Dabo Swinney wants his punt returner to first possess the football. Then make sure he holds onto the ball and finally, he wants him to make a play.
Those are Swinney’s three rules when it comes to returning punts. There is only one time Swinney can remember when not obeying those rules worked.
On the first punt return of his career, former Clemson standout Jacoby Ford, a freshman at the time, went back to field a punt against Florida Atlantic and dropped the ball. The ball bounced to the eight-yard line before he was able to pick it up.