Following Clemson’s Gator Bowl victory over Kentucky, Jake Briningstool felt the tight end room was as good and deep as it had ever been during his tenure at Tigertown.
Clemson’s experienced tight end, who is regarded as one of the best tight ends in the country for 2024, believes Josh Sapp, Olson Patt-Henry, and Markus Dixon are all outstanding players ready to take the next step in their careers. They’ll take the next step when the Tigers start spring practice on February 28.
“I have known ever since these guys have been here that they are ballers, they are playmakers,” Briningstool told reporters.
Sapp and Olsen Patt-Henry were thrust into additional action late in 2023 after Sage Ennis, who has since transferred, tore his ACL early in Clemson’s victory over Georgia Tech in November.
“I knew they could get the job done,” Briningstool explained.
Sapp caught a touchdown pass against Georgia Tech and scored a crucial two-point conversion in the Gator Bowl. Olsen Patt-Henry made a 25-yard catch-and-run in the Gator Bowl.
“This is basically a reveal party for everyone else to see what we already knew in our room. We got an excellent room. “We have a lot of great players,” Briningstool stated.
It all begins with Briningstool.
In the Gator Bowl, he led Clemson with nine catches for 91 yards. His nine receptions set the Clemson single-game school mark for tight end receptions, which was previously held by John McMakin against Florida State in 1970 and Brandon Ford against LSU in 2012.
Briningstool concluded the 2023 season with 50 tight end catches, tying Dwayne Allen’s single-season record. His 498 yards were a career high, the most by a Clemson tight end since Jordan Leggett’s 736 in 2016.
He also recorded a team-high five touchdown receptions.
“Everybody in the room has really come together and is believing in our unit,” Briningstool said in a statement. “That is what it all comes down to. I believe we have the best tight end room in the country, and I think that showed today.”
Jake Briningstool, 6-6, 230, Senior. The senior enters 2024 with 78 career receptions for 850 yards and ten touchdowns in 35 games, including 13 starts. He is Clemson’s fifth tight end to have ten touchdown receptions in his career, joining Leggett, McMakin, Allen, Ford, Davis Allen, and Bennie Cunningham. His 126 receiving yards against Miami last season were the highest by a Clemson tight end in a single game in school.
Josh Sapp, 6-1, 235, *So. – Had seven receptions for 60 yards and two touchdowns while playing in all 13 games last season. He was used primarily as a blocking tight end last year. Should become more involved in the passing game this coming season.
Olsen Patt-Henry, 6-3, 240, So. – After Ennis went out, the sophomore took advantage of his opportunity. He did not play perfectly, but he showed off his potential while getting significant playing time against South Carolina and Kentucky. He played in six games overall and caught three passes for 42 yards.
Markus Dixon, 6-4, 245, Fr. – Dixon’s coaches believe he has great potential. Last season, he redshirted in order to gain some size and strength while also learning the playbook. He did play in two games last year and contributed on special teams.
