CLEMSON — Clemson football‘s spring game introduced fans to new faces and reminded them of old ones.
The Orange team won 23-3 vs. the White team on March 28 at Memorial Stadium.
Here are Clemson‘s new additions or players you may have forgotten who stood out during the spring game.
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London Merritt, DE
The Colorado transfer had four tackles, including three for loss and 2.5 sacks, and a quarterback hurry. To protect quarterbacks, plays were blown dead when a defender got near one and ruled a sack/tackle.
London Merritt started behind Will Heldt and Jahiem Lawson but showcased his speed and power against Clemson‘s second- and third-team offensive line. Merritt has three years of eligibility remaining but has shown he can be a contributor when he rotates into games.
Vic Burley, DT
Vic Burley was a four-star recruit who never found his footing at Clemson. He missed the 2023 season with knee injuries and made one start over the next two seasons as Peter Woods, DeMonte Capehart and Stephiylan Green all passed him.
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With that trio gone, Burley has a chance to live up to his high-school billing. He was dominant in Clemson’s spring game, recording three tackles including 2.5 sacks and one pass breakup.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is optimistic that can show up when the 2026 season comes.
“He’s a guy we’re counting on,” Swinney said. “If he don’t do it, it ain’t nobody’s fault but his because he can.”
MORE: Why Clemson wide receiver Tyler Brown is ‘hungry’ for more football in 2026
Gordon Sellars III, WR
Gordon Sellars III, a four-star freshman wide receiver, was among three midyear wideouts to enroll at Clemson before spring practice. He and the other freshmen, Naeem Burroughs and Connor Salmin, had more playing time this spring with Bryant Wesco Jr., T.J. Moore, Cole Turner and Tristan Smith all missing time because of injuries.
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This led to Sellars earning first-team reps, and he showcased his skills with a three-catch 34-yard performance. He caught a back-shoulder 8-yard touchdown from quarterback Christopher Vizzina in the second quarter.
Sellars did have two miscues though, not running the correct route on the game’s first drive and not catching a high pass from Vizzina.
Darien Mayo, DE
Another rotational edge rusher Clemson will rely on is Darien Mayo. The sophomore has played in 10 games in his career with just five tackles. Yet, with T.J. Parker and Cade Denhoff gone, Mayo will have more opportunities.
The 6-foot-7, 270-pound defensive end had six tackles, including 2.5 for loss and one sack.
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Christian Bentancur, TE
With starting tight-end Olsen Patt-Henry out for spring with a patella tendon injury, sophomore Christian Bentancur had received more opportunities with the first-team offense.
He logged four catches for 45 yards, acting as a security blanket for Vizzina on third downs and long-yardage situations in the exhibition. Bentancur was also crucial in the run game, helping running back Gideon Davidson rush for a game-long 35 yards on a play.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football spring game, 5 intriguing players for Dabo Swinney
