CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Kirk Herbstreit says Clemson is
Kirk Herbstreit says Clemson is "arm-in-arm" with Alabama from a recruiting standpoint.

Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite


by - Staff Writer -

ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit is already on the record for ranking Clemson No. 1 after witnessing the Tigers' win at Louisville in person Saturday night.

Wednesday on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike show, Herbstreit went into detail on not only what makes this Clemson team elite, but how Dabo Swinney sets the program up for success.

"(With) Kelly Bryant's performance, this team is going to execute in a different way,” Herbstreit said. “They are going to run the football more effectively than when they had Deshaun Watson. Will they continue to be able to throw will be the one mystery as they get into some of the tougher games, but I think the answer is gonna be yes.

“They are clearly, in my opinion, the team to beat in the ACC. They look like they are headed back to the playoff. Their defense is frightening. That defensive line, the linebackers, the safeties, the corners. Brent Venables is maybe one of the best defensive minds in the last three years.

"So everything is there. And most importantly, even though they won a championship last year, somehow they found a way to play with a chip on their shoulder. They are mad at everybody and that’s always a good thing when you play football.”

Herbstreit touched on it toward the end of the Clemson-Louisville broadcast, but he said again Wednesday that Swinney's recruiting philosophy stands out, which has the Tigers in another tier.

“I just want to offer up some respect and hopefully people see what the job that Dabo Swinney is doing at Clemson," said Herbstreit. "It’s one thing to sit here and break down X’s and O’s but as you know and it’s human nature anytime you climb the mountain and you haven’t done it in years and you get to the top it’s easy to kind of let the complacency set in. Clemson has arrived to a point, as a program, where they are arm-in-arm with Alabama. They are recruiting at a level that is in a different place - a different galaxy."

How they're getting there sets Clemson apart.

“They are doing an incredible job of recognizing talent," Herbstreit said, "and more importantly, as we’ve been talking a lot about 5-star recruits lately and their entitlement, they do a really good job of recruiting character and kids that fit their culture. They’ll chase guys away after a recruiting weekend because Dabo will talk to his current players and say, ‘Hey, does he fit us?’ And if his players tell him, 'No, he doesn’t,' and he’s a 5-star who runs a 4.3, Dabo will not continue to recruit him.

“So what they do is they have found a formula that works for them, not only for how fast he is and how strong he is, but does he fit our kind of guy. And if the answer is no, they will not recruit him. That’s just background information to know why this Paw, this orange and white and purple team just continues to play the way they have. It’s by design.”

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Subject (Replies: 62) Author
spacer FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
TigerNet News®
spacer Thank you Herbie.....that is correct...***
ClemsonSCTiger
spacer High Cotton ...
Tigerdug23®
spacer Careful....you may offend someone by even saying
tmitchell27®
spacer Re: Careful....you may offend someone by even saying
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer I'm offended...
clawpaw®
spacer Wait until they figure out who harvested rice...
MackDaddy®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
8992Tiger
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
TigerLinks®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
Iron4044®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
tigered1®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
Dugatiger®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
TWALEXA
spacer agreed, I think Herbie has most always been fair with our program***
97TigerPaw
spacer How much longer can we keep Venables?
STERLING®
spacer Re: How much longer can we keep Venables?
lhaselden
spacer That would be fantastic... why hasn't someone made him the
STERLING®
spacer Re: That would be fantastic... why hasn't someone made him the
Tigerluvr
spacer Re: That would be fantastic... why hasn't someone made him the
Dugatiger®
spacer Man has said he won't move his family again.
MRTTMT
spacer Maybe when the last kid graduates he might make a move
The Electric Aunt Jemima
spacer Re: How much longer can we keep Venables?
Tim317
spacer Hard to believe but some families can live
Neal in NC®
spacer Re: How much longer can we keep Venables?
TigerLinks®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
BurntOrangeNWPurple®
spacer The next person who says Herbie is anti-Clemson....
Completely Solid Orange
spacer Re: The next person who says Herbie is anti-Clemson....
rhettfla
spacer Re: The next person who says Herbie is anti-Clemson....
ddclemson
spacer Re: The next person who says Herbie is anti-Clemson....
TigerLinks®
spacer Herbie would have to be certified stupid to have a...
ClemsonTiger1988®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
sarge12
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
BKendall36
spacer The headline of the article is a bit misleading.
oldhaitianrat®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
kctigs81®
spacer WOW..always liked that Buckeye QB Herbie, BUT this
lightbulbbill®
spacer The program has earned that luxury (of being so selective)
tplemin
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
bloodrunsorange63®
spacer This isn't a big secret. I'm sure all the big time programs
ChucktownOrange
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
SAG6060®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
ClemVegas
spacer Dude,
TigerHawk76®
spacer Re: Dude,
ClemVegas
spacer OK, now I get it.
TigerHawk76®
spacer Re: OK, now I get it.
ClemVegas
spacer Re: OK, now I get it.
TigerHawk76®
spacer Re: OK, now I get it.
ClemVegas
spacer Re: OK, now I get it.
ClemVegas
spacer Re: OK, now I get it.
ClemVegas
spacer CLEMSON IS ELITE.***
CootSmackdown16®
spacer Re: CLEMSON IS ELITE.***
ClemVegas
spacer Re: CLEMSON IS ELITE.***
CootSmackdown16®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
ClemVegas
spacer That's exactly what I'm saying...
Francis Marion®
spacer Re: That's exactly what I'm saying...
ClemVegas
spacer Ok, but you said...
Francis Marion®
spacer Re: Ok, but you said...
ClemVegas
spacer ELITE***
CootSmackdown16®
spacer Your coots are stinking football up this year.
ClemsonTiger1988®
spacer Re: That's exactly what I'm saying...***
classof1994®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
CootSmackdown16®
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
SethSlyy
spacer High praise! Wow
nkickha
spacer Re: FB Update: Herbstreit: 'Frightening' defense has Clemson as Playoff favorite
Dugatiger®