There’s a quiet fire in Tristan Smith’s voice — the kind you hear from a guy who’s taken the long road to the spotlight and isn’t letting it slip by without leaving a mark.
“This is my last year, so I’m playing like it,” Smith said after a recent Clemson fall camp practice. “Every day is a game day.”
Smith, a former JUCO product who transferred from Southeast Missouri State, has quickly earned respect in the locker room not just for his work ethic, but for his joyful spirit. Now entrenched in his first fall camp as a Tiger, Smith says his mindset hasn’t changed from spring ball: Treat every practice like a spring game — a game that matters.
“It’s not different,” Smith said when asked how fall camp compares to spring. “It’s just hotter outside.”
But the heat is more than just weather. Clemson’s wide receiver room is drawing serious buzz — and not just from the coaching staff.
While offensive coordinator Garrett Riley recently praised the depth, Smith took it a step further. When asked about the "two waves of terror" Westcoast reported on, Smith cracked a confident smile.
“Nah, we got three waves of terror,” he said. “We got guys who can rotate in — first group, second, even third — and not miss a beat. That’s how deep we are. That’s how special this group is.”
Smith’s route to Clemson wasn't typical. From Hutchinson Community College to SEMO, and now to the heart of Death Valley, he’s carried with him not only experience, but perspective — something he says makes him appreciate every minute of camp, even the tough ones.
He admits Day One of fall camp didn’t go as planned.
“Nerves, man,” he said. “It’s my last fall camp. First day back in pads. I had a rough one, but Coach Swinney got on me, and I bounced back. Now I’m locked in.”
What’s helped? Chemistry with starting quarterback Cade Klubnik. The two have developed a rhythm off the field that translates when the whistle blows.
“Cade lives right near me, so I see him all the time,” Smith said. “We talk about life, not just football. And after practice, we’re working on specific throws. Overshots, timing routes, all that. That connection — it matters.”
But what really separates this year’s squad, according to Smith, is the bond. It’s not just a WR thing. It’s a team thing.
“This is the best team I’ve ever been a part of — hands down,” he said. “The way we practice, the energy, the relationships. Man, we’re connected. We just happen to be really good at football.”
And he’s seen the defensive side of that intensity, too. New defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s influence has been immediate.
“Man, the defense doesn’t stop. Whistle blows, and they’re still punching at the ball,” Smith said. “They disguise coverages like crazy — even as a receiver, it’s hard to read. But they hold each other accountable, and it’s fun to go up against that every day.”
Smith doesn’t just show up for practice. He’s immersed himself in the Clemson culture — from community bingo games at local nursing homes to forming friendships across the roster, including with fellow transfer and rising star T.J. Moore.
“We butted heads a few times,” he said, laughing. “But that’s what family does. We want the best for each other.”
When asked about managing nerves as the season opener approaches, Smith leaned on a mantra that’s become a guiding force.
“One day at a time. That’s what Coach Swinney says. I can’t think about next week. Just today. Just one rep at a time.”
And that’s exactly how Smith plans to attack what could be — or maybe won’t be — his final year.
“I told the staff, if I get another year, I want to hear about it after the season,” he said. “Otherwise, I’ll get comfortable. And I don’t want that. I want to go all in, right now.”
With the depth, the energy, the off-field chemistry — and yes, the three waves of terror — Smith believes this Clemson team isn’t just poised to be good.
“It’s gonna be special,” he said. “For sure.”