A year ago, Misun 'Tink' Kelley was fighting for scraps in a loaded wide receiver room. Now, he's taking the ball the other way for six.
The redshirt sophomore's full-time position switch to defensive back isn't just an experiment anymore—it's looking like a stroke of genius. After scoring a pick-six in a recent scrimmage, the former wideout is rapidly carving out a role in Clemson's secondary and earning rave reviews from his teammates.
None have been more impressed than star cornerback Avieon Terrell. When asked about Kelley's development, a huge grin spread across his face.
“Tink is a dog,” Terrell said emphatically. “He’s a dog, and I like it because you don’t have to tell him to do too much. He came over from [wide receiver], and he just wants to learn every day... Tink just wants it.”
Thinking Like a Receiver
After getting buried on a receiver depth chart featuring stars like Bryant Wesco Jr. and TJ Moore, Kelley has embraced life on the other side of the ball. He and fellow WR-to-DB convert Ronan Hanafin are using their offensive knowledge as a secret weapon.
"We know what the offense likes to do," Kelley explained. "It’s a lot of IQ stuff because we can jump a lot of [routes]. We know certain routes they like to do down and distance.”
That unique perspective, combined with an intense work ethic that has him asking to watch film late after practice, has earned him the respect of the locker room and the coaching staff. Head coach Dabo Swinney, who decided to make the move permanent after spring camp, has noted that the 5-foot-9 athlete has "really come along."
With three years of eligibility remaining, Kelley has gone from a developmental player fighting for a spot to a potential impact contributor on a defense with national championship aspirations. He's no longer just a roster number; he's becoming a "dog" in the secondary.