Clemson’s snap counts pay off: Who earned more playing time in Troy bounce-back

After a brutal LSU opener, Clemson reshuffled its lineup against Troy. The snap counts and stat sheet reveal who seized the moment.
Troy v Clemson
Troy v Clemson | Katie Januck/GettyImages

Running Back: Randall Cements His Role

Any questions about Adam Randall’s workload vanished. After 46 snaps in the LSU loss, Randall exploded against Troy: 20 carries for 112 yards, one touchdown, plus 4 catches for 23 yards. His 165 all-purpose yards show Swinney’s trust was justified. True freshman Gideon Davidson got another look—two carries for five yards and a kickoff return—but the gap between RB1 and the rest widened.

Wide Receiver: Wesco Breakout, Brown Reliable

With Antonio Williams sidelined again, Bryant Wesco Jr. stole the show. He turned seven catches into 118 yards and two scores, including daggers of 26 and 34 yards. Tyler Brown added four grabs for 45 yards, proving steady in volume. Randall chipped in from the backfield, while T.J. Moore and Tristan Smith were quiet—one catch apiece, combining for negative yardage.

Tight End: Quiet Day After Committee Start

Olsen Patt-Henry caught one ball for 11 yards. Josh Sapp and Christian Bentancur didn’t factor in the box score, a surprise after all three rotated heavily against LSU. This room remains unsettled.

Offensive Line: More Stability, Better Results

The interior line found its rhythm after LSU’s chaos. Clemson averaged 4.1 yards per carry and allowed just one sack. Harris Sewell and Elyjah Thurmon continued to split time at guard, but the protection for Cade Klubnik looked calmer.

What It Means

The LSU snap counts hinted at trust; the Troy game confirmed production. Randall and Wesco are now locked-in stars. Brown is essential glue. The questions remain with Davidson, Smith, and the tight ends. But after 314 total yards and a convincing 27–16 win, Clemson found offensive answers.

Clemson Snap Count Report Card vs. Troy: Winners and Losers

Winner: Adam Randall – A

165 total yards, a touchdown, and the workhorse role confirmed. Randall is the heartbeat of this offense.

Winner: Bryant Wesco Jr. – A+

A star was born: 7 catches, 118 yards, 2 touchdowns. His chemistry with Klubnik changes the offense.

Loser: Tristan Smith – D

One catch for minus-two yards. After barely playing against LSU, Smith again struggled to matter.

Winner: Tyler Brown – B+

Four catches, 45 yards. Not flashy, but the go-to chain-mover when Clemson needed balance.

Loser: Gideon Davidson – C-

Two carries for five yards, one kickoff return for zero. Freshman still looks a step behind the speed of the game.

Winner: Offensive Line – B+

From overwhelmed vs. LSU to steady vs. Troy. Opened lanes for Randall’s 30-yard burst and gave Klubnik time to hit deep shots.

Bottom Line

The snap counts from LSU foreshadowed Randall and Wesco’s rise. Against Troy, both delivered in a big way. Brown remains steady, while Smith and Davidson are drifting down the depth chart. Clemson now has a clearer offensive identity heading into ACC play.

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