Day 2 Defensive Observations

CLEMSON — Clemson held the second day of fall camp Friday on the practice fields behind the Allen Reeves Football Complex.

The energy and intensity was definitely turned up Friday. Below are a few notes we observed as the media got to watch the first seven periods on Friday’s practice.

• The defense is wearing orange jersey and orange pants this summer. Ben Boulware, who is an intern coach on this year’s staff, is already in the mix with the linebackers. The former Clemson great is coaching them up, and to fit in he came out in all-orange, with an orange T-shirt and orange shorts. As for the coaching, Boulware was definitely helping the Tigers out. During a shuttle drill he coached Joseph Roberto, II on what to look for in the drill and how to watch the ball. On the next rep, Roberto grabbed the interception.
• Staying with the linebackers, Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz led the way on the rotation during individual drills. Kobe McCloud and Dee Crayton were second, while freshman Sammy Brown and Fletcher Cothran were repping third.
• We also noticed Brown had a brace on his left knee.
• At defensive end, we noticed T.J. Parker and Cade Denoff were leading the drills for that unit.
• During one of the drills, defensive ends coach Chris Rumph laid into freshman Darien Mayo. He told him to “get his butt back here and do it again. You have to finish.”
• Defensive tackles coach Nick Eason was also hot during practice following punt drills. He was not pleased with the groups effort so he first told them they needed to “play with a sense or urgency.” He then had the entire group do up-downs before moving over to individual drills.
• We also noticed that former Clemson stars DeAndre McDaniel and Nolan Turner were helping coach the safeties.
• Safeties coach Mickey Conn was really pleased with his players. The long-time assistant told them, “this is the hardest working group.”
• Freshman safety Ricardo Jones made a one-handed catch in practice and then had the presence of mind to get under a netted screen used to help defensive backs keep their head up in the proper position when tackling.
• Defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin had his linebackers and safeties working on the nickel and Tampa 2 alignments before we were kicked out of practice.
• On special teams, kicker Robert Gunn made kicks of 27, 38, 41 and 43 yards in practice. However, he did miss one kick from 34 yards that he pulled to the right.
• Freshman kicker Nolan Hauser was 5-for-5. He made kicks of 27, 34, 38, 43 and 43 yards.
• We also saw Antonio Williams, Tyler Brown, Misun Kelley and Troy Stellato returning punts. Stellato made one nice move to break open a return on one of his attempts. Freshman Bryant Wesco was being used as a gunner on the coverage team, while fellow freshman T.J. Moore was returning punts. He muffed one of his return attempts.
• Cornerback Jeadyn Lukus fell during one of the defensive backs drills. He came over to the sideline and played with his right knee a little, but no one came to check on him and stayed on the field and continued to practice.