Just Like Family: Coaches’ Sons Help Tigers Win
While having the support of the extended Clemson Tigers family of students and fans may be integral to the success of the football team outside the lines, a handful of coaches’ sons have contributed on the field in recent years, including head coach Dabo Swinney’s two sons, wide receivers Will Swinney and Drew Swinney and quarterback Ben Batson, son of strength and conditioning coach Joey Batson.
Joey Batson’s brother, Michael, was a three-year reserve punter for the Tigers. Current lineback Jake Venables is the son of defensive coordinator Brent Venables.
Ben Batson, who came to Clemson to play at the safety position, has been helping on special teams this season and is listed as a backup quarterback. Swinney said Batson may be moved to safety in the future.
“He is just a big strong kid that can run,” Swinney said. “He is tough, and he is incredibly committed, so we just get him mixed in some on some special teams the last couple of weeks, but yeah, definitely something that he is eventually going to end up doing.”
Swinney said he didn’t know when coaches would be able to move Batson to the safety position.
“Right now, we just haven’t been able to make a move, and who knows when that will happen,” Swinney said. “We may have to leave him there for a while. We still want to make sure he gets opportunities to help our team because he has some tools for sure to contribute so that is really it.”
Swinney said that as a coach, it was “really neat” to be able to coach alongside his children.
“It is family here,” he said. “It is just good to be able to experience something like that especially when you know they are grinding and they work hard and bust their butt and are incredibly committed to the program. They are great teammates.”
“Ben is an epitome of all of that,” Swinney added, noting that Ben Batson works hard in the weight room and on the field to try to help the team win.
“He grinds in that weight room,” Swinney said. “He just wants to help the team and can help the team. Right now, we just need him at quarterback. He hasn’t had a lot of opportunities there so we have tried to mix him in on some special teams. He came here to play safety but because of a couple of transfers at quarterback we had to put him back there.”
