CLEMSON ? For the first time in his brief tenure, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney went beyond the Alabama tree to hire an assistant from outside the program.
Former Tennessee defensive line coach Dan Brooks has agreed to take the same job at Clemson, multiple sources said Monday.
If their word wasn't good enough, Brooks attended the Tigers practice later in the evening.
Clemson typically does not announce staff hirings until background checks have been completed ? sometimes taking weeks ? so Swinney declined to confirm that a hire had been made.
But he did express hope that a new defensive line coach could be working Tigers practices by later this week.
Asked about Brooks attendance ? he arrived on campus Sunday for an interview ? Swinney said: Have a lot of respect for coach Brooks. Great background and track record, recruiting and coaching players. Certainly a strong candidate.
I feel good about where we're headed as far as being able to name a new coach soon. We've got some outstanding candidates.
Brooks, 57, owns an impressive track record for developing NFL linemen, with several state of SOuth Carolina products ? Albert Haynesworth (Hartsville), Shaun Ellis (Anderson) and Tony McDaniel (Columbia) ? among the pros he groomed.
He spent 14 seasons at Tennessee (1994-2008), the final 13 under former Vols coordinator John Chavis.
Chavis, who turned down Clemsons defensive coordinator post, is best friends with the eventual hire, former Alabama coordinator Kevin Steele.
Brooks was on the Tennessee staff when current Clemson director of football operations Woody McCorvey was there from 1999-2002, and McCorvey and Chavis ties go back to their time on Alabama A&Ms staff from 1980-82.
Brooks has been on the radar since Chavis considered the job before landing at LSU.
The assistant Brooks replaces, David Blackwell, left to become South Floridas linebackers coach March 12 after having twice been bypassed for Clemsons coordinator position during his tenure.
Moving forward. Junior safety DeAndre McDaniel, arrested in June following an altercation with his then-girlfriend, said he recently began working to meet the stipulations of the pre-trial intervention program that would expunge the criminal charge from his record. McDaniel said the plan had been for him to start his community service activities after the season.
Extra points. After taking last week off for spring break, Clemson held its fourth spring practice Monday. ... Redshirt freshman Spencer Benton, the front-runner for the starting place-kicker spot, broke his collarbone snowboarding during break. Benton is still able to kick during practice. Thats not helping (his) cause, but it should heal up fairly quick, Swinney said. ... Clemson will have its pro day this morning.
