Going into spring practice, Clemson’s safety position group was the biggest question mark in Dabo Swinney’s mind with the Tigers having to replace starters Tanner Muse and K’Von Wallace as well as backup Denzel Johnson.
Clemson was also without senior safety Nolan Turner (shoulder) during the spring, but the Tigers’ youngsters at safety showed Swinney a lot during the team’s nine spring practices.
“It’s just a really good group, so I felt great about that,” Clemson’s head coach said during a media teleconference Friday. “That was my one question.”
Swinney credited safeties coach Mickey Conn for helping the Tigers recruit guys like sophomores Joseph Charleston, Jalyn Phillips and Lannden Zanders and redshirt freshman Ray Thornton, all of whom are much improved from a year ago according to Swinney.