WR Dye ready to work his way back

CLEMSON - If Thursday's drama involving Clemson receiver Xavier Dye had a title, it would be "Dye and Let Live."

Hours after coach Dabo Swinney revealed that Dye had quit the team with the intent to transfer, the 6-foot-5 junior from Greenwood met with Swinney and was allowed back.

Dye, though, will not play Saturday against Boston College, having missed two practices this week and spending Thursday on the scout squad.

"We've all been young, and a lot of times when things don't go the way you want them, sometimes you have a lot of emotions involved in that and can make some rash decisions," Swinney said. "Heck, even Brett Favre has a hard time figuring out what he wants to do."

Dye, Clemson's first-string split end throughout the offseason and a starter in the Middle Tennessee opener, said the extent of his abrupt demotion prompted his initial reaction.

Dye dropped a pass early in the contest and remained in the rotation the rest of the contest. But having been challenged for his inconsistencies throughout the offseason, Dye was demoted to second-string the following practice and didn't play in last week's loss to Georgia Tech.

His replacement, redshirt freshman Brandon Clear, failed to register a catch.

"You go from being the guy to not even playing a snap on the field - it's kind of frustrating," Dye said. "But I'm man enough to go out and work harder and compete."

Dye caught one pass for 4 yards in the opener and entered the season with 10 catches for 125 yards and one touchdown.

He said teammates' feedback plus the inconvenience of a mid-season transfer convinced him to ask Swinney to return. Dye apologized to the team before Thursday evening's workout.

"He just walked in my office, and I asked him, 'What are you doing here? I thought you'd be riding a wave in California by now,'" Swinney said. "He just grinned and said, 'Coach, I don't want to go anywhere.'"

Kyle and context. Both the tangibles and intangibles displayed by Kyle Parker the first two games gradually will merit treating the redshirt freshman quarterback as more of a weapon than game manager, offensive coordinator Billy Napier said.

But Napier said he has been impressed that amid the increased accolades, Parker has been in the football offices early to watch video several times this week.

"I think he got a little taste of it last week and liked it," Napier said. "He's back at the trough wanting to drink again."

"You call the first two games just trying to get his whistle wet, using your veteran guys and leaning on them. Now, we talk about handling adversity, but how are you going to handle hearing from everyone that you played well? It's not about that. ... This game, this week is what matters."

The safety route. Swinney suggested he had to bite his tongue this preseason, nearly stating the Tigers might be better at safety this year - despite losing a pair of NFL fifth-round picks in Michael Hamlin and Chris Clemons.

Yet that his how strongly Swinney felt that junior DeAndre McDaniel would be a budding star moving back to his natural position.

And through two games, Swinney has a solid case. McDaniel has provided a dynamic presence in the secondary, recording three interceptions and posting a team-best 24 tackles.

"He's one of those special guys who comes along from time to time that has great skills and instincts," Swinney said.

Hip check. Senior tight end Michael Palmer (hip) was listed as probable on Clemson's final injury update. He was the only player whose availability was in question.