With Clemson missing close to 30 total players due to a combination of injuries, opt-outs and transfers, are there any players in particular who have stood out to head coach Dabo Swinney with the extra reps in bowl practice?

Swinney was asked that question Friday when he met with the media ahead of Saturday’s Pinstripe Bowl matchup vs. Penn State at Yankee Stadium in New York (noon, ABC).

Swinney named several players who have stuck out to him during bowl prep. The first name he mentioned is true freshman wide receiver Juju Preston, who enrolled at Clemson this past summer after a prolific prep career.

Preston has played in just one game this season. The 6-foot, 155-pounder made his college debut vs. Furman on Nov. 22, catching a 4-yard pass and returning a punt for 10 yards.

A former three-star prospect, Preston was credited with 185 receptions for 3,700 yards and 67 touchdowns during his prep career. He is the all-time receiving touchdown leader in Virginia state history.

“One guy in particular is Juju, who we’ve talked a lot about,” Swinney said. “He’s a guy that has really taken advantage of it. We’ve been able to move him around. It’s been fun to be able to experiment with him a little bit, of his skillset, and can he play inside, can he play outside, can he play in the boundary? That’s been really good. I think his development has shot through the roof. He’s one of those guys.”

Swinney also pointed out a couple of defensive linemen – redshirt freshman Darien Mayo and redshirt junior Caden Story.

Story has played 33 defensive snaps over four games this season, tallying two total tackles, while Mayo has played 43 defensive snaps across six games this season and made one tackle. Story entered the 2025 season credited with four tackles in 119 defensive snaps over 19 career games from 2022-24, and Mayo came into this season following a redshirt campaign in 2024 during which he collected four tackles (0.5 for loss) in 33 defensive snaps over three games.

Both are former four-star and former top-150 national prospects.

“A guy like Darien Mayo at defensive end, who we see a lot of promise in,” Swinney said. “Now all of a sudden, hey, he’s second-team reps the whole way. He’s getting a ton of work. So, it’s created a lot more opportunity for him.

“A guy like Caden Story, who hasn’t played a ton, but is a guy that we have always seen the flashes and the potential. He just hasn’t really put it all together. Now he’s getting a huge opportunity. He’s a guy that you hope will step up.”

Continuing on players who’ve stood out to him in bowl prep, Swinney singled out redshirt sophomore cornerback Branden Strozier as well.

Strozier has accumulated 262 defensive snaps over 11 games this season while registering 14 total tackles and five pass breakups. He finished the regular season in strong fashion, notching four tackles and two pass breakups vs. Furman before racking up six tackles and two pass breakups at South Carolina.

A former four-star recruit, Strozier entered 2025 credited with four tackles in 80 defensive snaps over 10 career games in his first two seasons from 2023-24.

“Branden Strozier is a guy that has grown immensely throughout the year,” Swinney said. “With [cornerback Avieon Terrell] out, it’s been good to see him. I think he’s been one of those guys that has stood out to me throughout the bowl prep.”