Clemson Football: Players who benefit most from Garrett Riley’s hire

Jake Briningstool

TCU’s 2022 offense used the tight end, but not very much. Clemson tight ends Davis Allen and Briningstool had about twice as many yards and receptions as the Frogs’ tight ends last season.

That doesn’t mean Riley won’t use Briningstool. As noted, Dykes’s philosophy is to utilize the strengths of the players you have. When Riley has had a talented tight end, he has used him.

In 2020 at SMU, he had Kylen Granson, who is currently on the roster of the Indianapolis Colts. In 2021, he had Grant Calcaterra, a transfer from Oklahoma that is currently on the roster of the Philadelphia Eagles. Both players had statistics comparable to Allen’s production in 2022.

Briningstool tied with Williams with four touchdown catches in 2022. Since one of the hallmarks of Riley’s offense at TCU was red zone offense, Briningstool is likely to be a primary target for Klubnik.

Another reason Briningstool stands to benefit notably from Riley’s playcalling is his status as one of the better pass catchers on the team, regardless of position. I am hopeful that Riley’s presence will be a boost for all the receivers, but this doesn’t change the reality that most observers consider the current receiver corps to be deficient in talent compared to the groups of the past. A new offensive coordinator can’t just wave a magic wand and improve the team talent level overnight.

Riley might find he must go beyond the wide receivers to find enough reliable targets. Briningstool will be the next option in the passing game for Klubnik.