Swinney Tabs First-Year Starter as Tigers' MVP Across First-Two Games - Patience has paid off for the redshirt junior

Ryan Linthicum is one of those players that patiently waited his turn at Clemson.

Coming out of high school, Rivals tabbed Linthicum as the top center in the country and just outside of the Top 100 overall. With that kind of ranking comes high expectations, but turns out Linthicum was one of those guys that just needed some time to develop.

His first three years in the program, the redshirt junior did just that, honing his skills while playing behind Will Putnam, as well as making sure he was in the right physical condition so that he would be ready when his time finally came.

That time is now as Linthicum won the starting gig with his effort during spring practice and fall camp and after the first two games of the season, Dabo Swinney is reaping high praise on his center.

“The MVP after two games is Ryan Linthicum; that everybody had written off,” Swinney said on his teleconference Monday night. “That kid has done a heck of a job these first two games.”

After the spring, Swinney revealed that the coaching staff had discussed the possibility of adding a center via the portal, but they would eventually hold off, wanting to see how Linthicum performed in spring practice before making that decision.

After seeing him during spring practice the decision was made to stick with what they already had on the roster, and two games in, Linthicum is doing his part to prove that it was the right decision.

“I’m really proud of him,” Swinney added. “He’s a guy that’s been here and he’s been developing. He’s been patient behind Putnam. He has seized the moment and has really come through for us.”

In fact, Swinney believes Linthicum is a big part of the reason why the entire offensive line has been much-improved in the first two games, and in turn that has lead to quarterback Cade Klubnik having more confidence in his pass protection.

“He has really played well,” said Swinney. “He’s an incredibly smart kid, making the right calls and decisions up front. So it’s been really good and there’s no question that’s created, I think, a lot of just confidence within Cade’s game.”

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