Clemson Tigers commit Shavar Young believes this season’s Clemson team has what it takes to compete for a national championship. Despite a rocky start, the Tigers have rebounded, and Young sees this as a testament to the program’s resilience under head coach Dabo Swinney, who has led Clemson to significant success since taking over mid-season in 2008 after Tommy Bowden’s resignation.
Under Swinney’s guidance, Clemson has secured a stellar record of 176-44, with a 108-23 standing in ACC play. His tenure has brought eight ACC Championships and two National Championships, establishing the Tigers as a dominant force in college football.
This season, Clemson has shown grit, bouncing back to a 6-1 record, including a perfect 5-0 in ACC play, following an early defeat to the powerhouse Georgia Bulldogs. Young, watching Clemson’s progression, told Yahoo Sports’ Sam Spiegelman that the team’s performance has silenced early-season critics. “I think they have a chance to go to the Championship,” Young said. “At the beginning, everybody doubted them. They had a tough first game, but they bounced back. Coach Swinney is proving the doubters wrong once again.”
Swinney’s formula for success has largely revolved around strategic recruiting and a strong commitment to developing players within the program, rather than leaning on the transfer portal. His approach, although controversial in an era when many coaches turn to transfers to bolster their rosters, has kept Clemson competitive year after year. This strategy, while doubted by some, has fueled Swinney’s ongoing success and, as Young points out, reinforced the team’s identity and unity.
The Tigers did experience a challenging season last year, finishing 9-4 overall and 4-4 in ACC play, which broke a streak of double-digit win seasons stretching back to 2010. But Swinney’s team closed out 2023 strong, riding a five-game win streak. This year, Clemson has regrouped, with a powerful response after the Week One setback against Georgia. Since then, they have gone undefeated, outscoring opponents 291-127 and holding three teams to 14 points or fewer.
While the path to the national title remains challenging, Young and other fans have faith in Swinney’s ability to guide the Tigers back to the pinnacle of college football. With a history of defying expectations and steadying his team under pressure, Swinney is determined to put Clemson in a position to compete for the championship once again.
