Swinney: ‘We Knew This Was Coming’

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney joined ACC Network’s ACC Huddle show for an on-set interview Saturday night following the 25th-ranked Tigers’ 66-20 victory over App State at Death Valley.

Talented true freshman wide receiver Bryant Wesco made his first career start for the Tigers, and it didn’t take long for the former top-30 national prospect from Texas to make a big impact.

Wesco hauled in a 76-yard touchdown catch on the third offensive play of the game, and Clemson (1-1) never looked back in the contest, which saw Wesco finish with three receptions for 130 yards and his touchdown.

Clemson’s decision to start Wesco against App State clearly paid off, and Swinney was asked what led to that decision to give him the start Saturday night.

“Last week (against Georgia),” Swinney said on ACC Network. “He’s been right there. But we went into the game with Tyler (Brown), we went into the game with Antonio (Williams), and those guys are really good players that have earned that. And Adam (Randall), we felt like was ready, and he had some critical mistakes last week. We’ve got a competitive group, and so the next man got the opportunity and obviously took advantage of it.”

Wesco’s deep post on third down on the game’s opening possession marked his first career touchdown for the Tigers, and the longest touchdown reception by a freshman since Tee Higgins’ 78-yarder in 2017.

On Clemson’s next possession, Cade Klubnik connected with Wesco for a 51-yard completion that set up Klubnik for a 2-yard rushing touchdown.

In just his second career game, Wesco tied Artavis Scott, Justyn Ross and Cole Turner for the fewest career games needed to record a 100-yard receiving game in Clemson history.

Wesco enrolled at Clemson in January, and his breakout performance Saturday night certainly didn’t surprise Swinney and the Tigers.

“He’s been here since January, and we knew this was coming. We knew this was coming,” Swinney said. “So, it was fun to see it. He and T.J. (fellow true freshman wide receiver T.J. Moore), they’re going to be around here for a while and they’ve got a great career (ahead of them).”