Clemson Football Update: Tigers try out a new kicker in practice

CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 2: Wide receiver Will Swinney holds the ball for kicker Greg Huegel
CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 2: Wide receiver Will Swinney holds the ball for kicker Greg Huegel /
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Clemson football held a tryout for a brand new kicker on Wednesday. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney talked about how he did and what they are hoping to see.

Clemson football’s kicking game has been less than ideal through seven games this season.

Since Greg Huegel went out with a torn ACL, kicker Alex Spence has come in to replace him. Spence went 2-for-6 and missed two of those last week against Syracuse.

That inconsistency has sent Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney looking for someone reliable.

He was led to senior Drew Costa, a kicker out of Bishop England who tried out a couple of years ago.

The Tigers didn’t have a spot for him then, but now Swinney says that the senior is on a “day-to-day contract.”

Analysis:

Costa is a product out of the low country. Swinney says that they liked him back when he tried out and kept his name just in case something like this ever came up.

I think the kid deserves a chance to prove what he can do, but it’s clear that this is still in the early stages.

From his senior film, it’s clear that he doesn’t have the power to hit from 50, but all Clemson football needs is someone that can consistently hit the chip shots.

I believe he can do that, but I’m not so sure that he would be able to consistently hit from outside of 40. He hit some from 47 and 43 in the video above, but I don’t think that’s something he does very often.

I may be wrong about that and only time will tell, but I think Costa could be an option for the Tigers going forward.

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If he can just be consistent from the 30-yd line in, that would be huge for Clemson as they try to get back in the College Football Playoff talk.