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Clemson Football Spring Game Primer: Defensive Ends

By John Chancey

Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas pressures Boston College quarterback Dennis Grosel earlier this season at Memorial Stadium.Ncaa Football Acc Clemson Boston College
Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas pressures Boston College quarterback Dennis Grosel earlier this season at Memorial Stadium.Ncaa Football Acc Clemson Boston College /
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Clemson football will play their spring football game on Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m.  The game will be televised by the ACC Network.

When: April 9 at 1 PM, Clemson Memorial Stadium

Position Coach: Lemanski Hall – Last year, it seemed like Coach Hall was still a ‘new’ coach. With all the offseason changes, he suddenly becomes one of the elder members of the staff as he begins his fifth season coaching the defensive ends. He has plenty of talent to work with in 2022, but there are expectations as well. The defense will be looking for the ends to put heavy pressure on opposing quarterbacks as the back seven settles in with five new starters.

Who is playing: Xavier Thomas (+SR), KJ Henry (SR-RS), Myles Murphy (JR), Justin Mascoll (SR-RS), Kevin Swint (JR), Greg Williams (JR-RS), Cade Denhoff (FR-RS), Zaire Patterson (FR-RS)

Who isn’t playing: Jaheim Lawson (FR)

What we can expect for the spring game: The spring roster for the defensive ends is the textbook definition of ‘functional depth’. Both the Orange and the White will have four scholarship ends available. Considering their experience, Thomas, Henry and Murphy will likely get some drives in early and then step aside to allow the balance of the group to get some much-needed work.

With all three probably moving on after 2022, the Tigers will be interested to see how much progress Denhoff and Patterson made during their redshirt year in 2021. They will also want to see how Mascoll, Swint and Williams fit into the plan as well.

What we can expect for next season: Expectations for this group were high going into last year, and while they got the job done as a unit, individually they left 2021 feeling like they have something to prove. After an admirable freshman campaign in 2020, Murphy didn’t quite live up to expectations as a sophomore. Neither Thomas nor Henry have completely lived up to the hype of their 5-star status out of high school.

They want to prove themselves to fans, but they also want to prove themselves to the NFL. This is a ‘money season’ for the defensive ends. With the talent and a chip on their shoulder, we have every reason to believe they will be impactful.

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