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Clemson Football: Aidan Swanson has the power. Does he have the consistency?

By Shawn Spencer

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates with the trophy after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. Clemson defeated Notre Dame 30-3. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates with the trophy after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. Clemson defeated Notre Dame 30-3. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Clemson football punter Aidan Swanson is competing for the punting position. He has the power, but does have the consistency to make it a battle?

Typically when you have a player returning for what will be their third year as a starter, there isn’t a position battle. That’s not necessarily the case for Clemson football, but that’s yet to be determined.

Will Spiers has been the punter for the Tigers for the past couple of seasons, but he has been inconsistent in both campaigns.

Though Spiers was inconsistent at times in 2019, he had perhaps the best game of his career against Alabama in the National Championship game, which was a surprising aspect of the outing back in January.

But, Tiger fans still can’t get the pictures and re-runs out of their head of Spiers shanking a punt that only traveled 13 yards or booting a punt off of his foot that traveled less than 30 yards. Even some of the punts that he hit cleanly off of his foot only traveled in the 30-40 yard range and that has left fans wondering.

Freshman Aidan Swanson stepped on to campus this spring and is seemingly having a decent spring camp so far. With that being said, Dabo Swinney told the media earlier this week that Swanson needs to be more consistent.

He said that he’s had a couple of good days and a couple of bad days. The Tigers want to see him excel and compete at a high level every day. Swinney also spoke highly of Spiers and said that he looks like a completely different punter with a new sense of confidence.

Reading through the coach speak, though, I think that was a challenge to Swanson and an assurance to Spiers.

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The Tigers- just as they always have done- are going to do whatever they can to help the veteran win the job and allow them playing time, but if a freshman comes in and is just flat-out better and wins the job, they’re not afraid to make a change.

Here early in the spring, we’re seeing a challenge being issued out to Swanson. He has the talent, power and ability. Does he have the consistency?

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