Over the course of the offseason, Clemson has placed a strong emphasis on expanding its offense and developing must-have ball players, with tight ends at the top of the list.
While senior Jake Briningstool is grabbing the headlines, he still has some development to do. In 2023, he rushed for 498 yards and led the team with five receiving scores, but the tight end behind him had just seven catches.
Following Thursday’s scrimmage, head coach Dabo Swinney talked about the growth and development of the tight end unit during the offseason and looking ahead to the first week of the 2024 season.
“All of these guys make plays, it’s one of the best rooms on the team,” Swinney said of the tight ends. “From top to bottom, all of these guys can make plays.”
Swinney also mentioned Banks Pope, who can certainly bring something special to the room. Pope, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound redshirt junior from Columbia, South Carolina, had just one catch for the Tigers in 2023. But with just 53 snaps played in seven games last year, he has much more opportunity to improve his game this year.
“You don’t hear much about Banks Pope, but he’s a guy who gets everything done,” Swinney said. “He brings a certain aspect to us, he’s a bit of a role guy too.”
According to Swinney, all of the tight ends have played well and put in the effort. That includes redshirt sophomore Josh Sapp and sophomore Olsen Patt-Henry. Although they combined for just 102 yards last year, their potential is still high as their passing and blocking development has only gotten better.
Redshirt freshman Markus Dixon is another player to keep an eye on in the tight end room. An interesting story: Dixon played quarterback, wide receiver, safety, tight end and defensive end for three years as a varsity starter at Archbishop Wood High School in Philadelphia.
After playing just five offensive snaps during his redshirt season, the multi-talented Dixon enters the new year with the goal of making a bigger impression.
“Sapp had a great training camp. Olsen had a big touchdown today, great training camp,” Swinney said. “Markus Dixon just kept getting better.”
The tight end unit is certainly a group to keep an eye on as the Tigers enter the 2024 season, beginning August 31 against the Georgia Bulldogs in Atlanta.
“K-Rich (tight ends coach Kyle Richardson) has done a great job of putting this group together,” Swinney said. “It’s strong — everyone has made progress, and we’re going to need it.”
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