Clemson Football: Freshmen who will likely redshirt in 2023
By John Chancey
Olsen Patt-Henry
- Number: 81
- Position: Tight End
- Height: 6’-3”
- Weight: 240 pounds
- High School: First Baptist Academy
- Hometown: Naples, Florida
- 247Sports Rating: 4-star
The first thing that needs to be noted: I thought that his last name was Henry, and he went by Olsen Patt as a given name. Per the Clemson roster on their website, his last name is Patt-Henry. Good to know.
Clemson is not struggling for tight ends right now. Jake Briningstool will start and could have a breakout year. Sage Ennis and Josh Sapp will be available. There is also spring phenom Banks Pope.
What we’ve heard about Patt-Henry is if he doesn’t see the field, it won’t be because he isn’t capable. He sounds like he has the chops to be a target in the passing game. With three scholarship players at the position, there won’t be a need for either of the freshmen tight ends to play right away.
A redshirt season could also allow Patt-Henry to work on blocking skills, which Garrett Riley has stressed is important in his system.
Another caveat is special teams. A freshman could prove valuable there as well, but based on his primary position, Patt-Henry is a likely redshirt.
Markus Dixon
- Number: 84
- Position: Tight End
- Height: 6’-4”
- Weight: 245 pounds
- High School: Archbishop Wood Catholic High School
- Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 247Sports Rating: 3-star
Dixon sounds more like the blocking tight end who might need to develop as a pass-catching threat, but the tale is the same. Sans injuries to Briningstool, Ennis, and Sapp, he isn’t likely going to be needed in 2023, which means it makes sense to use this season to grow and develop.
It sounds like Clemson found two good tight ends in the Class of 2024, so if Briningstool does move on after 2023, Garrett Riley and Kyle Richardson will have several good options moving into 2024.