AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. – In his 10 years as Clemson’s head coach, the kickoff has been an important element to Dabo Swinney’s successes and failures at Clemson.
When he had C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford returning kicks early in his career, the Tigers were one of the most feared teams in the country when it came to kick returns. Spiller’s long touchdown return just before the half against Miami in 2009 turned the game around and led to a Clemson victory.
Sammy Watkins’ kickoff return also turned the tide at Maryland in 2011 as the Tigers rallied from one of the largest deficits in school history to beat the Terrapins that night.