Briningstool Having Fun Cementing his Legacy

CLEMSON — Jake Briningstool has been an integral piece of Clemson’s offense since his arrival in 2021.

The tight end cemented his legacy last Saturday as he amassed his 1,000th career receiving yard in the 17th-ranked Tigers win over the NC State.

Briningstool joins only four other Tiger tight ends to reach this milestone, joining Clemson greats Bennie Cunningham, John McMakin, Dwayne Allen and Jordan Leggett. Additionally, his 50 receptions last year tied Allen’s tight end record at Clemson.

With three years of experience and success under his belt, Briningstool and other veteran teammates decided before the season that it was their time to step up and lay a solid mental and physical foundation for the team.

“We built a really good foundation here over the whole course of my career,”  Briningstool said. “I think now, coming back after last year me and a couple of my teammates all sat down together and decided that’s what we’re going to do, so now being able to come back and have the start to the season that we’re having right now, I think it’s a lot of fun.”

The All-ACC lineman shared last year’s adversity from a 4-4 start, and a lackluster start against Georgia only pulled his team closer together.

“We’ve obviously faced adversity, but just being able to go through that adversity together, just staying together and not splinter, continue to believe in each other…I think it’s going to be special year for us,” Briningstool said.

Briningstool was quick to share a key facet to the team’s success so far this year, and it has nothing to do with adversity, but with contagious joy.

“I think guys are just flying around, playing football looking like little kids out there,” he said. “Honestly, I think it’s a lot of fun for us when we go out there and impose our will on an opponent. I think it’s a lot of fun for us just to watch playmakers make plays, everybody doing their job, guys stepping up. It’s just fun to be around. The energy is high and it’s just a good time.”

Briningstool is thriving in the “fun” environment and the Tigers hope to keep having fun on Saturday (7 p.m., ESPN) when they host Stanford for the first time at Memorial Stadium.