Youth Movement Delivers, Helps Clemson Win ACC Title

© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

INDIANAPOLIS—Heading into the championship game for the Atlantic Coast Conference, the No. 8-ranked SMU Mustangs (11-1, 8-0 Atlantic Coast conference) and the No. 17-ranked Clemson Tigers (9-3, 7-1) one thing was certain. The game would be entertaining for the full 60 minutes.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has shown loyalty and a bond to his players and not go after players in the Transfer Portal. As he has said, he believes in the players they have signed. That became clear in the 2024 ACC Championship as the youth movement powered the Clemson Tigers to the win on Dec. 7 to earn their spot in the College Football Playoff as the No. 12 seed.

WR Bryant Wesco Jr. (8 receptions, 143 yards, 2 touchdowns)

To have an impact on an offense as a freshman is tough. Wide receiver Bryant Wesco has quickly become one of quarterback Cade Klubnik's favorite targets. He repaid that trust by leading the team in his best game of the season. While Klubnik spread the ball to eight different receivers, Wesco maximized his opportunities and was a yardage monster averaging just under 18 yards a reception. At 6-foot-2, Wesco has shown a rare fearlessness in making catches in and out of traffic and has the body control to position himself to make plays and still get yardage. Reaching the end zone on plays of 35 and 43 yards in the ACC Championship, Wesco showcased a second and sometimes a third gear to separate and run past defenders.

© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

LB Sammy Brown (14 tackles, 8 solo tackles, 1 pass breakup)

Similar to Wesco, Brown has become integral to his team on defense. During the ACC Championship, Brown was a missile seeking out the ball carrier. He turned in his best performance of the season and led the team in tackles.

Seemingly everywhere for the Tigers' defense, he showed tenacity, attacked the line of scrimmage and closed quickly on the ball carriers. Brown showed his ability to cover sideline-to-sideline which sometimes takes years to develop. He attacked every play and played with a high motor through the whistle that helped drive the team.

K Nolan Hauser (2 field goals, 4-for-4 extra points)

Winning and losing games is often a game of inches with missed field goals. Enter freshman kicker Nolan Hauser. After missing his first attempt of the evening from 44 yards, Hauser made his next two. His first one again from 44 yards away made the score 24-7. His biggest kick of the night came as time expired as he hit a career-long 56-yard field goal to win the game for the Tigers and send his team to the College Football Playoff. His longest field goal of the season came on the biggest stage to date for the Tigers. Completing 71 percent of his field goal attempts on the season has established Hauser as a vital part of the team's success.