Dabo Swinney says kicking and punting are 'consistently inconsistent' for Clemson football
CLEMSON — Through two weeks of spring practices, there's one area in which coach Dabo Swinney thinks Clemson football has a long way to go: Kicking. Both punting and kicking, Swinney said, have been "consistently inconsistent" in spring ball so far.
"That's probably the biggest area that's not where we need to be," Swinney said after Clemson's first spring scrimmage Wednesday. "Not terrible, but I mean, we're not elite."
The Tigers are facing some turnover at one of the specialist positions.
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At punter, Clemson returns Aidan Swanson. The only other punters on the roster are redshirt freshman Jack Smith and walk-on Brodey Conn, who is also a safety.
Swanson struggled in his first season as starter in 2022. A quarter of his 62 punts pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line. Smith could challenge for the starting role if Swanson can't find consistency.
Swanson is also listed as a placekicker and could potentially get in the mix to replace multi-year starter B.T. Potter if the staff decides to move him off of punt duties. Potter was the fifth-highest graded field goal kicker in the ACC last season, and he finished his five-year career 75.3% on field goals and 99.6% on PATs.
Replacing one of Clemson's best-ever kickers won't be easy. The presumed successor, however, is redshirt freshman Robert Gunn III. Gunn did not attempt any field goals during his redshirt season in 2022 but made one PAT and had five kickoffs. Gunn was the No. 8 kicker in the country in the class of 2022, according to 247Sports.
Gunn is the only scholarship placekicker of the four kickers on Clemson's roster excluding Swanson, who is listed as a punter/kicker. None of the walk-on kickers have attempted a field goal or PAT, but cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator Mike Reed said there remains open competition at the kicker spot.
With three weeks of practice remaining after spring break and the whole of fall camp to get ready for the 2023 season, Clemson has plenty of time to set its starters. But keep an eye on the specialist positions as preseason preparation continues and the Tigers try to find some consistency.
"It's an opportunity for these young boys to step up and be the guy that we trust," Reed said. "Who's going to be the guy? Is it going to be a walk-on? Is it going to be a scholarship player? Who knows, but everybody will have an opportunity."
Christina Long covers the Clemson Tigers for the Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. You can follow her on Twitter @christinalong00 or email her at clong@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Kicking, punting 'consistently inconsistent' for Clemson football
