Five Clemson football players Dabo Swinney will watch closely during spring practice

Posted by author February 26, 2025 Football

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CLEMSON — Clemson football will have one of the most experienced rosters in FBS in 2025.

The Tigers retained every end-of-year starter with eligibility remaining, including quarterback Cade Klubnik, to complement returning high-end talent and talented newcomers.

Spring practice will allow Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and his staff to identify players who can contribute immediately and those who need more time to refine their respective skills. The Tigers will have 11 practices, two scrimmages and one walkthrough, which lead into its spring game on April 5 (1 p.m. ET) at Memorial Stadium, to figure this out before fall practice.

Here are five players to keep tabs on during Clemson’s spring practices:

Will Heldt, DE

Clemson landed three transfers in the portal in 2024, the most transfers it has secured in a cycle. The player who should have an immediate impact is Purdue transfer Will Heldt.

Heldt, 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, recorded 56 tackles, including 10 for loss and five sacks, in his second year with the Boilermakers last season. His sack total would have ranked second among Clemson defensive linemen.

Heldt getting acclimated to new defensive coordinator Tom Allen‘s system and creating synergy with edge rusher T.J. Parker and other linemen will be critical for Clemson.

Christopher Vizzina, QB

Vizzina is best positioned to take over for Klubnik when his time ends after 2025. Still, Vizzina needs to show this season he has improved.

Klubnik has avoided injury in his career, but issues can arise over the course of a season. Vizzina improving his post-snap recognition and becoming more confident this spring will do wonders for Swinney’s confidence if Klubnik needs to be replaced.

Vizzina has played in nine career games, scoring his first collegiate touchdown against App State last season. He won the backup quarterback job last season and showed areas of growth in his seven appearances last year.

Tyler Brown, WR

Brown, who attended Greenville High School, became a forgotten receiver in Clemson’s rotation after suffering an ankle injury as Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore emerged. Brown, who had 52 receptions for 531 yards as a freshman, redshirted in 2024 after being limited to six games (two starts) and recording five catches for 30 yards.

This spring will be huge for Brown to carve out a role. If he can return to being a dynamic route runner and big-play threat this spring, he can become a featured contributor again. Showing full confidence in his ankle and making plays will also bolster Clemson’s wide-receiver depth.

Gideon Davidson, RB

With Clemson’s running back room in flux because of Phil Mafah’s eligibility expiring and Jay Haynes recovering from a torn ACL, Davidson can set himself apart from the other running backs this spring.

Davidson will battle Keith Adams Jr., Jarvis Green, David Eziomume and wide receiver Adam Randall, who Swinney said will get snaps at running back, for the No. 1 spot. Swinney called Davidson the best running back in the 2025 class because of his speed and explosiveness, which is something Clemson’s room has lacked since Will Shipley left after 2024.

Stephiylan Green, DT

Stephiylan Green showed flashes last year, recording 16 tackles, including a sack, and one pass deflection. He likely will be a key rotational piece for Clemson as Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart will command the two starting defensive tackle spots.

Still, Woods and Capehart battled injuries in 2024, meaning the 6-4, 290-pound Green will need to be ready to contribute. Entering his third season, Green can become a dominant run stopper; improving his technique and motor this spring will be massive for Clemson.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00