Clemson’s Swinney calls freshman a ‘dirtbag’ — and that’s a good thing

Generally, being called a “dirtbag” isn’t meant to be a flattering thing. When you’re a young offensive lineman looking to prove yourself at Clemson, though, perhaps there’s no better label to receive from your head coach.

At the very least, freshman offensive lineman Gavin Blanchard has to be smiling after his coach gave him a shoutout in a recent talk with the media at fall camp.

Clemson brought in an extremely strong and impressive offensive line haul via its 2025 class, featuring multiple four-stars. Blanchard was perhaps underrated as a three-star recruit. At the very least, Swinney seems to think so.

“I mean, I’m gonna tell ya. The kid that nobody talks about is Gavin Blanchard,” Swinney said (h/t On3). “You know, he was kind of like a lost guy in this class, but that’s a good football player right there. He’s a dirtbag. He’s a really good football player. He’s a smart football player. He just, he’s just one of those guys that, that plays better than his attributes, I guess is the best way I can say it, say that. You know, he’s worked some center, he’s worked guard, he’s worked (tackle). I mean, he’s just a smart kid. But he is tough, strong hands, really good leverage football player.”

That’s the type of review you want to hear if you’re a freshman trying to stand out amongst an already heralded offensive line group. In fact, Blanchard was the lowest-ranked recruit in Clemson’s 2025 class, but he may end up yet another one of those players who was constantly overlooked but ends up being a star.

At the very least, he’s caught the eye of his head coach in the early going, and that’s no small deal.

From Zephyrhills, Florida, Blanchard was a UCF commit, but he quickly decommitted and joined Clemson soon after the Tigers made an offer to him on Oct. 30.

He was ranked as the No. 69 interior offensive line recruit in the 2025 class, according to the 247Sports Composite, but Swinney seems to think the 6-foot-2, 295-pound freshman is going to be a steal for Clemson.

 “This little Gavin Blanchard now? He’s a really good addition for us,” Swinney continued. “I’m glad we got him. Kind of guy that we got in on a little late but I’m really glad we got him.”