CLEMSON, South Carolina (AP) — Garrett Riley is sort of accustomed to his new facility in Clemson — deal with approx.
Riley, who led TCU’s offense on its run to a Nationwide League title final season, has taken over because the Tigers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Simply days after the Horned Frogs misplaced the CFP Championship to Georgia final month.
Since then, he is been warning recruits when being taken round Clemson’s large operations middle, “You higher not ask me the place one thing is,” Riley stated Wednesday in his official introduction.
Clemson signed all of its 27-member class in December previous to the offensive change. This system celebrates its new members on Nationwide Signing Day, stated Tigers coach Dabo Sweeney, and there’s no extra essential newcomer than Riley.
Riley, 33, is the winner of the Broyles Prize As the most effective assistant within the recreation for what he did at TCU, which went from 5 wins in 2021 to the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Issues occurred so shortly — Sweeney and Riley spoke for the primary time the evening after TCU’s defeat — that Riley did not get an opportunity to totally have fun his accomplishments final season.
“It was a whirlwind,” he stated. “It was a terrific run (at TCU), identical to it was at Clemson.”
Sweeney paid tribute to his former coordinator, Brandon Streeter, who led an offense that improved in yardage and factors from 2021-2022 and received an Atlantic Coast championship in his solely season on the helm.
“I simply felt prefer it was the suitable time,” stated Sweeney. “We weren’t fairly the place we would have liked to be.”
Sweeney spoke to Riley’s brother, Southern California head coach Lincoln Riley, about Garrett earlier than talking on to him. Sweeney stated Garrett Riley was the one individual he talked to concerning the job.
Garrett Riley performed quarterback for Texas Tech and was arrange within the “Air Raid” offense of the late Mike Leach.
Riley stated Leach, who died two months in the past whereas teaching Mississippi State, had a profound impression on his teaching profession — not essentially on the X and O.
Reilly stated that Leach and his “out-of-the-box considering was very engaging to me”.
What Sweeney favored most was Riley’s use of operating. TCU completed thirty first nationally in roughly 194 yards dashing per recreation. Riley continues to be studying new employees however believes the muse for fulfillment is with Tigers runners Will Shipley and Phil Maffah.
A primary time All-ACC choice, Shipley gained 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns. Mavh had 515 yards and 4 TDs.
Sweeney stated Riley is nicknamed “Air Raid” due to his background. “However when you research him, he runs soccer,” the coach continued. “I’ve little question he’ll make us higher offensively.”
Riley recruited potential Clemson beginning quarterback Child Klopnik to SMU when he was working there a number of years in the past and believes they are going to have a robust and productive partnership going ahead.
Each facet of the Clemson program offers Riley confidence that the Tigers can get again to the place TCU has been this 12 months within the CFP semifinals, which Clemson has missed the previous two seasons after making six consecutive seasons from 2015 via 2020.
Klopnik grew to become a starter late within the season, changing DJ Uiagalelei early within the ACC recreation, and main the Tigers to a 39-10 victory over North Carolina. Klopnik and the Tigers struggled within the Orange Bowl loss to Tennessee, 31-14.
Riley sees the long run potential of his new group and sees Klopnik as a driving drive.
“I do know this child froths at his mouth identical to the remainder of our gamers, and belief me, we coaches are able to go, too,” Riley stated.
Riley, who was born and raised in Texas, stated he and his household have been completely satisfied on the College of North Carolina. He wasn’t wanting ahead to leaving, particularly after the Horned Frogs’ historic season. However Clemson provided Riley a superb alternative to additional his profession. He was awarded a three-year contract value $1.75 million a 12 months.
“It needed to be one thing that was going to tick a field throughout the board,” Riley stated.
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