Swinney supports D.J. Reader in giving baseball 'all he's got' this spring

Dabo Swinney says D.J. Reader will get as much work as he wants this spring.

The good thing is that the big man from Greensboro, N.C. can't seem to get enough.

Juggling football practice with baseball this spring, Reader begged off Clemson's opening practice because of a conflict with the Tigers' baseball game against Wofford - a game he thought he might have a chance to play in.

It didn't happen last Wednesday, but Swinney seemed inclined to let Reader try it again another time.

"D.J. will get pretty much most of our practices," Swinney said. "I think there's a day or two when may double up, when they have a night game and we have an afternoon practice.

"It'll be good to have D.J. back out here. He looks good. He's probably about 13 pounds down. He's got a great future here. He's such a big man, and such a sweet kid - he talks so softly. But I'll tell you, he's a football player."

Swinney said Reader will work out over time whether he's a college-level baseball player, as well.

"He loves baseball," Swinney said. "The thing I like about it is that he likes to work. He likes the grind and the practice, because, I tell you, it's a commitment every single day. But he enjoys all that.

"It will all work itself out. He'll either turn out to be good at both sports, or he'll settle in over here kind of like Nuk (Hopkins) did at some point.

"I've encouraged him to go and give it all he's got because that's what he wants to do. We support that. Hopefully he'll make an impact for them somewhere down the line."