Tyler Shatley making move from D-tackle to offensive guard this spring

How confident is Dabo Swinney about Clemson’s young talent on the defensive line?

Confident enough that he’s willing to invest a spring in trying out the Tigers’ top returning defensive tackle, rising junior Tyler Shatley, at offensive guard.

Swinney announced his plans for Shatley on Wednesday in an interview on www.clemsontigers.com, saying that the move could be good for the Tigers and for Shatley’s football future.

Swinney said he’s spent hours studying Clemson’s roster and depth chart since the end of the season, trying to figure out how to best use the Tigers’ available personnel.

“It’s something you’re always doing as a coach,” Swinney said. “It may sound crazy, but you can’t believe the amount of time I spend just looking at our roster and depth chart, and looking at people and evaluating where you can get your football team better.

Tyler Shatley's move to OG

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“A guy we’re definitely going to make a move with is Tyler Shatley. He’s going to move to guard. We lost some key guys there, and he’s a junior who’s played a lot of football the past couple of years.

“He’s very smart, very tough, and very physical. We know he can play D-tackle. He can stay over there and can be a very good player for us for two more years. But he has a chance to be an every-down player at guard, as opposed to coming off the field on third down (on defense).”

Swinney said he’s “really excited” about rising sophomore defensive tackles Tavaris Barnes, DeShawn Williams and Grady Jarrett, in addition to “some other guys who are coming in for us…We feel like we have more options there.”

Shatley served as the Tigers’ third defensive tackle last season behind Brandon Thomas and Rennie Moore. He played in all 14 games, started two, and logged 317 snaps. He made 30 tackles and had two quarterback pressures.

“I love Tyler Shatley,” said Swinney. “He’s just a football player. He knows what he’s doing, gives you everything he’s got, and is a 300-pounder and the strongest guy on the team. I think he’s got a chance to become a great athlete for us on the offensive side of the ball…

“So what we want to do is take the spring and see if Tyler can be what we think he can be. I personally believe, if it goes like I think it will go, that he’ll have an opportunity if he wants to play after Clemson to maybe have a shot at guard. Whereas, I don’t know that he’ll have as much of an opportunity over where he is.

“At the end the day, we have to make sure we get everybody in the right spot. I’m excited about that move and getting out there in the spring and watching him.”