Clemson coach promotes 2 to handle offense

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has promoted two assistants to replace former offensive coordinator Chad Morris.

Swinney said Tuesday that receivers coach Jeff Scott and running backs coach Tony Elliott would serve as co-coordinators for the 19th-ranked Tigers. Morris became SMU head coach on Monday after four seasons leading Clemson's offense.

Scott and Elliott have ''had a huge impact on our offense when it comes to the overall game plan, game day decisions, coaching their positions, and have also been big reasons for our recruiting success,'' Swinney said in a statement.

Scott has also served as Clemson's recruiting coordinator.

Scott and Elliott were both Clemson receivers. Scott served on the Tigers staff for seven seasons while Elliott just completed his fourth season.

Swinney said he was prepared to make these promotions on staff for some time with Morris a candidate for head coaching jobs the past three seasons. Swinney said Scott and Elliott are qualified and ready to jump into their new roles.

They will have very big shoes to fill after Morris' four seasons with the Tigers.

Morris' high-tempo attack posted over 500 yards and 40 points in 2012 and 2013 when Clemson was a combined 22-4. The Tigers (9-3) have gone 41-11 in Morris' four seasons and established 127 school records during his time with the program, 89 individual marks and 38 team records.

Morris final game was Saturday's 35-17 victory over rival South Carolina, breaking the Gamecocks' five-game series win streak. Three freshmen led the way with quarterback Deshaun Watson throwing for 269 yards and accounting for four touchdowns, tailback Wayne Gallman gaining 191 yards and a touchdown and receiver Artavis Scott catching seven passes for 185 yards and two long TDs.

Scott has coached several Clemson wideouts now playing in the NFL like DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant. Elliott coached Andre Ellington, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher in college now playing with the Arizona Cardinals.

Scott, who'll turn 34 later this month, won a state championship at Blythewood High and also coached at Presbyterian before joining Clemson's staff. He's the son of former South Carolina head coach and ex-Clemson assistant Brad Scott.

Elliott, 35, spent two seasons as an assistant at South Carolina State and three as an assistant at Furman before joining his alma mater.

Swinney said the two will work together seamlessly going forward.

''Tony and Jeff were teammates at Clemson at the same position for three years and have worked together as coaches for four. They have a great relationship,'' he said.

And the coach expects no drop off in production with the new leadership setup.

''I am very excited about our offense moving forward under the leadership of these two coaches,'' Swinney said.