debacle, with a goal of reducing blocked kicks to zero and achieving a field goal percentage above 80%. The ceiling? A game-changing unit that wins field position battles and delivers a momentum-shifting return or clutch kick in the CFP. Swinney summarized the stakes: “Special teams is about execution and discipline. We’ve got the talent, but we’ve got to put it together.
If we do, this group can take us to Atlanta [for the national championship].”ConclusionClemson’s special teams battle in 2025 is a microcosm of their broader quest for redemption. Jack Smith leads the punter race but must prove he can handle high-pressure moments. The placekicking duel between Nolan Hauser and RRobert Gunn is critical, with the scars of six blocked field goals in 2024—caused by poor protection and a lack of a dedicated coach—still fresh. Antonio Williams and Tyler Brown offer explosiveness in the return game, but their deployment is a calculated risk.
With a loaded roster and a favorable ACC schedule, Clemson’s special teams must rise to the occasion to avoid costing them against elite competition If Clemson can fix their protection issues and find consistency in kicking and punting, their special teams could be the X-factor in a national title run.
