Tony Elliott
Clemson football has the best assistant coaches in the country because they all fit in the unique family culture that Dabo Swinney has created. Co-offensive coordinator and running back coach, Tony Elliott is not only an extremely talented coach, but one could argue that he was always destined to coach at Clemson.
Elliott played wide receiver at Clemson from 1999 to 2003. His last year was coincidentally Dabo Swinney’s first year on staff as the wide receivers coach. That season, Elliott was co-captain, named the teams most respected player and a recipient of the ACC’s Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarship. After the end of the season, Elliott thanked Swinney for being a coach that loved and truly cared for each player.
Swinney and Elliott have had a special relationship ever since then and Elliot would go on to model his coaching style after Swinney’s. Seven years after graduating, which included two years coaching at SC State and two years coaching at Furman, coach Swinney called up Elliott and offered him an assistant coaching position as the running backs coach.
At Clemson, Elliott has played a crucial role in developing and recruiting some of the best running backs in college football. In 2017 he received the Frank Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach, and was named the running back coach of the year by FootballScoop. He was also named one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation in 2015 and one of the top 10 recruiters in the ACC by rivals. Some of the best running backs that Elliott’s coached include Travis Etienne, Wayne Gallman, Roderick McDowell and Andre Ellington. Last season Etienne played a critical role in Clemson’s success and helped break decade old school records, rushing a total of 3723 yards, 6.55 yards per carry, and rushed for 49 touchdowns.
Tony Elliott was meant to be a football coach at Clemson University and the team is forever better off with him on staff.
Jeff Scott
Jeff Scott has been a full-time assistant for the Clemson football team for 11 years, leading the Tigers to a bowl game each season. Jeff Scott is the son of Brad Scott who was the head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks and later, Clemson’s offensive line coach. Jeff Scott now serves as the co-offensive coordinator, a position he earned in 2014, along with Tony Elliott. Scott has played a major role in the development of many of Clemson’s superstars over the past decade. Sammy Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins, Artavius Scott, Mike Williams and Hunter Renfroe all worked with Scott to develop their game. Outside of his contributions on the field, Scott has served as an excellent recruiter as well. Scott has won numerous recruiting awards from Rivals, 247Sports, ESPN and NFL.com.
While Tony Elliott handles most of the play calling responsibilities, Scott is satisfied with his role. In January, he said per The State, “The way that coach (Dabo) Swinney treats myself and Tony really as true co-coordinators and not a title, it’s really put myself in a position where I don’t need to leave to be the play caller…I feel like I can be a coordinator right here at Clemson.” Said Scott.
While Scott doesn’t see himself leaving to be the offensive coordinator at another school, he has been very transparent about his goal of becoming a head coach, stating, “Our plan is to stay together as long as we can until a head coaching opportunity comes up we can’t pass up. I know for myself that’s what my goal is.” Said Scott.
While losing Scott would be a major loss for the Clemson program, one certainly can’t blame him for wanting to take the next step. With all of the accolades he has earned over the past 11 years, he certainly has the resume to do so as well. For now however, Scott is focused on helping the 2019 Tigers continue their offensive success from a year ago.
Brandon Streeter
Quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter is heading into his 12th season with the Clemson football program, dating back to his playing days. Ever since he took over as the QB coach in 2014, the position has seen the best of the best talent. He coached Deshaun Watson in his two Heisman runner-up seasons in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, Kelly Bryant was a Manning Award finalist and Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist. And most recently, Streeter has worked with Trevor Lawrence, arguably the best quarterback in college football despite only being a sophomore. Also, let’s not forget about Chase Brice, the backup to Lawrence who led the Tigers to a fourth quarter comeback versus Syracuse.
Under Streeter, Lawrence can only improve – something that he did in every game in the 2018 season. With his freshman season and championship experience under his belt, Lawrence will enter the season as the full-time starter. It doesn’t seem like Brice has the chance to take the starting job away from Lawrence, but he will surely see a lot of time in games that are out of reach for opponents.
Behind Lawrence and Brice is freshman quarterback Taisun Phommachanh, the No.1 recruit out of Connecticut. He will battle with redshirt freshman Ben Batson for third-string quarterback duties. Batson played in two games in 2018 (Wake Forest and Florida State) but still has four years of eligibility left.
Coming to Death Valley in 2020 is another top QB prospect: DJ Uiagalelei. The five-star QB from California aims to be the next big star to line up under center.
In a couple of years, the football program known as “WRU” might turn into “QBU.” If everything goes according to plan, Streeter might coach two more first-round picks over the next couple of years. With the summation of talent that he has helped bring to Clemson, Streeter would own one of the best résumés amongst position coaches in college football.
Brent Venables
Known for his passion and enthusiasm on the sideline, Brent Venables is the leader of one of the most ferocious defenses in the country. The veteran defensive coordinator is back for his eighth season at Clemson and he has no plans of slowing down. Venables is one of the most prestigious coordinators in the country; his current run at Clemson has been astonishing. The Tigers have been one of the most dominant defenses in the last eight years and have produced numerous amounts of NFL talent under Venables. Venables’ defense finished 74th in total defense in his first season at Clemson; two years later, his defense finished first overall in the same category.
Brent Venables’ defenses are known for having great defensive lines, athletic linebackers and speedy defensive backs. Venables’ ability to develop talent is outstanding as well; Clemson has produced some of the top defensive talent in recent memory. The Tigers produced four of the top defensive line picks in this past years’ draft and as a whole, have sent over 10 defensive linemen to the NFL over the past five years. Venables also has a track record of stingy defenses against the run. The Tigers have finished near the top in rushing defense three times in Venables’ tenure, and Clemson should be great against the run this year as well.
Brent Venables has blossomed into one of the best coordinators in the country, and Clemson is blessed to have him on the sidelines. The Tigers should have another great year with Venables at the helm, and that defense coupled with the explosive offense, should make for another great year in Tiger Town.
