Clemson Football: Assistants who need a big 2023

Mickey Conn

The linebackers were good. The defensive line was good, and even though they were expected to be great. At the very least, they weren’t a liability.

The secondary was a liability at times last season. Sometimes that could be blamed on injuries forcing young players to play with limited experience. At other times, breakdowns allowed big plays by the Tigers’ opponents.

The cornerbacks were the source of those liabilities at times last year, but Mike Reed has two things going for him that suggest he is on solid ground. First, he is the longest-tenured coach on Swinney’s staff. That isn’t a lock for him – Streeter was long-tenured as well, on top of being a Clemson alum – but it means things would have to be very bad before his seat gets hot.

The second reason is that Reed was one of only two assistants (alongside Nick Eason) who received a raise this offseason. That isn’t a coincidence – Reed is a priority.

That moves the spotlight onto Conn. The safeties didn’t have a great year either, but on top of that, Conn also holds the title of co-defensive coordinator. Given that he is likely to be the guy responsible for secondary coverages and planning, it makes sense that the expectation for improvement will fall on his shoulders.

Considering the experience that the younger players received last year, and the return of two key starters that could have left early for the NFL, the secondary could be significantly improved. If it isn’t, Conn will face scrutiny.