Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney reveals who will start at kicker against No. 1 Georgia
CLEMSON — Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney announced Tuesday that freshman Nolan Hauser has won the starting kicker job over Robert Gunn III.
The 16-year Tigers coach said the players were tied throughout camp, but Hauser made more field goals down the stretch to win the job.
"I've started true freshman in every position on this team, I believe, at one point or another," Swinney said. "He's earned the right to go do it — doesn't matter if you're a true freshman or a fifth-year walk-on."
Hauser, a three-star prospect from Cornelius, North Carolina, holds the national high school record for career field goals (66). His first game will be against No. 1 Georgia in Mercedes-Benz Stadium this weekend. To simulate the hostile environment Clemson will play in, Swinney played Georgia's fight song during the special teams portion of practice.
Gunn, who was benched last year after missing three field goal attempts and an extra point during the first three games, will handle kickoff duties.
The No. 14 Tigers face the Bulldogs on Saturday (noon ET, ABC) in Atlanta.
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Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: Dabo Swinney announces starting kicker vs. Georgia
