Special teams can make or break a season Clemson returns a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. So does the kicking teams. Seniors Will Spiers and BT Potter return to man the kicking duties once again.
Will Spiers is taking advantage of the NCAA rule allowing another year of eligibility to handle the punting duties in 2021. Over a four year career, Spiers has punted the ball 229 times, averaging 41.1 yards a kick with only 1 blocked. He has landed 81 kicks inside the 20 and forced 86 fair catches. Spiers finished 6th in the ACC in punting average in 2020 and looks to have a solid senior season. Sophomore Aidan Swanson has been waiting in the wings, punting three times in 2020 for a 43.7 average. Two of his three kicks were downed inside the 20.
Place Kicking is in the capable foot of BT Potter. Potter connected on 18-23 field goal attempts and hit on 64 of 65 PATs. In his two years as a starter, Potter is 31-44 in field goal tries including 5-5 beyond 50+ yards. In 185 kickoffs, there have been 152 touchbacks. Aidan Swanson is the backup to Spiers.
Kicking field goals and extra points notwithstanding, the long snapper and holder are key elements in this equation. The Tigers return both starters, Jack Maddox and Will Swinney.
The return game in college football has become almost non-existent. For example, the Tigers returned only 13 points in 2020, with Amari Rodgers returning 9 of those for 64 yards. As a reference, Rodgers returned 18 punts in 2019 and 39 in 2018. Clemson only had 17 punts returned against them, allowing 8.5 yards a return. Look for Derion Kendrick to get first call on punt returns in 2021. Spring practice will give several others the chance to compete for punt returner.
Kick off returns were handled by Lyn-J Dixon and Travis Etienne last year. With Etienne gone and Dixon expected to start at RB, somebody else will need to step up. The Tigers are not without prospects. Spring practice will give a few guys the opportunity to fill this roll.
All in all, special teams are in great shape for the 2021 season. The only question marks are who the kick returners will be for punts and kickoffs. Spring practice should shed some light.
