Boyd shows improvement

CLEMSON -- Clemson is hoping quarterback Tajh Boyd is a quick study, and the early returns are encouraging.

Boyd improved during his first scrimmage, completing his last four pass attempts, and appears to be trending upwards in spring practice.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney called Boyd's work Wednesday his best of the spring.

"He just looked a lot more poised, a lot more comfortable," Swinney said. "We sat in there this morning correcting things (on film) and he fixed it today. That's what you want to see."

After struggling to run the two-minute drill last Friday, Swinney said Boyd made significant strides in that area, running the hurry-up offense efficiently.

"I'm starting to get a little more familiar with the offense," Boyd said.

Offensive coordinator Billy Napier said Boyd is learning an even greater sense of attention to detail, what Boyd calls "an elbow (placement) here or there … small things."

Boyd is also learning to not force big plays. In Saturday's scrimmage, Boyd missed a wide-open checkdown to Chad Diehl, forcing a pass to Dwayne Allen that fell incomplete.

"Some of that stuff in high school you can't do here, going up for the big play instead of hitting those checkdowns," Boyd said. "It's something I have to overcome every day. I'm getting better."

Swinney wants more from Bowers

Swinney is hoping this is the year Da'Quan Bowers, ESPN's No. 1 overall recruit in 2008, begins to reach his potential. Bowers missed two games to a knee injury last season and is working to strengthen the knee this spring. In 12 games last season, Bowers produced three sacks.

"He's not the dominant guy he needs to be," Swinney said. "He still has a lot of improving to do. … There's another level he needs to get to.

"He's capable of being a dominant player and he's not there yet."

Jackson separates

One area where there is no question regarding the depth chart is at kicker.

After earning the placekicker duties last season, Richard Jackson has entrenched himself as the No. 1 placekicker by making "70-80 percent" of his kicks this spring, according to Swinney.

Spencer Benton lost the placekicker competition to Jackson last spring, but will retain his kickoff duties. Benton is in competition with Chandler Catanzaro this spring for the backup placekicker duties. Benton made field goals of 50 and 55 yards Wednesday.

"The 55-yarder would have been good from 60," Swinney said. "Benton has got a really strong leg … it's just a matter of consistency."

Extra points

Reserve guard Wilson Norris injured his knee Wednesday and will undergo an MRI. The staff was already concerned about the depth on the second team line and Norris is one of the more reliable players of the second-team group … Swinney believes left tackle Chris Hairston can be a dominant player and wants him to be "nastier at times" … Clemson will hold its youth day following Saturday's scrimmage. Kids in seventh grade and under are invited free of charge to take the field at Death Valley. Players will be available for autographs and pizza will be provided. … There are a limited number of tickets remaining for the All-In Ball on April 9 at the Madren Center Pavilion in Clemson. For more information visit: www.dabosallinteam.com.