What Dabo said about quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and Clemson’s crop of 5-star signees
Clemson is wrapping up the best decade of football in school history.
The Tigers won six conference titles, reached the College Football Playoff five consecutive years, won a pair of national titles and have recorded at least 10 wins for nine straight seasons.
Clemson has a chance to win its third national title this decade and its third in the past four years if it can beat Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 28 and then defeat the winner of the Oklahoma-LSU in the national championship game Jan. 13.
While Dabo Swinney, Brent Venables, Tony Elliott and the rest of Clemson’s coaching staff deserve plenty of credit for the Tigers’ success, it’s no coincidence that Clemson’s program went to another level as it started signing household names like Tajh Boyd, Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, Travis Etienne, Mike Williams, Tee Higgins and others.
The Tigers signed the next group of expected stars who will be tasked with helping to continue Clemson’s success over the next 10 years on Wednesday, a group that is led by six five-star recruits, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Here is a look at each of the five-star talents Clemson signed and what Swinney said about them:
Bryan Bresee, DT, No. 1 overall
The top-ranked player in the class of 2020 by Rivals and 247Sports, it’s easy to see when you turn on his film while analysts expect him to be a force at the next level. Bresee is 6-5, 290 pounds and is physically ready to come in and contribute as a freshman. He had 30.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks as a senior.
Dabo Swinney’s breakdown: “Bryan Bresee is Christian Wilkins athleticism, dynamic, kind of freaky athletic for a big guy like that. But he’s just stronger and more heavy handed and maybe a little more violent at this stage coming out of high school than Christian was. And we all know who Christian was and how he impacted us as a freshman. But yeah, he’s just a very versatile player. … He’s a 300-pounder that can flat out move.”
Myles Murphy, DE, No. 3 overall
A consensus five-star recruit and ranked as a top 10 player in the country by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN, Murphy had 19 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks as a senior. The 6-5, 265 pound prospect has prototypical size for a defensive end and should be able to immediately help a position group that has been solid this year but could use a dominant pass rusher.
Dabo Swinney’s breakdown: “A lot of people have him as the No. 1 player of the country. He could’ve gone anywhere in the country.”
DJ Uiagalelei, QB, No. 13 overall
The top quarterback in the country, Uiagalelei is hoping to follow in the footsteps of other legendary quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence and lead the Tigers to a national title. The California native passed for 4,225 yards and 48 touchdowns, with two interceptions, as a senior at St. John Bosco High while leading his team to a state title. He is massive for a quarterback at 6-foot-5, 243 pounds.
Dabo Swinney’s breakdown: “He’s has everything that the great ones we’ve had, just bigger. He’s not 6-6 like Trevor, but none of those guys were 240 pounds, and he can run as well as anybody we’ve had. Trevor, Deshaun, both of those guys can run. And he’s special with his arm and his legs like those guys… Just a special young man. Just a very humble young man. No entitlement. No drama. Been committed a long time.”
Demarkcus Bowman, RB, No. 16 overall
A unanimous five-star prospect who was one of the top running backs in the nation, Bowman rushed for 1,570 yards while averaging more than 11 yards per carry as a senior. With Travis Etienne likely moving on after this season to enter the NFL draft, Bowman has a chance to come in and compete for the starting job right away. If Bowman is as good as Swinney expects, he will at least be a contributor as a freshman in 2020. Swinney compared him to former Tigers great C.J. Spiller.
Dabo Swinney’s breakdown: “The first time I watched his tape I told Tony (Elliott), I said ‘That’s Spiller.’ I mean I didn’t ever know if I’d see a guy like that again. But that’s what he looks like. He is unbelievably fast and explosive and gifted catching the ball and all those type of things. Just a really, really good player. Tough, well coached. Comes from one of the best programs in the state. … I mean this guy is great.”
Demonte Capehart, DT, No. 24 overall
A South Carolina native who started his career at Hartsville High before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, Capehart led IMG with 16 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks as a junior. He is physically ready to contribute as a freshman as he is 6-5, 290 pounds and played for one of the best high school programs in the country at IMG. During his final season at Hartsville in 2018, Capehart recorded 19 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Dabo Swinney’s breakdown: “A massive, massive human being and one of the best players in the country. He’s special.”
Fred Davis, CB, No. 26 overall
A two-way player for Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Davis will stick with defense for the Tigers. He had 26 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception and 11 pass breakups as a senior and also rushed for 8.3 yards per carry. The Tigers are likely losing three starters in the secondary, including cornerback A.J. Terrell, and Davis will have an opportunity to come in and compete for playing time immediately.
Dabo Swinney’s breakdown: “Fred, you think about A.J., long, he is a long corner. Great speed, great length, great athleticism, excellent ball skills. He played quarterback for a long time in his career growing up. Just has a knack for the ball and been well coached and I think gonna be a great, great player.”
This story was originally published December 19, 2019 at 9:55 AM.
